For the Kids

As school is not too far away its time to think about some of the essential things that the kids need. Here is one video I actually saw in the movies a while back. "Waiting for Superman"

With the pledge at 23,752, help grow the scale 1,000,000 needed to release this movie and help the cause. To find out more information go to waitingforsuperman.com

Director of the docu-film Davis Guggenheim's interview

Take the pledge and take action

Waitingforsuperman.com

Waitingforsuperman.com/action

Student Loan Overhaul

How many of you out there have student loans? I'm sure there are several who do. A little info for you who currently have loans, are thinking about taking on loans and/or will have future children who will attend university -

Since the bank-based loan program began in 1965, commercial banks like Sallie Mae and Nelnet have received guaranteed federal subsidies to lend money to students, with the government assuming nearly all the risk. Democrats have long denounced the program, saying it fattened the bottom line for banks at the expense of students and taxpayers.

Ending one of the fiercest lobbying fights in Washington, Congress voted 2 weeks ago to force commercial banks out of the federal student loan market, cutting off billions of dollars in profits in a sweeping restructuring of financial-aid programs and redirecting most of the money to new education initiatives.

- DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and TAMAR LEWIN of The NY TIMES

Read the full article here - it will take 2 minutes and is a great refresher on the issue.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/us/politics/26loans.html?hp

Roxanne's Revenge

Photo Courtesy of Watts / DAILY NEWS

In 1984, at the age of 14, Roxanne Shante, a single teenage mom raised by one parent, hailing the projects of Queens, released "Roxanne's Revenge," a response to rap group UTFO's mega-hit "Roxanne, Roxanne." She was signed by Warner Music, released two albums and by the time she was 19, she'd been chewed up and spit out of the beast. Disillusioned, broke & living back in Queensbridge, she remembered a very small yet very important clause in her recording contract - Warner Music would fit the bill for her education. For life.

Well, fast forward to 2009, Ms. Shante (born Lolita Gooden) holds her PhD in Psychology from Cornell University. By all means, if you're going to get a doctorate degree, you might as well go Ivy League, right?

It wasn't easy to get Warner to cough up the dough, but Roxanne had some help from women like Marguerita Grecco from Marymount Manhattan College.

Today, Roxanne awards $5,000 scholarships to female rappers through the non-profit Hip Hop Association.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2009/08/23/2009-08-23_rapper_schools_record_label_qns_ma_makes_warner_music_foot_bill_for_phd.html#ixzz0P7wOWGDh

Roxanne's first video:

Roxanne + Biz in 1986



Roxanne + Biz in 2008 at Big Daddy Kane's 20th Anniversary Show