The Incredible Creation

The Y.H.G.M Brand Releases "Welcome II Y.H.G.M"

2012-01-30T16:10:00.000-05:00

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Powered by DatPiff.com

(Baltimore, MD) -- Hip-hop collaborative, The Y.H.G.M brand, headed by Milly Esquire, will be sure to gain new fans and “believers” with their impressive new release, “Welcome II Y.H.G.M”, released January 30 to Datpiff.com. and the Y.H.G.M blog. With 2 singles previously released - , "L's High" featuring The Colbster, Tu-KhinDz, J. Rell "The Prince", Newport Ricks and Tra' Holiday and "Y.H.G.M Incredible", featuring naturalbrown, Tra' Holiday and Kai Marley. – the Y.H.G.M brand will undoubtedly establish themselves and make their mark in hip-hop with their new compilation.

Features on the Y.H.G.M compilation include Y.H.G.M brand members DJ Vanrod, Tra’ Holiday, J.Rell ‘The Prince’, Kai-Marley, Tragedy, Newport Ricks, Ray-Ray, Team Hustle, Tu-KhinDz, The Colbster and Tha Yung One. Of the compilation, Milly Esquire says “I am proud of the project which I executive produced along with Tra’ Holiday. The love and support we’ve acquired thus far is greatly appreciated and we, The Y.H.G.M Brand will only get bigger and better from this day forward! Thanks to everyone who is taking a moment to listen and support us!”

“Welcome II Y.H.G.M” is available for stream/download on datpiff.com [here] and available for direct download [here].

About Milly Esquire and The Y.H.G.M Brand:

To find out more information on Milly Esquire, please visit www.whoismillyesquire.com. Milly is on Twitter, so please feel free to follow him at @milly_esquire and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/millyesquire.com.

For more information on The Y.H.G.M Brand, please check them out on twitter at @theYHGMbrand or at http://yhgm.tumblr.com/, http://www.youtube.com/yhgm1,http://yhgmblog.blogspot.com/, and http://soundcloud.com/y-h-g-m.

Top 10 Companies Hiring This Week!

2012-01-29T12:18:00.002-05:00

Jan. 29 - Feb. 4

We know that your job search can get quite frustrating these days, with so many people competing for employment opportunities.

To ease the burden, we've tracked down 10 top companies that are hiring this week -- from sales jobs to finance jobs, full-time to part-time. We hope you'll find a job that's perfect for you.

Good luck job hunting!

1. Sears

Most people recognize Sears as the department store common to countless shopping malls. While its department stores are certainly popular, Sears Holdings operates several other brandsas well.

Sears recently named Ron Boire as its new retail chief. The company has ambitions of transforming its retail business after posting poor holiday sales with both its Sears and Kmart brands.

Employee Review: "My favorite thing about working with Sears is the stability. The company has been around for over 100 years and is one of the largest in the world. It has great benefits and work-life balance is excellent. I don't have to worry about being on-call on nights and weekends. They have really great quality people who are easy to get along with."*

Top Job Categories:

2. Citi

With the world's largest financial services network, Citigroup Inc. spans 140 countries and employs roughly 260,000 worldwide. After suffering from massive losses during the financial crisis of 2008, the company fell from the esteemed title of "largest bank in the world by assets." They are, however, still one of the "big four" banks in the United States. By the end of 2010, Citigroup repaid in full the emergency government aid it had received.

In a recent report, Citi said it increased loans to small businessesin the U.S. throughout 2011. This amount is over 30 percent higher than their small business lending in 2010.

Employee Review: "Nice co-workers, good hours, pleasant management, good location, interesting work spanning decades of involvement in the country. Good springboard for future jobs."*

Top Job Categories:

3. Chrysler - Mopar

Although the term "Mopar" has come into use for any Chrysler-branded product, it is officially the parts-and-service division for the Chrysler Group, which includes Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram brands in North America. Mopar is based in Center Line, Mich.

Pietro Gorlier, CEO of Mopar and former vice president of Fiat, says that Fiat saw a great deal of untapped potential in the Mopar brand. Fiat took control of the Chrysler Group in 2009, and not long ago announced a new management structure as part of the merger.

The company recently announced the addition of 400 to 500 new jobs in Illinois. These jobs will support the production of the new Dodge Dart compact car, and augment the approximately 2,700 current jobs at the Illinois plant.

Employee Review: "The company is extremely adaptable and resilient after its financial distress in recent years, and the company is very hopeful for the future. The need for young and creative people is overwhelming -- those without automotive background may be better positioned than they think!"*

Top Job Categories:

4. AT&T Retail

With over 96 million mobile customers, AT&T Wireless is the 20th largest mobile phone service provider in the world, and according to Forbes, the 14th largest company in the world by market value.

AT&T's mobile division is headquartered in DeKalb County, Ga., just outside of Atlanta. Between 2005 and 2007, the company acquired Cingular Wireless and BellSouth. Until recently, AT&T Wireless was the exclusive carrier of Apple's popular iPhone line in the United States.

The company was recently named the "Top Organization for Multicultural Business Opportunities" by DiversityBusiness.com.

Employee Review: "They provide great benefits and pay. I know they match quite a bit for 401(k) investment. It is a great job for someone interested in technology and learning about new technologies. Also, it is great to know that you are helping others out on a daily basis."*

Top Job Categories:

5. Macy's

Originally founded as Federated Department Stores in 1929, the company was officially renamed Macy's in 2007. With over 800 stores across the nation, Macy's is one of the largest retail companies in the United States. Macy's sales rose throughout 2010 and it already has announced plans to hire 3,500 employees in the next two years.

Of the major department store brands (Macy's, Dillards, Sears, Saks Fifth Avenue and J.C. Penney), Macy's was the highest performer throughout 2011, according to a recent report. Retail sales in December were weak, yet still strong enough to post an overall record for 2011, and the largest annual increase in over a decade.

Employee Review: "The management is competent. Employees are given a good discount and still able to use coupons. You can pick up more hours online when they become available."*

Top Job Categories:

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[Video] Shit DC Girls Say

2012-01-29T11:01:00.002-05:00

[Video] SHIT BALTIMORE GIRLS SAY

2012-01-29T10:39:00.001-05:00

Follow her on Twitter tho' @dj_adore

[Video] Tony Hawk Interviews Tyler, The Creator

2012-01-28T12:47:00.003-05:00

Walmart Greeters Will No Longer Greet At The Door

2012-01-28T11:50:00.004-05:00

After 30 years, "People Greeters" will no longer welcome Walmart customers with a "cart and a smile." Four months after Walmart got rid of its night-shift "People Greeters," the big-box retailer is moving its day-shift greeters inside the store. Walmart claims it's all in the name of better customer service, but the announcement has left some greeters uncertain about the future of their jobs.

'Welcome to Walmart. How are you doing?'

Jerome Allen has greeted morning shoppers at Walmart for five years, the last two at a supercenter in Fort Worth, Texas. He heard through the grapevine that the store was reassigning its night-shift greeters, but was surprised when the store manager called him into his office on Thursday, and told him that there would be no more door greeters at all.

