Happy Birthday, Jennifer Lopez!

Jennifer Lynn Lopez (born July 24, 1969), also known by her nickname J.Lo, is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, fashion designer and television producer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller Money Train.



Her first leading role was in the biographical film Selena (1997), in which she earned an ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress. She earned her second ALMA Award for her performance in Out of Sight (1998). She has since starred in various films, including The Wedding Planner (2001), Maid in Manhattan (2002), Shall We Dance? (2004), Monster-in-Law (2005), and The Back-up Plan (2010).

Lopez came to prominence within the music industry following the release of her debut studio album On the 6 (1999) which spawned the number one hit single "If You Had My Love". Her second studio album J.Lo (2001) was a commercial success, selling eight million copies worldwide. J to tha L–O!: The Remixes (2002) became her second consecutive album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 while her third and fourth studio albums – This Is Me... Then (2002) and Rebirth (2005) – peaked at number two on the Billboard 200.



In 2007, she released two albums including her first full Spanish-language album Como ama una Mujer, and her fifth English studio album Brave. Lopez returned to music and released her seventh studio album, titled Love?, on April 19, 2011. Its single "On the Floor" has impacted charts worldwide. Her contributions to the music industry have garnered her numerous achievements including two Grammy Award nominations; two Latin Grammy Award nominations; three American Music Awards, amongst six nominations; and the estimated sale of over 55 million records worldwide. Billboard ranked her as the 27th Artist of the 2000s decade. Lending her musical knowledge to others, Lopez is currently a member of the judging panel of American reality television competition American Idol.



She led People en Español's list of "100 Most Influential Hispanics" in February 2007. She has parlayed her media fame into a fashion line and various perfumes with her celebrity endorsement. A fashion icon, several of her dresses have received considerable media attention, most notably the Jungle green Versace dress which she wore at the 43rd Grammy Awards in 2000 which has been voted the 5th most iconic dress of all time. Outside of her work in the entertainment industry, Lopez advocates human rights, vaccinations and is a supporter of Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Michelle Obama on Better Homes and Gardens Cover (BLOG)

In a new cover story, First Lady Michelle Obama opens up about her family’s struggle to lead a healthier lifestyle and even jokes that she’s now in better shape than the president.

After a trip to the pediatrician’s office encouraged her to change her family’s diet, the First Lady explains how she quickly learned that she could make a big difference by paying attention to the small stuff. “I started thinking ‘I’ve done some really minor things – not a wholesale change that my kids would even notice,’” she tells Better Homes and Gardens.


“Children’s habits can be changed so much easier than adults,” says the First Lady, who has made fighting childhood obesity her personal cause. “They don’t have control over their diets – we do.”

Mrs. Obama admits that life at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. took some getting used to and that she’s upped her workouts to make up for her more sedentary lifestyle. Now, however, she says she’s in better shape than her husband.

“I always tease him I’m in better shape than he is,” she says. “I can do long workouts. He’s the president,” she says.

The First Lady - who today is announcing new partnerships to bring more fruits and vegetables to “food deserts” - stresses that the home front is crucial to changing children’s eating habits.

She admits that it wasn’t always easy to put healthy meals on the dinner table. “I had two little kids; I was busy… We had take-out at least three times a week. I didn’t realize that these habits were affecting my kids’ health. It was just what I felt I had to do to survive and keep the household going,” she explains to Better Homes and Gardens.

The First Lady also reveals she didn’t always love eating her veggies. “My brother Greg [sic] and I, we have our stories about scooping the lima beans onto the floor and then coming back later and cleaning them up,” she says.

The August issue of the magazine marks the first time in more than four decades that a public figure has graced the cover. The nine-page spread on the First Lady comes complete with glossy photos of the First Lady hosting a White House picnic with local school kids using foods from her White House garden.

While her vegetable patch has been embraced by the public, Mrs. Obama says First Daughter Malia was not pleased with all of her mother’s plans for the garden. Malia “was not happy about the fact that we were going to have a beehive – she’s terrified of bees,” the First Lady says, although it’s not clear if Malia has come around to the bees or not.

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Remembering Estelle Bennett

Estelle Bennett (July 22, 1941 – February 11, 2009) was a member of the girl group The Ronettes, along with her sister Ronnie Spector (the 'Ronnie' of the band's name) and cousin Nedra Talley.



After the Ronettes' 1966 break-up, she recorded a single for Laurie Records, "The Year 2000/The Naked Boy". She then quit the music business and had rarely been seen since. She married the group's road manager Joe Dong, and they had a daughter, Toyin.



In 2007, when the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she refused to perform with them, and spoke only a brief two sentences during her acceptance speech, "I would just like to say, thank you very much for giving us this award. I'm Estelle of the Ronettes, thank you."
Bennett died of colon cancer aged 67 in Englewood, New Jersey.

Borders end to have ripple effect across country (BLOG)

NEW YORK (AP) — What happens when a pioneer like Borders goes out of business? Depends on who you ask.

A day after the bankrupt Ann Arbor, Mich.-based chain said it would seek court approval to sell off its assets and shutter its remaining 399 stores, everyone from publishers to consumers is assessing what it would mean if the company that started the big-box bookseller concept vanished. The move could have a wide ranging — and different __ impact on everyone from authors to consumers to competitors at a time when the industry is desperately trying to adapt to a new generation of readers who'd rather browse on an electronic book or tablet computer than turn the page of a paperback.

The biggest changes could come to the book publishing industry: As Borders stores disappear, the bookselling landscape could rapidly change, forcing authors to look for other places to market their work.

Jennifer Romanello, executive director of publicity at Grand Central Publishing in New York who stopped sending authors to most Borders for book signings after they declared bankruptcy in February says she already looks for alternative places to promote their work.

"It's one less outlet to use in promoting our authors," she said. "There are still other things out there; we see if there's an independent bookstore nearby. But the number of bookstores has been contracting, not expanding, so we're selective where we send out authors."

That ultimately could lead to more business for Barnes & Noble, a 705-store chain and one of Borders' main competitors. In fact, while at first Barnes & Noble revenue could be hurt initially as shoppers flock to Borders' liquidation sales, Barclays Capital analyst Alan Rifkin predicts ultimately the chain could gain $220 million to $330 million in revenue, or about 10 percent to 15 percent of Borders annual revenue if the chain closes.

