Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Christina Aguilera Gets a Star




Christina Aguilera was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday, November 15, 2010,  E! News reports during a quick commercial break.

It doesn't seem like Aguilera receiving a star is as big a deal as it was when Mark Wahlberg received his. There hasn't been much reporting done about Aguilera's star, but she will be getting more recognition soon when her movie Burlesque hits theaters.

Rangel declared "guilty" on most ethics charges

Representative Charles RangelThe bi-partisan panel of the House ethics Committee considering charges against Representative Charles Rangel (NY-15) has determined that the veteran Democrat and former chairman of the Ways and Means Committee is guilty in 11 of the 13 counts of breaking House rules they were investigating.

Rangel's appearance yesterday before the subcommittee was highlighted by a self-non-defense, arguing that he needed additional time and funds to be properly represented. The subcommittee, chaired by another Democrat, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-16), was extraordinarily indulgent of Representative Rangel's repeated pleas; Rangel asserted spending approximately $2 million to date on his defense, but that expecting it might still cost half as much again his lawyers were unprepared to move forward, and that any "donated" defense provided by others would likely run afoul of FEC campaign donation limits.

The full House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct will hold a hearing to determine punishment and announce their recommendation to the full U.S. House of Representatives.

Consequences for Rangel could range from a House vote deploring Rangel's conduct to a fine and denial of privileges.  The so-called ethics committee is the only House committee exactly split between the two parties, and last acted to admonish then-Represenative Tom DeLay (TX-22) which seems to have resulted in then-Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert removing three Republicans. Reactions by Democrats arguably left the panel hobbled and ultimately unable to act in the cases of DeLay, Jim McDermott (WA-7), and the infamous Abramoff lobbying scandal, which resulted in such distrust of the GOP that they lost their majority in the 2006 elections.


Thomas Hayes is an entrepreneur, journalist, political strategist, and photographer who recently worked as the Campaign Manager on the Madore For Congress campaign in Minnesota's 2nd District. He contributes regularly to a host of other web sites on topics ranging from economics and politics to culture and community.

Depression & Parenting- Implications for your children by Dr. Christina Villarreal


Research studies have shown that children raised by parents affected by depression are at increased risk for academic and behavioral problems, as well as developing major depression themselves. These risks emanate from both a child's genetic predisposition for developing depression, as well as their stressful environmental upbringing, says Michelle Sherman, PhD, a clinical associate professor of psychology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City and the author of I'm Not Alone: A Teen's Guide to Living with a Parent Who Has a Mental Illness. "Children often assume blame or responsibility for their parents when things go wrong, like in depression or divorce" adds Sherman. Parenting is challenging on it's own, but parenting while coping with depression adds challenges that for many, become overwhelming and difficult to manage.

Parents suffering from untreated major depression are typically pessimistic and uninterested in life and social activities; they also frequently have low energy, and irritability- all of which make even the basic tasks of parenthood overwhelming. When mothers are depressed, they tend to be less organized, less responsive, more likely to express negative emotions, and less likely to be engaged with their children compared to non-depressed mothers, says Kate Fogarty, assistant professor of youth development at the University of Florida. For many children, this experience forces them to learn to care for themselves prematurely, and may place them inappropriately in the role of parental caretaker. Other children are less capable, and develop dysfunctional patterns of behavior and emotional disturbance as a result of ongoing parental neglect.

A study of 244 formerly depressed adolescents revealed that those whose mothers had a history of major depression were more likely to experience a recurrence of depression between the ages of 19 and 24, and had more frequent and severe depressive episodes. Depressed mothers had more of an impact on the adolescents' mental health than depressed fathers, according to this 2005 study by researchers at the Oregon Research Institute in Eugene, Ore., although the sons of depressed fathers were found to be more likely to consider and attempt suicide. The effects of having a father with depression has not been studied to the extent of depressed mothers, says Fogarty, but she suspects that the effect would be similar for any primary caretaker. "If this was the father and he was depressed, I would suspect there would be similar results. Researchers look at maternal depression mainly because mothers are traditionally the primary caretaker, but that’s changing" she adds.