Allen's new position, which begins Feb. 6, will be to stand in "high traffic" areas of the store, ask customers if they need any assistance, and direct the flow of traffic. Allen doesn't think his new position will be particularly useful. The store, he said, already has a full roster of employees manning the floor, who are required to ask nearby customers if they need any help, as dictated by the"10-foot Rule."

David Tovar, a Walmart spokesman, claims store greeters have no cause for concern. "They're not going anywhere," he told AOL Jobs in an interview.

But Allen isn't convinced. "I don't think they're going to let me stand around doing nothing," he said. "I don't know what my career is going to be here at Walmart. They're moving me to a position that isn't going to be here very long."

Allen fears that many greeters, once they're in their new positions, will be found redundant, and let go. Allen's hours are already reduced for next week, to 16 hours from 20. He would love to work more; with an hourly wage of $10.45, Allen is struggling to support his two children.

Aggressive Hospitality

After Walmart got rid of night-shift greeters in September, Tovar told Bloomberg that the decision was a way to to rein in costs and prices. Walmart's sales have thinned in recent years, as many customers flocked to dollar stores instead, which offered even lower prices. Same-store sales at Walmart dropped for nine straight quarters, but picked up by 1.3 percent in the quarter that ended in October. In contrast, between 2007 and 2010, Family Dollar and Dollar General grew by 15 percent and 37 percent, respectively, according to a December report from Colliers International.

Most of the night-shift greeters were assigned to other roles, "and a very small percentage ended up leaving the company," said Tovar. But that's not what's happening here, he emphasized. Walmart had given greeters extra responsibilities over the years, he explained, like helping customers return products, and cleaning and prepping carts. The change frees greeters from these other duties, so that they can "really focus on customer service," he said, and interact more with customers while they're in the store.

The "People Greeter" was an idea dreamed up by Sam Walton himself, first introduced in 1980, and quickly imitated by retailers everywhere. The "People Greeter" has become such a cultural staple that he even hadhis own cameo on "Family Guy." Walton believed "aggressive hospitality" would set Walmart apart from other retailers, and Tovar insists that this new development is simply a continuation of that legacy. Even so, "Welcome to Walmart" isn't quite the same, when said in a "high traffic" area.

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Slaughterhouse Announce Album & Tour

2012-01-26T11:05:00.002-05:00

Slaughterhouse’s new album, welcome to: OUR HOUSE on May 15th

March 8, 2012—Trees/Southside Dallas, TX
March 9, 2012—Warehouse/House of Blues Houston, TX
March 10, 2012—Beauty Ballroom Austin, TX
March 11, 2012 – White Rabbit San Antonio, TX
March 16, 2012—House of Blues Myrtle Beach, SC
March 17, 2012—Beachem Theater Orlando, FL
March 18, 2012—Revolution Miami, FL
March 22, 2012—Masquerade Atlanta, GA
March 23, 2012—The Cannery Nashville, TN
March 24, 2012—The Fillmore Charlotte, NC
March 25, 2012—SoundStage Baltimore, MD
March 26, 2012—Wilbur Theatre Boston, MA
March 27, 2012—Trocadero Theatre Philadelphia, PA
March 28, 2012—9:30 Club Washington D.C.
March 29, 2012—Best Buy Theater New York, NY
March 31, 2012—Lava Lounge (West KY Univ) Bowling Green, KY
April 1, 2012—Metro Chicago, IL
April 2, 2012—Royal Oak Music Theatre Detroit, MI
April 5, 2012—The Clubhouse Tempe, AZ
April 6, 2012—Music Box Los Angeles, CA
April 7, 2012—The Regency Ballroom San Francisco, CA
April 8, 2012—Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas, NV
April 9, 2012—The Galaxy Santa Ana, CA
April 10, 2012—Porters Pub/4th and B San Diego, CA
April 11, 2012—Velvet Jones Santa Barbara, CA
April 14, 2012—Showbox at the Market Seattle, WA
April 16, 2012—Harry O’s Salt Lake City, UT
April 17, 2012 – Sunshine Theatre Albuquerque, NM
April 18, 2012—Cervantes/Bluebird Denver, CO
April 19, 2012—Fox Theatre Boulder, CO
April 20, 2012— TBD
April 21, 2012—Granada Lawrence, KS
April 22, 2012—Epic Minneapolis, MN
April 24, 2012—Rave Milwaukee, WI
April 25, 2012—Kalamazoo Theatre Kalamazoo, WI
April 26, 2012—The Vogue Indianapolis, IN
April 27, 2012— TBD
April 28, 2012—House of Blues/Grogshop Cleveland, OH
April 29, 2012—Omni Toledo, OH
April 30, 2012—Headliners Louisville, KY
May 1, 2012—Toad’s Place New Haven, CT
May 2, 2012—Lupos Providence, RI
May 3, 2012—Wilbur Theater Boston, MA

Sun erupts with biggest radiation storm in seven years!

2012-01-24T13:17:00.003-05:00

A powerful solar eruption is expected to blast a stream of charged particles past Earth on Tuesday, as the strongest radiation storm since 2005 rages on the sun.

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory caught an extreme ultraviolet flash from a huge eruption on the sun overnight (10:59 p.m. ET Sunday, or 0359 GMT Monday), according to SpaceWeather.com.

The solar flare spewed from sunspot 1402, a region of the sun that has become increasingly active lately. Several NASA satellites, including the Solar Dynamics Observatory, the Solar Heliospheric Observatory and the STEREO spacecraft, observed the massive sun storm.

A barrage of charged particles triggered by the outburst is expected to hit Earth at around 9 a.m. ET Tuesday, according to experts at the Space Weather Prediction Center, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [Video and photos of the solar flare]

NOAA's forecasters say this is the strongest solar radiation storm since May 2005. As a precaution, polar flights on Earth are expected to be rerouted, the agency's deputy administrator, Kathy Sullivan, said Monday at the 92nd annual American Meteorological Society meeting in New Orleans.

Scientists call these electromagnetic bursts "coronal mass ejections," and they are closely studied because they can produce potentially harmful geomagnetic storms when electrically charged particles from the sun interact with Earth's magnetic field.

In addition to generating stronger than normal displays of Earth's auroras (also known as the northern and southern lights), geomagnetic storms aimed directly at our planet can also disrupt satellites in orbit, cause widespread communications interference and damage other electronic infrastructures.

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New Music: Milly Esquire "Bill Cosby Sweater"

2012-01-23T10:50:00.000-05:00

3 Ways the Entertainment Industry Can Make Money Without Destroying The Internet

2012-01-19T10:18:00.004-05:00

By Carrie Kerpen

The internet is abuzz with protests of SOPA- the Stop Online Piracy Act that has the online community in a huge tizzy. Users are terrified of their sites/content being censored by the government. I think my favorite tweet about this topic is:

“Under SOPA, you could get 5 years for uploading a Michael Jackson song, one year more than the doctor who killed him.”