Still, Rifkin said even though Barnes & Noble has more aggressively and successfully pursued the e-book space than Borders did __ with Barnes & Noble's Nook e-reader and e-bookstore __ it still faces the same stiff competition from online retailers.

"As the demand for physical books continues to decline, the need for big-box physical bookstores will likely continue to decline as well," he wrote in a client note.

That sentiment is being echoed by analysts and consumers alike who say the demise of Borders could close a chapter for bricks-and-mortar stores and open a new one for digital reading. To be sure, brick-and-mortar stores have not gone the way of the dinosaur, but some say it's only a matter of time.

Adrian Sierra, 36, a real estate agent from Westchester, N.Y., for instance, walked out of a Borders store in Penn Station in New York without a shopping bag filled with books. He was, however, carrying his iPad.

"I'll miss them," he says, but, "I'm not going to buy another paperback in my life. There's no reason to anymore."

A growing number of customers like Sierra are the reason that Borders liquidation will most likely accelerate sales of e-books, said Forrester media analyst James McQuivey. He predicts e-book sales will nearly triple by 2015 to $2.18 billion, with the number of e-readers jumping from 10.3 million at the end of 2010 to 29.4 million by 2015.

"People who read a lot are not just going to suddenly read less just because 400 stores close," he said. "With Borders out of the picture, people might think 'If I'm not comfortable with digital shopping, browsing or buying, I might as well get comfortable with it."

Simba Information senior trade analyst Michael Norris disagrees, saying that if Borders goes out of business, it might actually decrease sales of e-books since there are fewer places for people who buy e-books to browse and research new titles physically before they buy electronically.

"Bookstores are a tremendous vehicle for e-book discovery," he said. "We've often tried to quantify the exact number of consumers who 'mooch' off of bookstores, who browse at a store and leave to order a book they find off their Kindle or iPad. It's hard to quantify __ but we know it happens."

Morningstar analyst Peter Wahlstrom said consumers who so-call "mooch" will likely adapt. "Individuals that are pure physical book readers will find another outlet, be it independent bookstores or the Targets or the Costcos," he said.

There are indeed many other places to go to find out about books. Still, some consumers who love browsing Borders bookshelves say it will be hard for them to adjust if the chain closes.

"That whole thing about stumbling across a book, or stumbling across a stranger who recommends a book __ the serendipitous aspect of your literary journey in life — is evaporating as these stores evaporate," said Rachel Simon, author of the New York Times best seller "The Story of Beautiful Girl," who says she visits her local Borders several times a week.

Started in 1971, Borders once operated 1,249 Borders and Waldenbooks book stores at its peak in 2003. But it failed to adapt quickly to the changing industry and lost book, music and video sales to the Internet and other competition. It filed for bankruptcy protection in February and has since shuttered stores and laid off thousands of employees.

Borders' attempt to stay in business unraveled quickly last week, after a $215 million "white knight" bid by private-equity firm Najafi Cos. dissolved under objections from creditors and lenders who argued the chain would be worth more if it liquidated immediately. On Thursday, Borders is expected to ask the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of New York at a scheduled hearing to allow it to sell off all of its assets. If the judge approves the move, liquidation sales could start as soon as Friday; the company could go out of business by the end of September.

10 Useless Résumé Words – and 10 Eye-Catching Ones (BLOG)

"Generic hyperbole belongs on cereal boxes, not on résumés," says Duncan Mathison, a career consultant and co-author of "Unlock the Hidden Job Market: 6 Steps to a Successful Job Search When Times Are Tough." "If it does not pass the 'So what, anybody can make that claim' test, leave it off."

Instead of being another candidate professing to be a "hard worker," revitalize your application with a little seek-and-replace exercise. Scan your résumé for empty, overused words such as the following:

1. Outstanding

2. Effective

3. Strong

4. Exceptional

5. Good

6. Excellent

7. Driven

8. Motivated

9. Seasoned

10. Energetic

"Watch out for words that are unsupported claims of greatness," Mathison says. Adds David Couper, a career coach and author of "Outsiders on the Inside: How to Create a Winning Career ... Even When You Don't Fit In," "If you call yourself an 'excellent manager,' how do we know?"

The nouns following those subjective adjectives can be equally meaningless. Anyone who has ever had a co-worker can claim to be a "team player."

A better route to take is describing accomplishments and letting the hirer make his own judgment. Give specific, and preferably quantifiable, accounts of what you've done that makes you an "outstanding salesperson." Likewise, peruse your performance reviews for quotable material from supervisors that demonstrates why they consider you a "strong leader." Listing awards or other forms of recognition also can be used as support.

Some words should be avoided because they convey traits that employers consider standard for anybody who wants to be hired. "You're motivated? Hope so. A good worker? So happy to hear that; I didn't want to hire a bad worker," Couper says. Don't take up precious résumé space with unnecessary items.

Also on the "don't" side: words that seek to overcome what you might think are your shortcomings. "Using 'seasoned' for 'over 50' or 'energetic' for 'inexperienced' looks like spin and smells like spin," Mathison says. Keep the focus on what makes you right for the job.

On the flip side, certain words can make hiring managers do a double take. Light up their eyes with these 10 words and phrases:

1. Created

2. Increased

3. Reduced

4. Improved

5. Developed

6. Researched

7. Accomplished

8. Won

9. on time

10. Under budget

"We suggest that résumé writers include action words to describe their jobs," says Susan Ach, a career counselor at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. Verbs project the image of someone who has the background and initiative to get things done. Employers can clearly comprehend what you've accomplished and can use that as a basis for envisioning future success with their company. Think about it: If you were hiring, would you rather take on someone who calls himself a "productive manager" or somebody who states that at his last job he "increased company profit by 3 percent," "reduced employee turnover in his department to the best level in five years" and "improved brand awareness by implementing a new social media strategy"?

Lastly, it can be beneficial to use verbs and nouns that are common to your specific industry. This shows your familiarity with the language of your field and optimizes the chances of getting past an automatic scan for keywords. But remember, too, that all companies tend to speak a universal language: money.

"Terms such as 'on time' and 'under budget' are often good. Hiring managers want to know you can get things done with minimum fuss," Mathison says. Tell them what makes you the most profitable choice for the job and employers will tell you the best word of all: "hired."

msn

7 Things We Buy That Used to Be Free (BLOG)

An 'unbundling' of services we could once take for granted (like access to our money or a gas-station fill-up) and newer markets for products like water and TV are costing customers.