How to support children with a depressed parent, and decrease their mental health risks:

"Depressed parents and their families should know that there is much one can do to reduce a child’s risk for becoming depressed. Just one adult who’s available and willing to help support the child can make a big difference in a child’s life when a parent is depressed," says Sherman. Additional emotional support can come from relatives in the family, a child psychologist, school teachers, church members, or other role models in community groups. Spouses of depressed parents also need support, since parental duties often fall disproportionately upon them much of the time. Couples and family therapy are also great resources that teach healthy communication, as well as how to build coping resources and resiliency in all family members.

Grandparents can also be a great resource in mitigating the negative effects of parental depression upon a child. "Frequent contact between a child and his or her grandparents, especially if the relationship is warm and nurturing, lessens the likelihood the child will develop depression later in life" according to Fogarty. "It is important for children to have a strong adult who is consistent in his or her life" adds Fogarty.

Adults hoping to help should provide a structured environment whenever possible, most importantly, one that encourages a child to express their emotions. "That can be as simple as maintaining a dialogue with the children, keeping the lines of communication open. It can also be showing sensitivity to the child’s needs," says Fogarty. Children with a depressed parent need adults who can detect their emotional state, since they often struggle to notice their own feelings and mood. As children, they've learned to focus on the emotional states of others, as a way to anticipate the shifting moods of their depressed parent. "If a child comes home after a bad day and is visibly upset, a depressed caregiver might not be available to help them through that process,” says Fogarty.

Is there hope for children raised by a depressed parent?


Some of these children show incredible resiliency, in spite of the challenges they've faced being raised by a depressed parent. These tend to be children with higher than average intelligence, who learn early on how to utilize an array of outside resources for guidance and support. They are often capable of socially complex problem solving, appearing 'wise beyond their years.' Further, they are usually comfortable with stressful situations, making them well suited to careers that require them to anticipate and read others' emotions. They tend to be independent and self-sufficient, and are often 'the workhorse' and conflict facilitator in groups. As adults, they are usually sensitive and understanding of others with mental health issues. While children raised by a depressed parent remain vulnerable to depression themselves due to the aforementioned reasons, this experience does not mean they are doomed to repeating the life of their depressed parent. With sufficient support and early intervention, children raised by a depressed parent can go on to lead normal, healthy lives.



Please add your comments, insights and/or questions about this topic here. To contact Dr. Villarreal for professional referrals, please visit http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/59877 or www.drchristinavillarreal.com

Michael Vick | Mike Vick 88-Yard Touchdown Pass To DeSean Jackson



Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Michael Vick opened the ESPN Monday Night Football game against Donovan McNabb and The Washington Redskins with this amazing 88-yard touchdown pass to former Cal Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson.

The pass, a rollout to the opposite hashmark off play-action, calling for Vick to throw to Jackson on a post pattern, was a thing of beauty. Watch Vick set himself, and use the hashmarks in the classic way preached by the late San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Bill Walsh.

(Why 49ers Owner John and Jed York have went away from the system Coach Walsh made famous there is beyond logic.)

After the play LeBron James got on Twitter and tweeted Michael Vick for President.

Personally, I think President Obama's just fine.

Michael Vick | Mike Vick Eagles vs Redskins Talk Of News Morning

The Eagles vs Redskins ESPN Monday Night Football game, and then the recap of that game, ended somewhere around midnight eastern time, but it's still the media talk Tuesday morning. And why not. Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Michael Vick, who LeBron James said should be President on Twitter, had a historic game.

"Mike Vick" became the first player in NFL History to have 300 yards passing, over 50 yards rushing (he had 80) and six touchdowns, four passing and two rushing, in one game. NFL.com said that's one of the greatest performances in Monday Night Football history, but if that's the case, who was better?

Vick Fueled By Redskins Insults

According to NFL.com, Vick and the Eagles were fueled by the taunting Washington Redskins. According to Philadelphia Center Mike McGlynn as told to the NFL, "Basically a guy tried to come over and intimidate us. It was (No.) 30 again. He said some things to our star player he shouldn't have said, and he got his. You can see on that first play. He got his."