Tons of sites have joined forces to show their support of a SOPA protest, including Google’s blacked out logo, Wikipedia’s downtime, and various online universities across the country.

SOPA is here because of an industry’s attempt to control rather than to pivot. The music and entertainment world is terrified of online piracy, of losing dollars while users absorb their free content. Welcome to the club, guys. The print industry has been living with this issue for years. Yours is not the only industry to experience a giant shift in how people consume and share your content. But this is not the end of your earning potential, and this is not the death of musicians everywhere. Here are three ways that you can still make a living:

1. Partner with freemium services like Vevo, Spotify, Pandora, etc. I am so confused by the concept of musicians thinking that a stream is somehow a “missed sale”. The inherent shareable nature of streaming music exposes people to new artists that they would not otherwise have seen if not for their social streams. If you’ve never heard of an artist, what better way to prompt a sale than by streaming your music where people are spending their time.

2. Eliminate the middle man. The publishing industry is already here, with authors putting out books on Amazon without any big name backers. Louis C.K.recently sold his own content online, resulting in a million dollars for the comedian. Consider releasing an online-only single, or host an exclusive paid webchat. Fans respect that you need to make money. They DONT respect when you attempt to sue them for using your song in their video of their kid taking her first step.

3. Get Creative and Shift Perception. If no one knows you, you can’t sell concert tickets, merch, or any of the other revenue streams that artists inevitably have. What if artists actually USED sharing to their advantage? What if they had brand ambassadors actually THANKING people for using their music, or linking to their music, and offering them the opportunity to help promote the artist? Justin Bieber’s entire career was made because he offered brilliant free content on YouTube. When you’re good, you’re good, and nothing’s going to stop you.

The sharing of music has been around for decades– think of the mix tape as the quintessential “you’ve gotta hear this” gesture. There is no question that companies that do not have a way to compensate artists and distribute their content through piracy should be held accountable– but massive government regulation that would hurt the everyday user is not the answer.

Musicians, government officials, and the internet community need to think harder and better about how to remodel this changing industry before it completely implodes.

What do you think about the act? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Likeable

Lil Boosie’s Letter To Fans From Jail

2012-01-17T11:41:00.006-05:00

"Currently awaiting trial for murder charges in April, Lil Boosie sends out a kite from the Angola State Prison to give fans an update on his current status. Keep your head up Bad Azz." - Big Homie

A letter to all my fans,

First, I want to than you all of you for supporting me through these hard time. Last month I was sentence to 8 years with credit for time served so i will have to do 19 months on that sentence. I go to trial for this murder charge in April so please keep me in your prayers.

To all my fans who write me through J-Pay make sure you put your address so I can respond. Its hard to write every body back but I will try my best to do so. I would also like my all my fans to support Young Jeezy new album TM 103 hes a real nigga with a big heart. I want to thank Plies, Yo Gotti, Marcus Spears, Jout Dallas, Earl Wayne and Jamarcus Russell for keeping it real with me and Pacman also. My daughter Iviona album will be coming soon so be on the lookout for it. Its HOTT!!!

I really appreciate everybody whos supporting www.boosiejustice.com and everyone who has sign the petition and brought Boosie Gear. I want all my fans to know that yall are so special to me because without you there would be no me. Congrats to Webbie on his new album Savage Life 3. New Boosie DVD “The Come Up” will be in stores soon. Life Story Book “The Truth” in stores end of 2012. My label, Bad Azz Ent, will be dropping a compilation this year and you already know how we do it. I want to thank GOD for everything and now I know the real from the fake and I can say that not too many are not real.

I also want to send love to the realest woman in the world my MAMA Mrs. Connie whos my best friend, mama, spiritual advisor and #1 Fan.

Boosie Boo

Torence Hatch #560699
LSP
Angola, LA 70712
CCR/DR D-1

MTV's "Jay Z Vs Nas" Part 1 of 5

2012-01-16T11:37:00.000-05:00

shout out to young YN with the cornrows! lol

[Maryland] Arundel Mills Casino Opens Employment Center

2012-01-16T10:15:00.002-05:00

Looking To Fill 1,500 Positions

The new casino coming to Arundel Mills is opening an employment center to fill more than 1,500 positions.

Maryland Live! says it is looking to fill hundreds of full- and part-time positions in the casino, as well as jobs in marketing, facilities, food and beverage, environmental services, security, information technology and finance.

The center opens its doors at 10 a.m. today!

Read more: http://www.wbaltv.com/money/30222146/detail.html#ixzz1jdP5f54F

[Video] Amber Rose Cries Discussing Kanye

2012-01-13T13:55:00.003-05:00

Get More: Music News

iPhone 4S China release sparks scuffles and eggings

2012-01-13T11:02:00.003-05:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

By: NBC's Ed Flanagan in Beijing

BEIJING– Question for Siri: What to do when you have egg on your face?
It’s a question Apple officials in China must be asking themselves today after fighting outside a Beijing store forced the company to close its stores nationwide, leaving hordes of outraged Chinese out in the proverbial cold.
Outside one store in Beijing’s Sanlitun entertainment district, Chinese buyers had been lining up outside of Apple stores around China since yesterday in anticipation of the official launch of Apple’s new iPhone 4S. By 1 a.m. Friday, the line had devolved into a thrall of people gathered around the front of the store.

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New GPS Feature "Avoid Ghetto" Sparks Controversy

2012-01-10T14:10:00.002-05:00

Microsoft's newly-patented "avoid ghetto" app for GPS devices aims to help motorists steer clear of unsafe neighborhoods, but the concept's controversial nature has garnered ire from critics.

The feature for mobile phones tracks crime stats and local weather to help drivers planning their route. The brouhaha stems from the idea of avoiding certain areas based on socio-economic or racial make-up.

Apps exist for almost every driver whim these days: it's no tall order to track down the nearest gas station, 7-Eleven, or electric vehicle plug-in charger at the click of a button. But when issues of race and politics enter the fray, the applications lead to complications.

The racist element

The technological cordoning off of some neighborhoods as dangerous, as with the Microsoft app, can open a Pandora's box.

As Sarah E. Chinn, author of Technology and the Logic of American Racism, observes, the stats indicated in the app might be skewed to discriminate against particular demographics.

"It's pretty appalling," Chinn said of the app. "Of course, an application like this defines crime pretty narrowly, since all crimes happen in all kinds of neighborhoods. I can't imagine that there aren't perpetrators of domestic violence, petty and insignificant drug possession, fraud, theft, and rape in every area."

She points out that white-collar crime would not necessarily register on this app and as a result Microsoft "defines crime statistics as products of race and class identity."

On the other hand, consider how this app could potentially help wayward drivers in some cities. In Detroit, for example, the city has a central downtown from General Motors headquarters up Woodward Avenue to Ford Field and Comerica Park where comparatively little crime happens. But just a few blocks outside that area, and a driver can find himself amidst streets of abandoned buildings and street-gang territory.