#1 Fees and more fees
The airline industry gets the lion's share of attention when the subject is paying for things that used to be free.

Air carriers have returned to profitability because of their success in "unbundling" the services and features that used to come with the price of a ticket. First it was food, then pillows and blankets, then luggage, then legroom. Ryanair is working with Boeing to install coin-operated potties on its flights.

But the air industry is actually late to this game. There are plenty of things we pay for now that used to be free. Following are just a few examples:



Accessing your own money

You may not believe it, my dears, but banks once actually paid you for the privilege of storing your money. No, I'm not talking about the toasters that banks would give you for opening an account. I'm talking about interest, and receiving it was a wonderful thing: Your balance could grow with no effort on your part.

Banks still purportedly pay interest, but you'll need a magnifying glass to spot the difference in your account balance. Meanwhile, most financial institutions are intent on whittling away at your balance in every way they can think of -- through monthly account fees, ATM fees, fees for having a statement printed or the image of an old check retrieved, even fees for talking to a teller.

You don't have to let them rob you blind, of course. You can still get free checking at most big banks by maintaining a certain balance or agreeing to an all-electronic account (no paper statements, no talking to tellers). Or you can expand your search to community banks and credit unions, which often still offer free checking. Avoiding ATM fees can be as simple as drawing money from your own bank's machines or asking for cash back when using your debit card.

#2 Directory assistance
Ask your granny: Once upon a time, if you didn't know a number, you'd either look it up in a floppy book (called "the white pages," for individuals' numbers, or the "yellow pages," for business lines), or you'd call directory assistance and talk to an actual live person who looked up the number for you. That was back when AT&T had a monopoly on phone service, so it made you pay in other ways, but directory assistance itself was free.

These days, calling or texting your carrier's 411 service can cost you $2 a pop, if not more. You can dodge the fees by calling 1-800-BING-411 (1-800-246-4411) or 1-800-FREE-411 (1-800-373-3411). FREE-411 makes you listen to a short ad. (BING-411 is owned by Microsoft, the publisher of MSN Money.)

#3 Water
I vividly remember when a journalist friend traveled to Southern California in the early 1990s to report, amazed, on the trend of people drinking water out of bottles. We lived in Alaska at the time, where our kooky governor had been promoting a plan to fill giant bladders with glacier water and tow them south to sell to thirsty crowds.

That plan didn't pan out, but the trend of buying and drinking bottled water certainly did: The International Bottled Water Association says we spent more than $10 billion to drink more than 8 billion gallons of the stuff in 2009 (the latest year for which statistics are available). Interestingly, though, we're buying less than we did in 2007 ($11.5 billion) as hard economic times have led people to trim their spending. But that's still a lot of money going out the door for something that comes out of your tap.

A random factoid: Bottled water doesn't go "bad." It's safe to drink indefinitely, even if the flavor isn't optimal. So be sure to store some with your emergency supplies (at least a gallon per person per day). If you do want to swap out your bottled water occasionally, make sure you put it to good use (watering plants, drinking water for the dog) rather than pouring more money down the drain.

#4 Television
Television broadcasts once came via antennas strapped to your house or "rabbit ears" atop your TV. You got just a few channels -- three, maybe four if there was a public broadcast station nearby, plus some grainy UHF channels if your set could tune them in. But by gum, they were free.

These days there are 100 million cable and satellite subscribers among the United States' 112.6 million households, according to research company SNL Kagan. The average monthly cost for cable runs about $50, or $75 if you get the digital version.

Of course, some people still get their television for free using antennas. Others, in a movement known as "cutting the cord," use the Internet to circumvent the pay-television industry, opting to watch via providers such as Hulu and Netflix. But most of us are accustomed to paying $600 a year or more -- and we still get to sit through the ads (although we can scoot through them faster if we pay for digital video recorders).

#5 Gas station services
Get this: Not only would a gas station attendant pump your gas, he would clean your windshield, check your oil, add air to your tires and fill your radiator if you needed it. All free!

Wait, there's more: If you needed a road map, those were free. And plenty of stations had giveaways on top of that. You could get stuff like Hot Wheels cars, kitchen knives, soap, dishes and -- coolest of all -- an orange tiger tail you could tie to your car antenna or the handlebars of your bike. (That was from an Esso-Enco slogan that urged motorists: "Put a tiger in your tank.")

Today, free service is all but gone. Self-service is the rule (Oregon and New Jersey are the only states that ban it, requiring full- or miniservice instead). Many stations charge for air and water; some charge for access to a restroom. Giveaways of any kind are dead. But the tiger tails can be found for sale on eBay.

#6 Schools
In the early days of our nation, rich kids went to school, and poor kids went to work. It wasn't until the end of the 19th century that free public education was available to all elementary-age students. Free public high schools eventually followed. Then came bake sales, gift wrap catalogs and a whole host of fees to pay for various programs that used to be, and in some areas still are, free.

Oregon now charges parents for full-day kindergarten (half a day is provided for free; the other half is $375 a month). Indiana charges textbook rental fees of $100 to $400. Many districts charge course, lab or "activity" fees; sign up for extracurricular activities, and you'll watch the charges soar.

A fan on my Facebook page detailed the toll: "Field trip fees of over $200 for just my child; if I had been able to afford to go as chaperone, those costs would have doubled . . . Activity fee at the beginning of the year was $27.50. School supplies, including paper towels, reams of copy paper, kleenex, wipes, plastic bags for the classroom to share, amounted to $75-$100 (this is my neighborhood public school). Party costs for classroom parties (I was room parent) about $50. After school science program (since school system has pretty much eliminated science for elementary school, even upper grades) was $125 for 8 weeks. Fundraisers, don't even get me started. In previous years, I always bought minimum $50-$100 but with no job this year, I couldn't. Kids & I did attend Chuck E Cheese fundraiser to a tune of about $50 and Chick fil A fundraiser ($25) plus bingo fundraiser ($15-20) and carnival. I hear that next year will be worse, with field trips once a month and costs of about $500 for the year in field trip fees alone."

California recently settled a lawsuit with the American Civil Liberties Union, which pointed out that a free public education is part of the state constitution. Fees are now called donations and are supposed to be voluntary.

#7 Parks
Toll booths at state and national parks are a relatively recent innovation. Access to public lands used to be free. As late as the 1970s, most parks didn't charge access or even camping fees. The toll for a carload of people to enter the most popular destinations, including Yosemite, was $3 (about $11 in today's money).

