Aubrey O'Day's Playboy Cover

BOO!

TMZ Posts Rihanna Photo

One word: speechless. Oh yeah, and five more words: This is definitely NOT photoshopped. Oh, and one more comment, it's really terrible that someone would leak this photo.

Valentines Day is for Suckas

I know this is a late post, but it still has relevance. Many of you all know that I boycotted Valentine's Day this year because it's a stupid Hallmark Holiday, in my opinion and I just think it's kind of lame. One of my favorite media personalities, Roland Martin, wrote a column about this topic, and I just found it tonight so I'm posting it even though Vday was last weekend!
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DON'T BE MY VALENTINE
BY ROLAND S. MARTIN

Editor's note: A nationally syndicated columnist, Roland S. Martin is the author of "Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith" and "Speak, Brother! A Black Man's View of America." Visit his Web site for more information.

(CNN) -- With retailers hurting and the U.S. president trying to encourage Americans to spend money to restore consumer confidence, what I'm about to say may seem like treason. But here goes: Please boycott Valentine's Day and all that is associated with this horrendous "holiday."

For several years I have ripped into Valentine's Day. Not because I'm against love and relationships, but mainly because the holiday is such a farce.

First of all, Valentine's Day is not built around a religious event like Christmas or Easter; nor does it have any special meaning to the nation such as Memorial Day or Veterans Day.

It is nothing more than a commercial holiday created by rabid retailers who needed a major shopping day between Christmas and Easter in order to give people a reason to spend money.

Now folks, I love my wife. She is truly an awesome woman who is smart, talented, fine, and, did I say fine? But do I really need a special day to show my affection for her?

READ ENTIRE COLUMN

President Obama Emailed Me

I, along with millions of other Americans who signed up for President Obama's emails during his campaign, received this email from the Pres a few moments ago about the Economic Recovery Act so I thought I'd share it with you. Funny thing is, I never got an email from President Bush *scratches head* But I digress.

Nepherterra --

Today, I signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law.

This is a historic step -- the first of many as we work together to climb out of this crisis -- and I want to thank you for your resolve and your support.

You organized thousands of house meetings. You shared your ideas and personal stories. And you informed your friends and neighbors about the need for immediate action. You continue to be a powerful voice for change throughout the country.

The recovery plan will create or save 3.5 million jobs, provide tax cuts for working and middle-class families, and invest in health care and clean energy.

It's a bold plan to address a huge problem, and it will require my vigilance and yours to make sure it's done right.

I've assigned a team of managers to oversee the implementation of the recovery act. We are committed to making sure no dollar is wasted. But accountability begins with you.

That's why my administration has created Recovery.gov, a new website where citizens can track every dollar spent and every job created. We'll invite you and your neighbors to weigh in with comments and questions.

Our progress will also be measured by the tens of thousands of personal stories submitted by people who are struggling to make ends meet. If you haven't already, you can read stories from families all across the country:

http://my.barackobama.com/yourstories

Your stories are the heart of this recovery plan, and that's what I'll focus on every day as President.

With your continued support, we'll emerge a stronger and more prosperous nation.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

OctoMom Gets Fired By Her PR Firm Due to Death Threats

I LOVE this photo from TMZ.com LMAO

Anyway, according to the AP, the public relations firm representing the California woman who gave birth to octuplets says it is stepping down after getting death threats.

The Killeen Furtney Group has received dozens of threats, the head of the Los Angeles agency, Joann Killeen, told the Associated Press (AP) news agency.

FULL STORY

UNC Charlotte Launches Center for Global Public Relations

I received an email about this today. I think this is great for Charlotte's PR community and I'm planning ot attend the event.

Details below:

UNC Charlotte’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will launch its new Center for Global Public Relations on Saturday with panel discussions featuring industry professionals.

Experts will discuss international communications issues and give recommendations for the industry in the 21st century.

“The dedication of the center will provide an excellent forum where experts will explore global issues that concern all Americans who are trying to understand how their lives are intertwined with others throughout the world, whether socially, culturally, politically or economically,” said Dean Kruckeberg, director of the Center for Global Public Relations.