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[Video] Birdman On Drake & Common Beef

2012-01-10T13:54:00.002-05:00

Beyoncé & Jay-Z Welcome Blue Ivy Carter

2012-01-08T18:51:00.005-05:00

Congratulations, guys!

[Video] Shit White Girls Say...to Black Girls

2012-01-08T18:34:00.003-05:00

New Video: Rick Ross (Ft. Drake x French Montana) “Stay Schemin’”

2012-01-07T19:47:00.001-05:00

New Mixtape: Rick Ross "Rich Forever"

2012-01-07T12:27:00.001-05:00

Download here l Alternate Download

World's worst places: Top 10 places you do not want to visit in 2012!

2012-01-06T12:40:00.002-05:00

What comes to mind when you think of the world's worst place? While it is easy to complain about rural Wal-marts, La Guardia, Applebee's, and any government office with motor vehiclein its title, none of those places escalate the game from nuisance to immediate danger. All of them can be horrible, yes, but a threatened existence they do not pose.

The places on this list are the bad places. Some have run out of hope. Others have fought war for so long it is the new normal. Most are exceptionally dangerous and heartbreaking. And while none of them are fighting for write-ups by travel bloggers or inspiring travel with theNetJet set, some of these locations may someday be on the travel map. After all, it was not long ago that current hot-spots like Cambodia and Croatia would have made such a list.

10. Harare, Zimbabwe
Recently voted by the Economist as the world's worst city to live in, Harare is a unique study in failed fiscal policy. The once acceptable city fell into disrepair during Zimbabwe's severe bouts with hyperinflation and corruption. The troubles began in the early 21st century when Zimbabwe's inflation rate increased to 112.1%. Sounds terrible right? As it turns out, those were the sunny days. In 2008, the inflation rate peaked at 231,150,000% per annum. In U.S. terms, this means that if you deposited $10,000, it would be worth about 4 thousandths of a U.S. cent in one years time. That sucks. (For the record, 10,000USD = 46.720 quadrillion Zimbabwe dollars in 2009.)

This sort of economic arrangement allowed Harare to fail. There are not enough printers in Zimbabwe to print enough of its Z100 Billion notes, and when a loaf of bread costs trillions, doom is soon to follow. Unemployment grew to 80% and many services faltered. Today, foreign currencies have been adopted but the damage has been done. Much of Harare is in disrepair, and few foreign companies care to directly invest in the troubled city. That said, it is probably the safest place on this list to visit with flights direct from London on the national carrier - Air Zimbabwe.

9. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
The lone entry from Oceania is the ultra-diverse Port Moresby of Papua New Guinea. PNG is home to over 820 languages - more than any other country in the world. As such, its capital Port Moresby boasts a diverse crew of opportunists and island cultures. It was recently voted by the Economist as the 137th out of 140 places in the livable cities index, making it a tough place to get by.

Rapes, Murders, and HIV are just a few of the daily tragedies that befall this enclave at the edge of the map. Here, even riding in cars is a dangerous activity. Gangs called Raskols are known to rob vehicles transporting foreigners at gunpoint.

Port Moresby is best used as a temporary gateway to nearby dive sites and for flights to PNG's jungle interior and its solitary treks. Reaching Port Moresby is easy from Australia on PNG's national carrier Air Niugini.

8. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
37 years ago, Ali and Foreman traded blows in one of boxing's most historic matches. The match took place in Kinshasa. At the time, the country was known as Zaire, and the future looked hopeful for the mineral-rich nation. But as is common in 20th century African history, corruption at the top derailed the future. The country became a model for African kleptocracyas President Mobutu matched Zaire's national debt with deposits into his personal bank account in Switzerland - to a tune of 4 billion (1980) U.S. dollars. He was forced to flee in the late nineties.

By 1998, the Congo region was engaged in the Second Congo War - the most deadly military conflict since World War II. In the end, over 5 million perished, and to this day the mineral-rich country has a per capita (nominal) GDP of about $186.

Chinese foreign direct investment has allowed Kinshasa to grow into a more reasonable place over the last decade, though it is not yet ready for its tourist close-up. Violence and political instability still ravage the second most populated city in Africa. It has come a long way from the time of Mr. Kurtz, but the heart of Africa is still an exceptionally complicated place. Just a month ago during the presidential election, thousands fled Kinshasa in anticipation of violence, and tanks rolled in to police the streets.

Tens of thousands of orphaned street children call the slums of Kinshasa home and are also routinely accused of witchcraft by locals. Carjackings are one of the more common types of tourist robbery, especially outside of the city center. And one more thing, photography isillegal.

Reaching Kinshasa is easy from Paris on Air France.

7. Rocinha favela, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rocinha is the largest favela in Rio de Janeiro. While its infrastructure exceeds that of lesser favelas and its view of Rio is truly breathtaking, it is also home to several hundred thousand low income Brazilians packed onto a steep lawless hillside. It is a playground for modern day little Li'l Zes.

With one of the highest murder rates in the world, Brazil has been cracking down on violence in anticipation of hosting both the Olympics and World Cup. In fact, local authorities have effectively declared war on this slum in an effort to clean it up and push out the drug cartels, and just a few months ago, Rocinha was occupied by the military and police forces. Their aim is to restore government control in the sprawling favela. Until they do, staying out is advisable.

6. Sana'a, Yemen
"Just off the horn of Africa..." is a common statement that generally precedes a story about modern piracy. And just on the other side of the dangerous Gulf of Aden where such piracy goes down is treacherous Yemen - a land frozen in time.

It is a time machine to the modern edge of the Islamic dark ages. On one hand this brings old world Arabian architecture and cultures of antiquity, but on the other, it brings out Islamic fanaticism. It is a place of child brides and a training ground for Al Qaeda. Men walk around freely with weapons per their religious rights, and these weapons range from the ubiquitousJambiya to battle-worn Kalashnikovs. Sana'a is old, dangerous, and has its share of political unrest. As a westerner, you can keep your travel plans safer by avoiding Yemen.

The tragic thing about Yemen is that it possesses such beautiful sights. It has unbelievable Red Sea beaches, Socotra Island (Similar to the Galapagos and on my own personal travel shortlist), and old forts amid craggy mountains.

Reaching Sana'a, Yemen is possible from Dubai, Doha, London, and Sharjah.

5. West Point, Monrovia, Liberia
Clean water, electricity, basic services - all things we take for granted in the West. In the West Point area of Monrovia, a city named for James Monroe, these are luxuries. West Point, a peninsular slum jutting out into the Atlantic, is home to a special breed of disgusting squalor. Home to 75,000 Monrovians, it is one of Africa's most notorious and crowded slums. Cholera is at an epidemic level, drug use is rampant, teenage prostitution is a commonality, and toilets are scarce. In fact, since it costs money to use neighborhood toilets, many Monrovians in West Point just crap in the streets or on the beach.

Vice did a great series on Liberia a few years ago. In the series, they meet with with an ex-war leader known as General Butt Naked - the commander of a group of child soldiers called the Butt Naked Brigade. He earned this name by charging into battle wearing only sneakers and his AK-47. Aside from sacrificing humans and partaking in cannibalism, he also regularly communicated with the devil. Today, he is a minister.