Government budget cuts combined with growing popularity changed all that. Now Yosemite costs $20 per carload to enter. If you're a big nature fan, you'll probably want to consider spending $80 to buy an America the Beautiful annual pass, which gets you to national parks and federal recreation lands.

Or you can scope out the remaining wilderness areas, Bureau of Land Management properties and a few national forests that remain free. For more, check out this Bargain Babe post on ways to camp for free.

msnmoney

60 percent of Texans suspended before high school graduation (BLOG)

(thelookout) A new study by the by the Council of State Governments finds that 60 percent of Texan students were suspended, expelled or faced in-school suspensions by the time they graduated high school.

The researchers followed every Texas seventh grader into high school, the New York Times reports, studying almost 1 million students.

Fifteen percent of the students were disciplined 11 times or more over the six years. And the more frequently a student faced suspension or expulsion, the greater the chances would be that the disciplined student would eventually drop out, according to the Council of State Governments analysis.

"African-American students and those with particular educational disabilities experience a disproportionately high rate of removal from the classroom for disciplinary reasons," study author Mike Thompson told NPR. Seventy percent of black female students were expelled or suspended, compared to 37 percent of white girls, he said.

Trey Songz Will Make Film Debut In Horror Movie

Trey Songz spoke on his acting aspirations on his BET docu-series, Trey Songz: My Moment. Now, the singer’s plans to become a multi-faceted entertainer are coming to fruition. The Hollywood Reporter confirms that Trey has secured his first lead role in a movie.



Songz has been tapped as one of the leads for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D. The film is the latest installment of the long running horror franchise about a group of teens who encounter a family of cannibals in Texas. He will reportedly play the male lead and boyfriend of actress Alexandra Dadarrio. The movie will make its way to theaters on October 5, 2012.

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Michael Vick endorses anti-dogfighting legislation he inspired (BLOG)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - NFL quarterback Michael Vick watched the violent cockfight -- a variation of the illegal animal fighting that led to his arrest, jail time, and fall from football fame -- with his hands folded in his lap.

Vick, two U.S. representatives and national Humane Society president and CEO Wayne Pacelle grimly viewed the footage of a child watching two cocks tear at each other in a House Judiciary Committee room on Tuesday.

The Philadelphia Eagles player was there to endorse an anti-animal fighting bill inspired, in part, by his own high-profile conviction in 2007 for running a kennel of fighting dogs.

"In prison I told myself I want to be part of the solution, not the problem," Vick said. "These laws are not to punish people, but prevent people from getting involved."

The "Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act of 2011" would strengthen penalties for those who finance animal fighting and close gaps in the law to cover those who attend or bring children to illegal cockfights and dogfights.

The provisions on bringing children could prevent them from going down a path Vick says he took.

H.R.2492, introduced July 11 by Ohio Democrat Rep. Betty Suttonand Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Tom Marino, is the latest in a series of bills tightening laws against animal fighting in the aftermath of Vick's conviction in 2007.

In 2008, Congress made possession and training of fighting animals a felony.

The latest bill would legislate misdemeanor penalties of fines and up to one year in prison for being a knowing spectator and felony penalties of heavier fines and up to three years in prison for making a minor attend a fight.

'HORRIBLE PRACTICE'

"Today we take another step in ending the horrible practice of animal fighting," Sutton said. "Not only as Democrats and Republicans, but as pet owners."

Democratic Representative Jim Moran of Virginia referenced his own football background in commending Vick's support.

"On the field, your leader is the quarterback," said Moran. "We now have a leader. This is a story of redemption."

Moran chairs the 85-member Congressional Animal Protection Caucus.

After police raided Vick's property in Virginia in connection with an illegal dog-fighting ring in 2007, the NFL suspended Vick, once its highest-paid player.

He pleaded guilty to federal dog fighting charges and served 19 months in prison until 2009, when he returned to the NFL, joining the Philadelphia Eagles.

Vick was named NFL "Comeback Player of the Year" in 2011. On July 1 Nike Inc re-signed him after terminating its contract in 2007. "We support the positive changes he has made to better himself off the field," the company said.

The Humane Society initially expressed reservations about working with Vick, according to Society chief Pacelle.

"I had a lot of soul searching to do before talking to Mike," said Pacelle.

Vick says he witnessed animal fighting growing up.

"That child could be doing so much more with his life," he said of watching the cockfight footage.

Organized animal fighting is a federal crime and illegal in all 50 states, according to the Human Society. In 49 states it is also illegal to be a knowing spectator at an animal fight, but in only 28 states is watching a felony.

Asked how long he expected to be involved in the issue, Vick said: "Until we have a positive impact going for kids all around the world and we can put an end to it all."

How to Get A Perfect Credit Score (BLOG)

There are certain things that we discover are just illusions as we grow up: Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Fountain of Youth are a few.

However, much like Bigfoot, one myth persists well into adulthood -- the perfect credit score. Some swear they've seen it, but others think it's impossible.

"Never in my life have I met anyone with an 850 credit score," Bruce McClary of Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions, who has worked in the credit industry for years, tells MainStreet.

According to FICO, the company that designed our current credit model, these overachievers are out there.

Craig Watts, a spokesman for FICO, tells MainStreet that while most people score in the middle to low 700s on their credit scale, about 1 million people do, in fact, net a full score of 850. That's less than 1% of the U.S. population.

"They tend to be more conservative and a little older," Watts explains. He adds that these individuals also tend be rather humble, which may explain the near-mythic status they have inadvertently achieved.

"We don't get too many of them in our forums," he admits. "They aren't the type of people who stand up on a bus and tell everyone they scored an 850."

People who don't share their scores aren't likely to share their secrets for attaining them, either. Which is unfortunate, considering that the credit elite obtain the lowest annual percentage rates, get the best credit card rewards programs and qualify more readily for large loans.

"It's a noble goal to try to achieve," McClary says. However, he explains that you don't need to reach perfection to be considered among the credit elite.

"In reality, you don't have to have an 850," says John Ulzheimer, a former FICO employee now with Credit.com. Those with a FICO score above 760, he says, are typically privy to the same benefits as those with perfect credit.

Of course, a score that high isn't easy to achieve either. To reach the top tier you have to master not just the basics -- maintaining positive payment history and a low debt-to-credit ratio -- but you must pay attention to the details as well. In an effort to help those with lofty credit aspirations, MainStreet has put together a profile of what these credit superstars look like.