What Eagles Cornerback LaRon Landry reportedly said referred to Vick's time in jail for dog fighting, but that's not only getting old fast, it's starting to look like an affront to God himself.  Landry was torched by Vick and DeSean Jackson for an 88 yard touchdown on the first play of the game.  That set the tone for what was to be a rout.

Vick's rise is a lot like that of Sarah Palin's, who seems angry for being disrespected in politics by the GOP. But that's for another blog post; this is Vick's time to shine.

Overall, Michael Vick has won every game he's played in and finished this year. His overall quarterback rating is 115, under 11 touchdowns, 1,350 yards, and no interceptions. In fact, Vick has not turned the ball over this year.

Michael Vick For NFL MVP? It could happen. But first, Vick and the Eagles have the New York Giants to deal with and they're not happy about losing to the Dallas Cowboys.

Wade Miquelon, Walgreens CFO: Heath Care Reform "Good For Us"

Want more proof that Walgreens and American Business is on board with President Obama's Heath Care Reform initiative? Look back to comments made by Walgreens CFO Wade Miquelon (photo at left) in the online version of CFO, the magazine for chief financial officers, and to Kate Sullivan, the author of an article entitled "All Eyes On Reform."

In the article, Miquelon said


"The U.S. health-care system, for whatever reason, is horribly inefficient. We're on board with the fact that reform of some type has to happen. The current system is not sustainable."


It's support like this, by the same large American businesses the GOP claims to favor, that calls into question Republican threats to repeal Obama's Heath Care Reform initiatives, which passed Congress during the last summer of 2010.

Walgreens estimates The Heath Care Reform initiative will bring 32 million new consumers of health care services into an already crowed market. At it's last Walgreens Analysts Meeting, Walgreens execs officially revealed that the firm's business model now is to become a health care provider, of sorts.

Walgreens operates Heath Care clinics at more than 700 locations nationwide, and Miquelon saw no need then to oppose Heath Care Reform; it's too good for their bottom line. "If more people are covered under some government umbrella, that is probably good for us," the Walgreens CFO said to CFO Magazine, "although there are likely to be (pressures to keep costs down."

Walgreens Joined By Walmart

While Walgreens and their CFO Wade Miquelon, and CEO and line executives are fully behind Obama's Heath Care reform plan, Walgreens isn't the only company that's openly supported the need for reform. Enter Walmart.

In Sullivans' article, Walmart is recorded as having taken a "high stakes" role in support of Health Care Reform. To that end, it helped establish a coalition of American Business firms called Better Health Care Together.

According to the website of Better Health Care Together, the The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, what we call Heath Care Reform, lays out "a set of key principles for health care reform to which we remained committed through the entire health reform debate."

Walmart joined with AT&T, General Mills, Kelly Services, Qwest Communications, and Intel, as well as the Service Employees International Union and the Center for American Progress, in forming Better Health Care Together.

Why Is This Not Reported?

With all of this support for Health Care Reform from American Business, why are media outlets like CNN and Fox News not reporting this? CNN and Fox News seem to have championed pushing the idea that some people don't want Health Care Reform, even to the point of running a poll on November 9th 2010, in CNN's case. Of course, the poll doesn't report support for Heath Care Reform. (CNN's

But CNN and Fox News have not asked what American Business has done to embrace Health Care Reform. CNN, which claims to be an unbiased news source, really shows its bias here. Fox News is staunchly conservative, but even it has to answer for the fact that many conservative business organizations have been behind Health Care Reform.

It appears the real problem for the Obama Administration isn't American Business, it's the American mainstream media.

Stay tuned.

Davey D's Hip Hop Corner

Davey D's Hip Hop Corner


Manny Pacquiao the People’s Champ: Is that too Much for Floyd to Handle?

Posted: 15 Nov 2010 01:49 PM PST

The other night many got a chance to witness history in the making as the greatest fighter of all-time next to Muhammad Ali show and proved that he’s no joke. Manny Pacquiao let all doubters...

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