Delta flies from Atlanta to Monrovia, Liberia.

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[Video] Power 105.1 Interviews Karen Civil

2012-01-06T11:54:00.002-05:00

Follow her fine ass on twitter!

@KarenCivil

Watch The Throne Tour Backstage (Ep. 6 & 7)

2012-01-06T11:11:00.000-05:00

From Mind Control to Superstardom? The Meaning of Lady Gaga’s “Marry the Night”

2012-01-05T13:57:00.000-05:00

The music video “Marry the Night” tells the story of Lady Gaga’s rise to fame in the entertainment industry. Oddly enough, her “journey” begins with her describing the symptoms of a trauma-based mind control victim. Is there a deeper meaning to this video? We’ll look at the symbolism of “Marry the Night” and its underlying occult meaning.

Lady Gaga generated a great buzz among her fans when she announced that the video to Marry the Night would reveal a part of her past. Did her fans expect the video to begin with a traumatized Gaga inside a psychiatric ward with a bunch of lobotomized girls? Probably not. But from that strange starting point, the video proceeds to depict Gaga’s rise to super-stardom. How does all of that tie in together? To most, this doesn’t really make any sense. However, to those who understand the relation between trauma-based mind control and the entertainment industry, it makes perfect sense. While many of her previous videos referred to mind control in subtle and symbolic ways (see previous articles on Vigilant Citizen), Marry the Night takes it a step further, pretty much spelling it out. At the very start of the video, Gaga’s monologue defines in unequivocal terms the plight of a mind control victim. Despite her hardships, she says, she is determined to make it in the music business and is ready to do whatever it takes to reach her goal. She therefore “marries the night”, an expression that has a profound meaning.

The video is Lady Gaga’s directorial debut and, according MTV.com it is basically a “big thank you” to Interscope Records – the record label that signed her. This is definitely true but the video also says thanks to those behind her record label: the “Night” that she married. Let’s look at the video’s most important scenes.

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Skillz' '2011 Rap Up' (AUDIO)

2012-01-02T13:50:00.001-05:00

[Video] Nova Giovanni Presents: "How To Score on the First Date"

2012-01-02T13:41:00.002-05:00

DJ Vanrod's "My Demo" [Mixtape]

2012-01-02T10:55:00.004-05:00

DOWNLOAD HERE

The Soulstice releases "MF Wonders" mixtape

2012-01-02T10:50:00.003-05:00

In homage to two of the most legendary hip hop producers, The Soulstice piece together their freshman mixtape featuring classic production from solely MF Doom & 9th Wonder. As their debut release to the world, The Soulstice try and capture a sound that isn't often heard but still reach the topics that many can relate. Enjoy!

Mediafire: The Soulstice Presents "MF Wonders" The Mixtape

Bandcamp: The Soulstice Presents "MF Wonders" The Mixtape

The Soulstice (closely associated with The Y.H.G.M Brand) consists of 4 talented artists; Alex Kidd, Lafayette, Rob Yung, and Ross Munroe. All 4 members hail from different States but are all currently residing in Florida. With their unimaginable passion for music, this talented group can do all the work on their own. From the process of songwriting and composing to the recording and mixing! With the year of 2011 coming to an end you can expect to see many things coming from these young and talented individuals.

New Mixtape: T.I. "Fuck Da City Up"

2012-01-01T00:06:00.001-05:00

01. T.I. – F*ck Da City Up (Intro)

02. T.I. – F*ck Da City Up(Feat. Young Jeezy) [Prod. By Chuck Deisel]

03. T.I. – Hot Wheels (Feat. Travis Porter & Young Dro) [Prod. By T-Minus]

04. T.I. – Loud Mouth (Feat. 2 Chainz) [Prod. By Valentino Khan]

05. T.I. – On Purpose (Feat. Trouble & Rich Kidd Shad) [Prod. By Jazzy & Mex Manny]

06. T.I. – Stunt’n Like A Fool [Prod. By Chizz]

07. T.I. – Pimp (Feat. Pimp C & Too Short) [Prod. By Cavi]

08. T.I. – This Time Of Night (Feat. Nelly) [Prod. By Mars]

09. T.I. – In A Nutshell (Feat. Lady G & Spodee) [Prod. By Will]

10. T.I. – Jeezy Speaks (Interlude)

11. T.I. – Who What When (Feat. Meek Mill) [Prod. By Toomp]

12. T.I. – The One [Prod. By Manny Fresh]

13. T.I. – Piss’n On Your Ego (Feat. B.o.B) [Prod. By Lil C]

14. T.I. – Harry Potter (D.O.P.E. Feat. T.I.) [Prod. By Hit Boy]

15. T.I. – I See Ghost’s (Feat. Future & Rocko) [Prod. By Lil C]

16. T.I. – I’ll Show You (Feat. Pusha T) [Prod. By Cut The Check]

17. T.I. – Oh Yeah (Feat. Trey Songz) [Prod. By Just Blaze]

18. T.I. – Popped Off (Feat. Dr. Dre) [Prod. By Dr. Dre]

19. T.I. – F*ck Da City Up (Outro)

Download here

New Mixtape: Yo Gotti "January 10th"

2011-12-31T14:13:00.004-05:00

01. The Situation

02. Real Shit – prod by Lil Lody

03. Live From the Kitchen – Prod by Lil Lody

04. Legacy

05. Colors ft. Gucci Mane & Juelz Santana – prod By Lil Lody

06. I Got Dat Sack – prod. by Drumma Drama

07. My Fans

08. Real Niggas – prod. by Drumma Drama

09. 5 Years

10. Hold Me Back – prod. by Silent Jay

11. Industry

12. Zed Zilla ft. Yo Gotti – Fire Dat Bitch – prod. by Quantum Sound

13. Sylver Karatz – Kill Dem Hoes – prod. by Young Shun

14. CMG

Download here

[Video] "L's High" - Tu-KhinDz, The Colbster, J.Rell 'The Prince', Newport Ricks & Tra' Holiday

2011-12-31T11:52:00.003-05:00

[Y.H.G.M]

Milly Esquire Releases "Eating Milk & Drinking Cereal", His "Milly Mondays" Compilation

2011-12-28T10:04:00.003-05:00

Tracklist:

1. Rap Radar [3rd Portion]

2. Milluminati (Produced By: Rob Yung)

3. Talk To Me

4. Making Me Mad [feat. Tra' Holiday]

5. Somebody (Produced By: july2nd) [feat. Daysia Star]

6. Smile In Ya Face [feat. Tragedy]

7. What They Say (Produced By: Brey Quick) [feat. Jennifer Simone]

8. Memory Loss

9. They Don't Even Know [feat. Tragedy]

10. Stop Callin' My Phone [feat. Tu-KhinDz]

11. Rap Radar [Full]

[Download Link]

http://www.mediafire.com/?l30y5qr6jt9bqm9

“Milly Mondays” was originally created for one purpose - to share some of Milly Esquire’s older and unreleased music to the public. What it ended up doing was giving more insight to the public about Milly Esquire as a person, as well as a rapper, and gained him fans and blog recognition in return.