They have a long and impressive payment history and a clean record
The bulk of your credit score is determined by your payment history and the amount of debt you may or may not have currently on file. Unsurprisingly, those with perfect credit scores use credit regularly while paying it off on time, every time. They also have squeaky clean records. Ulzheimer explains that the credit elite have no debt to speak of. "No liens, no bank repossessions, no settlements," he says. "Nothing."

They maintain a diverse set of accounts
Credit lines fall into two major categories, McClary says. Installment accounts are closed-ended and require consumers to pay a fixed amount each month until the entire balance is paid off. These typically include mortgages or car loans. Revolving accounts, on the other hand, limit the line of credit but have balances that fluctuate. These essentially are the accounts tied to the credit cards in your wallet.

Top credit scorers have a careful balance of both accounts on record. "They'll have a mortgage, a car loan and a few credit cards on file," McClary explains.

They have a "well-aged" credit report
When I pulled my own credit report recently, I was surprised to learn that my score, though quite good, paled in comparison to that of my financial mentors, Mom and Dad. The truth is, unless they should decide to stop managing their credit so meticulously, I stand little to no chance of ever surpassing them.

"One advantage to being older is that you tend to have a longer credit history," McClary says. Keep in mind, though, that it's not your age, but the age of your oldest credit account on file that influences your overall score. As such, you may want to keep open that store charge card you opened on your 21st birthday.

They have a very limited number of credit inquiries on record
On the other hand, anyone without a store charge card shouldn't open one frivolously. While having a large number of credit card inquiries on file won't dramatically decrease your score, it can keep you from joining the credit elite, especially if several inquiries are recorded over a short time span. This is why Ulzheimer advises that you refrain from opening up a litany of store accounts during the holiday season, no matter what type of discount the retailer is offering as an incentive.

"Applying for credit organically as you need it is fine," Ulzheimer says, before cautioning "never use your credit score to get a 10% discount at the mall."

msnmoney

Happy Birthday, Nelson Mandela! (BLOG, LINKS)

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (Xhosa pronunciation: [xoˈliːɬaɬa manˈdeːla]; born 18 July 1918) served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). In 1962 he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life in prison. Mandela served 27 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island. Following his release from prison on 11 February 1990, Mandela led his party in the negotiations that led to multi-racial democracy in 1994. As president from 1994 to 1999, he frequently gave priority to reconciliation.

In South Africa, Mandela is often known as Madiba, his Xhosa clan name; or as tata (Xhosa: father). Mandela has received more than 250 awards over four decades, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize.

Nelson Mandela belongs to a cadet branch of the Thembu dynasty, which reigns in the Transkei region of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. He was born in Mvezo, a small village located in the district of Umtata. He has Khoisan ancestry on his mother's side. His patrilineal great-grandfather Ngubengcuka (who died in 1832), ruled as the Inkosi Enkhulu, or king, of the Thembu people.[6] One of the king's sons, named Mandela, became Nelson's grandfather and the source of his surname. However, because he was only the Inkosi's child by a wife of the Ixhiba clan (the so-called "Left-Hand House"), the descendants of his branch of the royal family were not eligible to succeed to the Thembu throne.

Mandela's father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, served as chief of the town of Mvezo. However, upon alienating the colonial authorities, they deprived Mphakanyiswa of his position, and moved his family to Qunu. Despite this, Mphakanyiswa remained a member of the Inkosi's Privy Council, and served an instrumental role in Jongintaba Dalindyebo's ascension to the Thembu throne. Dalindyebo would later return the favour by informally adopting Mandela upon Mphakanyiswa's death. Mandela's father had four wives, with whom he fathered thirteen children (four boys and nine girls) Mandela was born to his third wife ('third' by a complex royal ranking system), Nosekeni Fanny. Fanny was a daughter of Nkedama of the Mpemvu Xhosa clan, the dynastic Right Hand House, in whose umzi or homestead Mandela spent much of his childhood. His given name Rolihlahla means "to pull a branch of a tree", or more colloquially, "troublemaker"

Read More HERE

Keeping the Mandela legacy alive HERE

How Mandela inspires South Africa HERE

Dem gov: To win in 2012, GOP wants to hurt economy (BLOG)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The head of the Democratic Governors Association accused GOP debt negotiators in Washington of trying to undermine the economy so President Barack Obama will lose his re-election bid next year.

Hogwash, responded Republicans.

But the charge from Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is evidence of the political nervousness among Democratic governors looking ahead to 2012 after their ranks were thinned in the last election.

It also hints at the tenuous control the president has over jobs and the economy, the issues certain to dominate the elections.

At this weekend's meeting of the National Governors Association, O'Malley has said Republican governors should urge GOP lawmakers to make a deal with Obama to increase the government's borrowing limit before the Aug. 2 deadline when U.S. faces a financial default.

The Republicans seem to be led by uncompromising hard-liners, he said, singling out House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., for criticism.

"I think that there is an extreme wing within their party who have as their primary goal not the jobs recovery, but the defeat of President Obama in 2012," O'Malley said in an interview. "They know that their formulations, their policies of less revenues and less regulation badly failed our country and plunged us into this recession. So their only way of evening the playing field is to keep the president from being successful in the jobs recovery."

He contended that key Republican members of Congress, "through their intransigence, cleverly set up a situation for America's economy to fail, either by needlessly driving us to default, or needlessly driving us into massive public sector layoffs."

"I think that they are disgracefully cynical," said O'Malley, who has a prominent profile as head of the Democratic governors' group.

Michael Steel, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said "jobs and our economy are serious issues, and that kind of unhinged partisan rant doesn't help. We're focused on doing everything we can to help the economy grow by cutting red tape, increasing the supply of American energy, and ending the out-of-control spending spree in Washington."

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell's office did not directly respond to O'Malley's remarks. But the Kentucky lawmaker's office noted that Obama, while a senator in 2006, voted against raising the debt ceiling and accused Republicans of "leadership failure."

O'Malley, who some believe has national aspirations for 2016, acknowledged that it's rare for one elected official to accuse others of trying to hurt Americans for political gain.

"For eight years under George W. Bush, you never heard a peep from any of these most intransigent House members about the deficit that was being racked up by President Bush. Many of the same people who are claiming that there's no possible way that they can vote to raise the debt ceiling are people that voted to raise it in the past," the governor said.

O'Malley spoke openly about something that has troubled top Democrats for months. With unemployment at 9.2 percent, a further decline in the economy could make it difficult for any president to win a second term. The president has limited ability to control the economy, especially with Republicans running the House.