The event is free and open to the public. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Storrs building on campus.

Panel discussions include:

•9:15 a.m. – “Global Alliance and Intercultural Communication and Diplomacy,” featuring John Paluszek, senior counsel of the global communications company Ketchum, and Ed Brynn, retired career Foreign Service Officer and former Ambassador to Burkina Faso and Ghana;

•11 a.m. – “Multinational Corporation PR and Public Diplomacy,” featuring Ron Rand, retired brigadier general and now director of communications for Lockheed-Martin, and Bob Grupp, president of Grupp Global Partners;

•1:30 p.m. – “Public Relations in the Pacific Rim and the Middle East,” featuring Doug Newsom, public-relations scholar and author, and Judy VanSlyke Turk, president-elect of the Arab-U.S. Association for Communication Educators;

•3:15 p.m. – “Public Relations in the Newly Independent States,” featuring Joe Epley, founding member of Worldcom Group, the global consortium of independent public relations firms, and Katerina Tsetsura, a Russian scholar at the University of Oklahoma who has performed extensive research about global-media corruption.

The center seeks to support the evolution of global public relations as a specialization of professional practice.

For information about the dedication event, contact Allison Reid at (704) 687.0084 or allison.reid@uncc.edu.

UNC Charlotte is the fourth-largest campus among the 17 institutions of the University of North Carolina system. It is the largest institution of higher education in the Charlotte region. The university offers 18 doctoral programs, 62 master’s degree programs and 90 programs leading to bachelor’s degrees.

Fall 2008 enrollment exceeded 23,300 students, including nearly 5,200 graduate students.

Ray J's Baby Scandal: Danger Says She's Preggers

Reality television has reached a new low and I'm loving every minute of it. So I'm addicted to VH1's new show For the Love of Ray J. My friend JaRae just told me about the newest development!According to the National Enquirer, Danger, the girl that I DEW PR pegged as the winner of the show, is pregnant with Ray J's baby. I know, right! Crazy. VH1 even talks about it on their blog. But first things first, here's what the Enquirer says:

A woman on her boyfriend Ray J's new reality TV show claims the rapper got her pregnant during filming of his VH1 show For The Love Of Ray J, The ENQUIRER has learned exclusively.

As The ENQUIRER previously reported, the troubled pop star was furious when Ray J, 28, began taping a trashy reality show with the premise of finding the "perfect" woman for him.

Now Whitney's worst nightmare has apparently come true.

Monica Leon, 22 - aka Danger - says she is carrying Ray J's baby. She had sex with him during production, Monica says, and is now more than three months pregnant.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY

Chris Brown's Official "Statement"

It took Chris Brown's PR person, Dr. Evil, an entire week to come up with THIS statement? I'm SO not impressed.

"Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired. I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God's help, to emerging a better person. Much of what has been speculated or reported on blogs and/or reported in the media is wrong. While I would like to be able to talk about this more, until the legal issues are resolved, this is all I can say except that I have not written any messages or made any posts to Facebook, on blogs or any place else. Those posts or writing under my name are frauds."

Boo.

Suge Knight got Beat Up at the All Star Game

First of all, I JUST had a fab experience at the W Scottsdale a couple weekends ago. The hotel is awesome so this nonsense is inexcusable. Apparently Suge Knight gets in fights everywhere he goes, and the All Star Game was no exception.

Here's the story from the Associated Press:


Police: Rap producer injured in Ariz. hotel fight
The Associated Press
Posted: Monday, Feb. 16, 2009

PHOENIX Police using Tasers broke up an early morning fight that sent rap impresario Marion "Suge" Knight to an Arizona hospital for treatment of face injuries, authorities said Monday.

Scottsdale police arrested two men after the fracas, which occurred at about 3 a.m. Monday at a private party at the W Scottsdale Hotel.

Robert Carnes Jr., 38, of Bethlehem, Pa., one of the men arrested, identified himself as the business manager of hip-hop star Akon, said police spokesman Sgt. Mark Clark. Akon, who was in Phoenix for the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, was not present during the fight, he said.

FULL STORY