With 11 songs released (one as a bonus track) between October and December 2011, Milly gave his fans all of him – quotable lines, humor, heartfelt and personal moments, braggadocio and fun. The music was and always will be representative of who he is as a person, while continuing to showcase his talent, which is constantly growing and evolving.

Rapping about a vast range of topics, from candidly speaking to what he’s been through in life and love, his personal struggles, failed relationships, his experiences as an up-and-coming hip hop artist and the difficulties he’s had within the industry, “Milly Monday” always showcased Milly Esquire unique spin and look at life. With guest appearances from Daysia Star, Jennifer Simone and his YHGM members, Milly’s music was praised and featured on DMVixen.com,Rockthedub.com, Theblackurbantimes.com, Areyouinthatmoodyet.com, Forthedmvonly.com, Themillerreport.net, Meetthadealer.com and many more blog sites.

He’s gained fans, publicity and recognition for his talent with “Milly Mondays” project, but he is not done yet.

[Video] Watch The Throne Tour Backstage (Episodes 3-5)

2011-12-27T12:45:00.001-05:00

Drake Gets Aaliyah Tattoo

2011-12-26T10:07:00.000-05:00

"Aubrey has shown his love for Aaliyah on numerous occasions, but he recently took it a step further by adding Baby Girl’s portrait to his back. That’s him on the far right. Last August, Drake guest blogged for us by penning a letter to the late R&B songstress in honor of her 31st birthday." - Big Homie

New Mixtape: Fabolous "There Is No Competition: Death Comes In 3′s"

2011-12-25T12:37:00.000-05:00

Download here

[Video] Odd Christmas (Ft. Nicki Minaj, Big Sean, Rick Ross, Beyonce,Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne etc.)

2011-12-25T12:33:00.000-05:00

[Download] New EP: Young Chris - Young Christmas

2011-12-25T11:10:00.000-05:00

1. Property Tax (Produced by: Mike Jerz)

2. So fly (Produced by: Cardiak)

3. Still Creeping (Produced by: Mike Jerz)

4. 100 & Rolling (Produced by: Mike Jerz)

5. 6 In da Morning Prouduced by: (CERTIFYD)

6. Make you a Believer (Produced by: CERTIFYD)

7. *Bonus* Black out

8. *Bonus* Trouble on my Mind (Produced by: Ritz)

Download here

[Video] Lil Wayne “Weezy’s Sports Corner” Vlog

2011-12-24T17:22:00.001-05:00

WEEZY's SPORTS CORNER 12/24/11 1 OF 7 from DERICK G on Vimeo.

White Girl Going HAM On Popular Radio Station 92Q!

2011-12-21T13:43:00.001-05:00

[Video] Young Jeezy A Hustlerz Ambition Film

2011-12-19T10:49:00.001-05:00

Milly Esquire Releases His 9th "Milly Mondays" Track, "They Don't Even Know", featuring Tragedy

2011-12-19T10:00:00.003-05:00

Over an infectious beat, Milly Esquire and his Y.H.G.M. artist, Tragedy, come together to tag team this song. Showing off their incredible chemistry, as well as their lyrical ability, this song is definitely a banger, meant to be played at high volumes. Consistent with the classic Y.H.G.M. style, this song is full of quotable lines and metaphors. As evidenced by previous "Milly Mondays", Milly Esquire definitely has a range of topics and the talent to rise to the top of the music industry.

For the free download, please follow this link: http://www.divshare.com/download/16408282-40a.

Also, please be aware that the "Milly Mondays" compilation, "Eating Milk & Drinking Cereal", will be released December 28, 2011. The compilation will feature all of the 10 "Milly Mondays" tracks, as well as a couple of bonus tracks.

[Video] Why Are Black Women Single?

2011-12-19T01:24:00.001-05:00

[Video] Drake Brings Out Stevie Wonder In LA

2011-12-18T10:34:00.000-05:00

R.I.P. Slim Dunkin

2011-12-17T12:14:00.003-05:00

"Reports confirm that Brick Squad Monopoly’s Slim Dunkin was shot and murdered yesterday in Atlanta. Earlier in the day, BSM member Wooh Da Kid broke the tragic news via Twitter.

Above is a short documentary on Slim Dunkin by EAN featuring his very last performance the previous night. R.I.P Slim Dunkin." - Big Homie

50 Amazing Holiday Cookie Recipes

2011-12-17T12:07:00.001-05:00

Let's be honest. While we all love the gifts (giving and receiving), the festive parties, the twinkling lights and the meeting of friends and family, the best part of the holidays -- maybe one of the most cherished aspects -- is the holiday cookie. Oh, we know we can get cookies all year round; we are free to stop at a bakery or whip up a fresh batch at home -- no one is stopping us.

But for one reason or another, cookies never taste as sweet as when they are made for the holidays. Luckily, they are not hard to come by this time of year. Many a home kitchen is wafting with the sweet scent of cinnamon or chocolate, friends are swapping batches of freshly-baked treats and offices are never in short supply.

From gingerbread men to almond crescents, chocolate-chunk shortbread to cranberry-pistachio biscotti, we have a recipe that highlights every favorite sweet ingredient; and there is surely a recipe to please everyone for this holiday season.

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7 Ways to Soothe a Sick Toddler

2011-12-17T11:57:00.003-05:00

Got a little one who's been hit by the flu or laid low by a bad cold? Try some of these sickbed soothers for an extra dose of toddler-friendly TLC.

It’s no fun coming down with a drippy nose, a croup-y cough, a bellyache, or fatigue-inducing fever — especially for a toddler who can’t bear to miss a minute of exploration. And when your little one’s sick (and miserable), it can be hard on you too. So while you can’t wave a magic wand to make those icky feelings go away, there’s plenty you can do (outside of what the doctor orders) to ease your own parenting worries and help your sick toddler feel better.