House Republicans have rejected Obama's demands for tax increases on the rich in exchange for deep spending cuts. That's in keeping with a no-new-tax pledge that most GOP lawmakers have signed in recent years.

O'Malley says their ulterior motive is to promote an economic downturn by blocking a resolution of the debt ceiling crisis or by slashing government spending so deeply that hundreds of thousands of people will lose their jobs.

Of course, a sour economy could hurt some Republican incumbents too. But politicians think presidents and governors get the most blame for bad economies, and only a handful of GOP governors might be seeking reelection next year.

Obama's campaign aides are keenly aware that the economy could worsen, and they want to focus the 2012 election on GOP weaknesses, not the president's stewardship of the economy.

Even with the Republican nomination far from settled, Obama's advisers have begun criticizing the records of various contenders, including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

They are prepared to run a campaign that essentially says: You may be unhappy with Obama, but the alternative would be worse.

Republican governors reject O'Malley's claims and say they want a stronger economy. But they agree that Obama's re-election hopes ride on that issue, and the president may be in trouble.

"If the election is about Obama's policies and the effects of those policies, he'll lose," said Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, who contemplated challenging Obama. "Campaigns are supposed to be about an incumbent's record."

Gov. Terry Branstad, R-Iowa, defended the Republican debt negotiators, especially Cantor. Obama carried Iowa easily in 2008, after winning the Democratic caucus. But leaders of both parties expect a highly competitive race there next year.

"We launched him," Branstad said of Obama, "but we can sink him."

Thinking of getting a smaller car? Wait until fall (BLOG)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Thinking of trading in the clunker in your garage for something that gets better gas mileage? Wait a little longer.

Small car prices, which have set record highs this year, are expected to come down this fall.

Lower gas prices will make people comfortable driving something bigger. Honda and Toyota, which were hurt by the Japan earthquake, will crank up production of small cars. And Japan and Detroit will offer big discounts on smaller models as their lots fill up.

The average new compact car, which cost a record $20,500 in June, should fall to about $19,300 by the end of the year. The average used compact car should fall from a record $11,300 to about $9,600 over the same time, according figures compiled by the Kelley Blue Book auto pricing service.

Small-car prices should start falling in September and accelerate through the end of the year.

"Values for these vehicles just rose too quickly and got to a level that was really unsustainable," says Alec Gutierrez, manager of vehicle valuation for the Kelley Blue Book car pricing service.

Here are factors pushing down small-car prices:

— Small-car surplus: Carmakers such as Honda and Toyota are boosting production following Japan's March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The disaster essentially shut down that nation's auto industry and slowed Japanese-brand factories in North America. With factories returning to normal, American dealers will have more Civics, Corollas and Priuses. And they won't have to put small-car buyers on waiting lists, like they did this spring.

In fact, some will have more small cars than they need says George Davis, general manager of a Honda dealership in Ann Arbor, Mich.

"One minute they're going to look out the window and see 50 cars. Two weeks later they'll see 300. Panic sets in," he says. "They pay interest on these cars and they'll have to discount."

— Deals: Honda and Toyota dealers will increase rebates, low-interest financing and other promotions, Gutierrez predicts. "GM and Ford will be right behind them, and Hyundai as well," he says.

Automakers say they won't cut prices even if Toyota and Honda come out with bigger incentives. Instead, they want to sell cars on quality, styling and features.

Dealers and analysts are skeptical, though, saying that once Honda and Toyota restock, prices will fall as rivals try to win customers who have to replace their clunkers. The average age of a car in the U.S. is now 10.6 years, up more than a full year from 2008, according to the Polk research firm.

— Lower gas prices: Gas prices are down 31 cents from their peak of $3.98 a gallon in May, and although small-car demand is still strong, buyers have started to shift to larger vehicles. Compact and subcompact sales fell to just under 195,000 last month, down from 238,000 in March, according to Autodata Corp.

There's now a shortage of cars at Pacific Honda near San Diego. But they'll be a surplus after July and buyers will see deals, says Wayne Meyer, president of the chain that owns the dealership. Pacific Honda has about 38 vehicles in stock instead of the usual 350.

"There's going to be so much car availability," Meyer says. Automakers "are going to be defending market share they gained or regaining market share they lost."

'Cash Cab' taxi hits, kills Vancouver pedestrian (BLOG)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — A replica taxi used in the Canadian version of the TV game show "Cash Cab" struck and killed a pedestrian after finishing production for the day in Vancouver.

Vancouver Police said a 61-year-old man from Surrey, B.C., died in a hospital shortly after being struck by the mock yellow cab late Friday night in the city's Downtown Eastside district. Police did not immediately release the victim's identity.

The accident happened as a producer was driving the replica cab back to a storage facility after filming for the day had been completed, said Andrew Burnstein, president of Castlewood Productions Inc., which produces the show's Canadian version.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and his friends and his family." said Burnstein. "My heart also goes out to the driver of the vehicle, a member of our technical staff, who is shaken and devastated by this tragic accident, as is our entire team."

Vancouver Police Constable Lindsey Houghton said the circumstances leading to the accident were still being determined and no charges have been filed so far.

On "Cash Cab," broadcast in North America on the Discovery Channel, unassuming people who flag down a replica yellow taxi become instant contestants on a game show, answering trivia questions for cash prizes.

"Cash Cab" originated in Britain in 2005 and has since been licensed to television networks in more than two dozen countries. The Canadian version, hosted by comedian Adam Growe, a licensed taxi driver, has been broadcast by Discovery Channel Canada since 2008.

The U.S. version, now filmed in New York and Chicago, has been broadcast on the Discovery Channel since 2005.

Educators in Atlanta cheating scandal told quit or be fired (BLOG)

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Dozens of Atlanta public school educators accused of cheating onstandardized testing have until Wednesday to resign or be fired, local school officials said on Monday.

The city's interim school superintendent has given educators a three-day window starting on Monday to resign and avoid termination proceedings that will begin Thursday, Atlanta Public Schools spokesman Keith Bromery told Reuters.

A state report issued earlier this month identified 178 teachers and principals who cheated on state standardized testing in 2009 as a way to inflate student scores.

By resigning, those educators can avoid having a termination on their records, Bromery said. If they choose not to resign and are fired, they are entitled to appeal the decision and have a hearing.

Prosecutors in three Atlanta-area counties are weighing whether to file criminal charges against the teachers and principals.

The school system's actions against the educators are unrelated to any criminal proceedings, Bromery said.

"This has solely to do with their status as an Atlanta Public Schools employee," he said. "It does not have anything to do with any further prosecution."

The Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) is advising its members who have been accused in the scandal not to resign, said Michael McGonigle, legal services director for the advocacy group.

"I think the school district is moving much too quickly," he said. "It simply took the investigation's report at face value," he added, referring to the state report.

The GAE will provide legal representation to any member who wants to appeal a termination, he said.

"We think it's worth the fight," McGonigle said.

CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE?

The cheating discovered in 2009, found in 44 of the 56 Atlanta public schools examined, was prompted primarily by pressure to meet targets in a data-driven environment, according to a statement released by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal's office earlier this month.

"A culture of fear, intimidation and retaliation existed in Atlanta Public Schools, which created a conspiracy of silence," the state report concluded.

The 2009 cheating was said to include teachers erasing incorrect answers on state standardized tests.

Eighty-two teachers and principals have confessed to the cheating, according to the state report. Six principals refused to answer questions.

The report concluded that there was a "major failure of leadership throughout Atlanta Public Schools with regard to the ethical administration" of the 2009 standardized exams known as the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests.

Cheating occurred as early as 2001 and warnings several years ago of misconduct were ignored, the report said.

Amid the investigation, Beverly Hall stepped down last month after nearly 12 years as superintendent of the Atlanta Public Schools.

She had been named National Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators in 2009, the same year the state contends widespread cheating took place.

The Atlanta school district has an enrollment of about 48,000 students and is smaller than many of the surrounding suburban school districts.

Hall's attorney has denied that the former superintendent knew in 2009 that widespread cheating had occurred.

Grammy-Winning Songwriter Jerry Ragovoy Dies at 80

Jordan "Jerry" Ragovoy (September 4, 1930 – July 13, 2011) was an American songwriter and record producer.
His best-known composition "Time Is on My Side" (written under the pseudonym of Norman Meade) was made famous by The Rolling Stones, although it had been recorded earlier by Kai Winding and Irma Thomas. Ragovoy also wrote "Stay With Me", which was originally recorded by Lorraine Ellison, and was performed by Mary J. Blige at the 49th Grammy Awards.





An important behind-the-scenes force of East Coast soul music, Ragovoy wrote or co-wrote several classic New York and Philadelphia soul records in the 1960s, often distinguished by a conspicuous gospel feel. The best of these included Garnet Mimms' "Cry Baby," Erma Franklin's "Piece of My Heart," Howard Tate's "Get It While You Can," all later covered by Janis Joplin, plus "Time Is on My Side" and "Stay With Me." Ragovoy also contributed to first-class soul records as a producer and arranger.



Ragovoy was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and entered record production in 1953 with "My Girl Awaits Me" by The Castelles. He worked at Philadelphia's Chancellor Records (where Fabian and Frankie Avalon had hits) and wrote The Majors' vocal group single "A Wonderful Dream," which made #22 in the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. Around this time he began writing songs with another white soul songwriter-producer, Bert Berns, including "Cry Baby" by Garnet Mimms and The Enchanters, which made #4 in 1963.



Another well-known song by Ragovoy is "Piece of My Heart", co-written with Berns and recorded originally by Erma Franklin, and later famously covered by Big Brother and the Holding Company. Between 1966 and 1968, Ragovoy was employed as producer and songwriter for the Warner Bros subsidiary, Loma Records. He also co-wrote several songs in Janis Joplin's solo career, including "Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)" (originally by Lorraine Ellison on Loma Records), "Cry Baby" (originally by Garnet Mimms and The Enchanters, "Get it While You Can" (originally by Howard Tate, covered by Joplin) and "My Baby".


Ragovoy also produced recorded work by Bonnie Raitt and Milkwood. However, his involvement in the music industry was less prolific from the 1970s onwards.

In 1973, he won a Grammy Award as producer on Best Score From an Original Cast Show Album, for Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope.

In 2003, Ragovoy worked again with Howard Tate. The pair returned with an acclaimed CD, Howard Tate Rediscovered, written, arranged and produced by Ragovoy.

In 2008, Ace Records released a compilation album entitled, The Jerry Ragovoy Story: Time Is on My Side.
Ragovoy died, following a stroke, on July 13, 2011, at the age of 80.

Woman Accused of Groping TSA Agent at Phoenix Airport (BLOG)

PHOENIX — Authorities say a Colorado woman who allegedly groped a female Transportation Security Administration agent at Phoenix's international airport is facing a felony count of sexual abuse.

Phoenix police say 61-year-old Yukari Mihamae is accused of grabbing the left breast of the unidentified TSA agent Thursday at an airport checkpoint.

TSA spokesperson Kawika Riley confirmed the altercation to msnbc.com in a statement: "On July 14 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, local law enforcement arrested a passenger for assaulting a TSA officer during the screening process."

TSA staff say Mihamae refused to be go through passenger screening and became argumentative before she squeezed and twisted the agent's breast with both hands.

Police were called and say Mihamae admitted grabbing the TSA agent and continued to argue with officers before she was arrested.

Maricopa County jail officials say Mihamae was released from custody Friday. They couldn't immediately provide any information about her case status.

Phoenix TV station KSAZ says Mihamae lives in Longmont, Colo., and is self-employed.
Information from the Assoociated Press was included in this report.

msn

Happy Birthday, Assata Shakur!! (BLOG, LINKS)

Assata Olugbala Shakur (born July 16, 1947 as JoAnne Deborah Byron, married name Chesimard) is an African-American activist who was a member of the Black Panther Party (BPP) and Black Liberation Army (BLA). Between 1971 and 1973, Shakur was accused of several crimes and made the subject of a multi-state manhunt.

In May 1973 Shakur was allegedly involved in a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike, during which New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster and BLA member Zayd Malik Shakur were killed and Shakur and Trooper James Harper were wounded. Between 1973 and 1977, Shakur was indicted in relation to six other alleged criminal incidents—charged with murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, bank robbery, and kidnapping—resulting in three acquittals and three dismissals. In 1977, she was convicted of the first-degree murder of Foerster and of seven other felonies related to the shootout.