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Wale Announces New Ambition Tour Dates

2011-12-17T10:54:00.003-05:00

Sat, Dec 30: Atlantic City, NJ – House of Blues (Sold Out)
Sun, Jan 1: Silver Spring, MD – Fillmore
Fri, Jan 6: Ann Arbor, MI – U. Michigan
Sat, Jan 7: Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
Sat, Jan 7: Columbus, OH – Long Street Live
Sun, Jan 8: Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
Mon, Jan 9: Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
Thurs, Jan 19: Montreal, Quebec – Time Supper Club
Fri, Jan 20: Toronto, Ontario – Phoenix Concert Theatre
Sat, Jan 21: London, Ontario – London Music Hall
Sun, Jan 22: Hamilton, Ontario – The Studio at Hamilton Place
Thurs, Jan 26: Bridgeport, CT – Webster Bank Arena
Fri, Jan 27: Springfield, MA – Mass Mutual Center
Sat, Jan 28: Worcester, MA – The Palladium
Tues, Jan 31: Wichita, KS – The Cotilion
Weds, Feb 1: Omaha, NE – Sokol Hall
Thurs, Feb 2: Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom
Sun, Feb 4: Indianapolis, IN (Super Bowl Weekend)
Fri, Feb 10: New York, NY – Irving Plaza (w/ Miguel) Lotus Flower Bomb / Valentines Show
Mon, Feb 13: West Hollywood, CA – Key Club (w/ Miguel) Lotus Flower Bomb / Valentines Show
Tues, Feb 14: Las Vegas, NV – Marquee Nightclub
Weds, Feb 15: Reno, NV – The Knitting Factory
Thurs, Feb 16: Salt Lake City – Depot
Sat, Feb 25 + Sun, Feb 26: Orlando, FL (All Star Weekend)
Fri, Mar 2 + Sat, Mar 3: Charlotte, NC (CIAA Weekend)
Tues, March 6: Nassau, Bahamas – Colonial Island

TSA Investigating Freddie Gibbs Weed Incident?

2011-12-16T18:37:00.001-05:00

"Freddie Gibbs was recently let off the hook after TSA failed to report weed found in his bag during anairport security check. Instead of turning Gibbs in, the agent left the note above. But now, Gibbs’ twipic has caught the attention of the Transportation Safety Administration who issued the statement below." - B.Dot

“TSA takes all allegations of inappropriate conduct seriously and is investigating this claim,” says a spokesperson for the TSA. ”Should the claims be substantiated, TSA will take appropriate disciplinary steps and refer the alleged possession of an illegal substance to law enforcement.”

5 REASONS NOT TO SIGN A RECORD DEAL?

2011-12-15T11:09:00.003-05:00

While signing a contract might be your goal. Here are five reasons to be cautious before signing on the dotted line.

1: THE RIGHT LABEL? - Major labels, now more than ever are forced to split their focus between multiple acts. The doors closing at Jive, Arista and J Records are a prime example. RCA Records, now with the inclusion of the remaining acts after the takeover has a larger roster and now a smaller staff. Artists are often forced to compete for release dates between label mates and label execs.

2: QUANTITY OVER QUALITY - A record label’s main concern is the monetary return on their investment, but an artist’s main passion is the quality of the music being produced. Conflicting core values between labels and artists unnecessarily inhibit the creativity and uniqueness of the artists’ music.

3: CONTROL - Lack of creative control? A portion of their own paychecks? Restrictions and inflexible deadlines? Binding obligations to labels leave much to be desired when artists can now rely on themselves to get their music produced, promoted and purchased. This is an anomaly in today’s low record-selling music industry. With the easy access to cheap or free music online, labels are rapidly losing their relevance for turning their focus more towards the importance of live performances. Even major bands like Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails addressed their labels’ irrelevance by selling recent albums directly to fans online.

4; COMPENSATION - Signing with a label big or small? What are you really getting in return. The 360 Deal is the new mandate of the majors, do you trust your future to a corporation you don’t control? Small labels, can be just as bad. Limited resources, combined with pages of legal red tape can put the brakes on a career for years

5: TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION - Labels take a cut of the money earned by artists for performing tasks that the artists could actually do themselves with the right access to resources and guidance. A growing number of site and services including likeZEBRA.com and others offer recording and promotional tools to get the music directly out to an audience without being an expensive middle man.

[Video] What Girls Do When They're Drunk

2011-12-15T09:12:00.002-05:00

[Video] Common On Chelsea Lately

2011-12-14T14:06:00.002-05:00

211121323213 by YardieGoals

[Video] A Quick History Of Satellites In Space

2011-12-13T19:42:00.001-05:00

a quick history of satellites in space from ne0nle0n on Vimeo.

New Video: Ludacris x Gucci Mane “Shake N Fries”

2011-12-13T14:04:00.002-05:00

[Video] Watch The Throne Tour Backstage (Ep.2)

2011-12-13T12:46:00.002-05:00

The Chi by toobu13

[Video] YN Interviews Young Jeezy (Trailer)

2011-12-13T12:40:00.003-05:00

"Hours before Young Jeezy’s NYC screening of Hustlerz Ambition, Elliott caught up with the Snowman at the Landmark Theater. The sit down in broken up in three parts, but here’s a snippet of their conversation." - B.Dot

Milly Esquire Releases "Memory Loss"

2011-12-13T12:26:00.001-05:00

Memory Loss by Milly Esquire

A song recorded last year by Milly, "Memory Loss" is truly representative of his music - full of fun and braggadocio. Meant to be comical, Milly gives his fans, new and old, a taste of his sense of humor while also showing off his talent and skills. As evidenced by previous "Milly Mondays", Milly Esquire definitely has a range of topics and the talent to rise to the top of the music industry.

For the free download, please follow this link: http://soundcloud.com/milly-esquire/memory-loss.

Please be on the lookout for the "Milly Mondays" compilation, "Eating Milk & Drinking Cereal", that will be released on December 28, 2011. All of the "Milly Mondays" tracks will be included, as well as a couple of bonus tracks for your enjoyment.

Facebook Is Making Us Miserable?

2011-12-13T12:12:00.001-05:00

When Facebook was founded in 2004, it began with a seemingly innocuous mission: to connect friends. Some seven years and800 million users later, the social network has taken over most aspects of our personal and professional lives, and is fast becoming the dominant communication platform of the future.

But this new world of ubiquitous connections has a dark side. In my last post, I noted that Facebook and social media are major contributors to career anxiety. After seeing some of the comments and reactions to the post, it's clear that Facebook in particular takes it a step further: It's actually making us miserable.

Facebook's explosive rate of growth andrecent product releases, such as the prominent Newsticker, Top Stories on the newsfeed, and larger photos have all been focused on one goal: encouraging more sharing. As it turns out, it's precisely this hyper-sharing that is threatening our sense of happiness.

In writing Passion & Purpose, I monitored and observed how Facebook was impacting the lives of hundreds of young businesspeople. As I went about my research, it became clear that behind all the liking, commenting, sharing, and posting, there were strong hints of jealousy, anxiety, and, in one case, depression. Said one interviewee about a Facebook friend, "Although he's my best friend, I kind-of despise his updates." Said another "Now, Facebook IS my work day." As I dug deeper, I discovered disturbing by-products of Facebook's rapid ascension - three new, distressing ways in which the social media giant is fundamentally altering our daily sense of well-being in both our personal and work lives.

First, it's creating a den of comparison. Since our Facebook profiles are self-curated, users have a strong bias toward sharing positive milestones and avoid mentioning the more humdrum, negative parts of their lives. Accomplishments like, "Hey, I just got promoted!" or "Take a look at my new sports car," trump sharing the intricacies of our daily commute or a life-shattering divorce. This creates an online culture of competition and comparison. One interviewee even remarked, "I'm pretty competitive by nature, so when my close friends post good news, I always try and one-up them."

Comparing ourselves to others is a key driver of unhappiness. Tom DeLong, author of Flying Without a Net, even describes a "Comparing Trap." He writes, "No matter how successful we are and how many goals we achieve, this trap causes us to recalibrate our accomplishments and reset the bar for how we define success."And as we judge the entirety of our own lives against the top 1% of our friends' lives, we're setting impossible standards for ourselves, making us more miserable than ever.

Second, it's fragmenting our time. Not surprisingly, Facebook's "horizontal" strategy encourages users to log in more frequently from different devices. My interviewees regularly accessed Facebook from the office, at home through their iPads, and while out shopping on their smartphones. This means that hundreds of millions of people are less "present" where they are. Sketching out a mind-numbing presentation for the board meeting? Perhaps it's time to reply to your messages. Stuck in traffic? It's time to browse your newsfeed. Recounted one interviewee, "I almost got hit by a car while using Facebook crossing the street."

Leaving the risk of real physical harm aside, the issue with this constant "tabbing" between real-life tasks and Facebook is what economists and psychologists call "switching costs," the loss in productivity associated with changing from one task to another. Famed author Dr. Srikumar Rao attributes mindfulness over multitasking as one of his ten steps to happiness at work. He argues that constant distractions lead to late and poor-quality output, negatively impacting our sense of self-worth.

Last, there's a decline of close relationships. Gone are the days where Facebook merely complemented our real-life relationships. Now, Facebook is actually winning share of our core, off-line interactions. One participant summed it up simply: "We Facebook chat instead of meeting up. It's easier."

As Facebook adds new features such as video chat, it is fast becoming a viable substitute for meetings, relationship building, and even family get-togethers. But each time a Facebook interaction replaces a richer form of communication - such as an in-person meeting, a long phone call, or even a date at a restaurant - people miss opportunities to interact more deeply than Facebook could ever accommodate. As Facebook continues to add new features to help us connect more efficiently online, the battle to maintain off-line relationships will become even more difficult, which will impact their overall quality, especially in the long-run. Facebook is negatively affecting what psychology Professor Jeffrey Parker refers to as "the closeness properties of friendship."

So, what should we do to avoid these three traps? Recognizing that "quitting" Facebook altogether is unrealistic, we can still take measures to alter our usage patterns and strengthen our real-world relationships. Some useful tactics I've seen include blocking out designated time for Facebook, rather than visiting intermittently throughout the day; selectively trimming Facebook friends lists to avoid undesirable ex-partners and gossipy coworkers; and investing more time in building off-line relationships. The particularly courageous choose to delete Facebook from their smartphones and iPads, and log off the platform entirely for long stretches of time.

Is Facebook making you miserable? What other tips can you share?

Giz

Justin Bieber Paternity Claim Was A Lie...

2011-12-13T11:52:00.004-05:00

If you thought you had heard the last about Mariah Yeater -- the woman who claimed Justin Bieber is the father of her child -- think again. Yeater's ex-boyfriend is now speaking out about the ordeal, and says the whole paternity suit was based on a lie.

"She lied," Robert Powell told RumorFix about Yeater, claiming she made a whopping $50,000 from selling her story to a tabloid. "She just picked [Justin Bieber], because she thought he was famous and all and thought she could get a lot of money by telling the magazine Justin was the father. She just saw him as an opportunity to make a lot of money."

In November, Yeater caused quite a media frenzy when she came forward and alleged that she and Bieber had sex in a bathroom after one of his concerts last year, and he is the father of her son. Bieber denied the claims from the start, but agreed to take a paternity test to settle the issue once and for all -- and plans to sue Yeater and her lawyers for creating the story in the first place.

"I know I'm going to be a target, but I'm never going to be a victim. It's crazy, every night after the show I've gone right from the stage right to my car, so it's crazy some people want to make up such false allegations. But to set the record straight, none of it is true," Bieber told the "Today Show" in response to Yeater's allegations.

Powell, who is currently in jail after being arrested for burglary and drug possession, says he's surehe's the father of Yeater's baby boy and he actually feels bad for Bieber for being thrown into his personal drama.

"I feel sorry for Justin Bieber," he said. "He's just a little kid, man. He don't need to be going through all this drama. He got a career and sh*t to focus on. I feel sorry for the dude."

For more from Powell on the paternity claims, head over to RumorFix.com.

Huffington Post

T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle [Episode 3]

2011-12-13T11:35:00.002-05:00

Drake 2012 Club Paradise [U.S. & European] Tour Dates

2011-12-13T10:45:00.004-05:00

"Drake’s hitting the road again. And on Valentine’s day he begins his 2012 Paradise Tour. Full dates below via Pressparty."

- Big Homie

2012 The Club Paradise Tour North American Dates:

2/14/2012 Miami, FLBank United Center

2/15/2012 Gainesville, FL, Stephen C. O’Connell Center

2/17/2012 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena

2/18/2012 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center

2/21/2012 Columbia, SC Colonial Life Arena

2/22/2012 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena

2/24/2012 Tallahassee, FL Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center

2/25/2012 New Orleans, LAUNO Lakefront Arena

2/27/2012 Austin, TX Frank Erwin Center

2/28/2012 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena

3/01/2012 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center

3/02/2012 Arlington, TX College Park Center

3/04/2012 Tuscon, AZ Tucson Arena

3/05/2012 Los Angeles, CA Galen Center

3/08/2012 Fresno, CA Save Mart Center

3/10/2012 San Jose, CA Event Center

3/11/2012 San Diego, CA Viejas Arena

2012 The Club Paradise Tour European Dates:

3/24/2012 Dublin, Ireland O2 Arena

3/26/2012 London, UK London 02 Arena

3/29/2012 Sheffield, UK Sheffield Motorpoint Arena
3/30/2012 Cardiff, UK Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
4/01/2012 Manchester, UK Manchester MEN Arena
4/02/2012 Glasgow, Scotland Glasgow SECC – Hall 4

4/05/2012 Paris, France Palais Omnisport de Bercy

4/07/2012 Brussels, Belgium Forest National / Vorst Nationaal

4/08/2012 Amsterdam, Holland Heineken Music Hall

4/10/2012 Frankfurt Germany, Jahrhunderthalle

4/12/2012 Berlin, Germany Max Schleming Halle

4/13/2012 Copenhagen, Denmark Valby Hallen

4/15/2012 Stockholm, Sweden Ericsson Globe

4/16/2012 Oslo, Norway Oslo Spektrum

4/19/2012 Birmingham, England Birmingham LG Arena

4/22/2012 Liverpool, England Liverpool Echo Arena
4/23/2012 Newcastle, England Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
4/25/2012 Nottingham, England Nottingham Capital FM Arena

Tickets for UK shows go on sale 9am on Friday 16th December priced at £39.50 & £37.50 LONDON / £35.00 REGIONALLY(subject to booking fee), available Live Nation.

New Video: Meek Mill x Young Chris “House Party”

2011-12-12T12:13:00.001-05:00

Get More: Meek Mill, House Party, Music, More Music Videos

[Video] Wife and Husband "Siri Argument"

2011-12-09T14:05:00.001-05:00