Shakur was then incarcerated in several prisons, where her treatment drew criticism from some human rights groups. She escaped from prison in 1979 and has been living in Cuba in political asylum since 1984. Since May 2, 2005, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has classified her as a "domestic terrorist" and offered a $1 million reward for assistance in her capture. Attempts to extradite her have resulted in letters to the Pope and a Congressional resolution. Shakur is the step-aunt of the deceased hip hop icon Tupac Shakur (the sister of his stepfather, Mutulu Shakur). Her life has been portrayed in literature, film and song.

Shakur was born in Jamaica, Queens, New York City on July 16, 1947, where she lived for three years with her parents and grandparents, Lula and Frank Hill. After her parents divorced in 1950, she spent most of her childhood in Wilmington, North Carolina, with her grandmother until her family relocated to Queens when she was a teenager. For a time, she ran away from home and lived with strangers until she was taken in by her aunt, Evelyn Williams, later her lawyer. She dropped out of high school, but later—with her aunt's help—earned a general equivalency diploma (GED). She attended Borough of Manhattan Community College and then the City College of New York (CCNY) in the mid 1960s, where she was involved in many political activities, protests, and sit-ins.

On April 6, 1971, Shakur was shot in the stomach during a struggle with a guest at the Statler Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan and was arrested on a string of charges. According to police, Shakur knocked on the door of a room occupied by an out-of-town guest and asked "Is there a party going on here?" to which the occupant responded in the negative. Shakur then allegedly displayed a revolver and a struggle ensued, during which she was shot. She was booked on charges of attempted robbery, felonious assault, reckless endangerment, and possession of a deadly weapon, then released on bail.[21] Shakur is alleged to have said that she was glad that she had been shot since now that she had experienced what it was like she was no longer afraid to be shot again.

Following an August 23, 1971, bank robbery in Queens, Shakur was sought for questioning, and a photograph of a woman (who was later alleged to be Shakur) with thick rimmed black glasses, a high hairdo pulled tightly over her head, and a steadily pointed gun became ubiquitous in banks and full page print ads paid for by the New York Clearing House Association. On December 21, 1971, Shakur was named as one of four suspects by New York City police in a hand grenade attack that destroyed a police car and slightly injured two patrolmen in Maspeth, Queens; a 13 state alarm was issued three days after the attack when a witness identified Shakur and Andrew Jackson from FBI photographs. Atlanta law enforcement officials said that Shakur and Jackson had lived together for several months in Atlanta, Georgia, in the summer of 1971.

Shakur was one of those wanted for questioning for wounding a police officer attempting to serve a traffic summons in Brooklyn on January 26, 1972 . After a March 1, 1972 $89,000 Brooklyn bank robbery, a Daily News headline asked: "Was that JoAnne?"; Shakur was also wanted for questioning after a further September 1, 1972 Bronx bank robbery. Msgr. John Powis alleged that Shakur was involved in an armed robbery at his Our Lady of the Presentation church in Brownsville, Brooklyn, on September 14, 1972, based on FBI photographs.

In 1972, Shakur was the subject of a nationwide manhunt after the FBI alleged that she was the "revolutionary mother hen" of a Black Liberation Army cell that had conducted a "series of cold-blooded murders of New York City police officers", including the "execution style murders" of New York Police Officers Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones on May 21, 1971 and Gregory Foster and Rocco Laurie on January 28, 1972. Shakur was alleged to have been directly involved with the Foster and Laurie murders, and involved with the Piagentini and Jones murders. Some sources go further, identifying Shakur as the de facto leader and the "soul of the Black Liberation Army" after the arrest of cofounder Dhoruba Moore. Robert Daley, Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Police, for example, described Shakur as "the final wanted fugitive, the soul of the gang, the mother hen who kept them together, kept them moving, kept them shooting".

Read More HERE

www.assatashakur.org

Check the 'Hands Off Assata' campaign HERE

Via Ballerstatus.com Q&A With Estelle: Being A Role Model, Bringing Herself Into Music & Love

Music is so tasteful. To appreciate the exquisiteness behind the elements of music, one must know it's foundation. Enter Estelle, the songbird who came out of her cage and blossomed nationally, after flying over from London. After she journeyed across the country for her "American Boy", she began finding her niche and developing her sound. With her eclectic voice, her popularity afforded her collaborations with the likes of Kanye West, John Legend, Nas, and Rick Ross, among many others.



The Grammy-Award winner recently shot her video for her first single, "Break My Heart" featuring the telfon don Rick Ross, garnering great response.

We were able to sit down with Estelle to talk about her single, dealing with paparazzi while being in a relationship, and being a role model for the young listeners.

BallerStatus.com: You have the single "Break My Heart" with Rick Ross, which is doing pretty well right now. I just want to know how the song came about?

Estelle: I had the beat chillin', looking at me. I was getting toward the end of the album, had a bunch of songs sent to me. I was like "This beat is kinda special." I went to the studio and was thinking, "This beat is crazy." I didn't know what to do with the hook. I always start from the hook, then name the song from the hook. I went home and I just wrote the whole thing. I didn't want it to be an ordinary "Oh my heart's broken," "I hate this man"-type song. I wanted it to be something people can be hopeful about, and that guys and girls can relate to. And that was it.

BallerStatus.com: The track is great and you're talking about heart's being broken. I know woman have a tendency of having their hearts broken. I was wondering, did past experiences contribute to making the song?

Estelle: Not about some random idea I had in the air. It was real (laughs). I moved to New York and I was having a random attack, so "American Boy" (giggles) ... it's that real. I'm not the type of artist that can just get on a song and be told what's supposed to happen. I'm not that person. I can't write, I can't live like that. I really have to relate to it and that's how I live my life. That's why it takes me so damn long to come up with an album. I've had my heart broken too many times, so please don't do it again. Don't mess with me (jokingly). I have fun being single. I think a lot of girls are scared to say that, to be that honest and real with their men. I know this for sure, that women use these songs as a way to communicate. So, that was me just being brave enough to say it and brave enough to be the person that does it. Ya know?



It's kind of therapy for me. It really is. I get a chance to talk to my students.

BallerStatus.com: That's good . It gives you the chance to free your mind. It's crazy because I know for you being a woman in the industry, you touched on it a little bit, on how difficult it can be to maintain a healthy relationship with the paparazzi and temptations just forming around you and your partner?

Estelle: I think, for me personally, on my end of it, I was in a relationship for a good two years in London, while I was doing my first album and nobody knew. I try my best to not give people my business. I don't put it out there. I don't think my boyfriend is going to help my brand. The most inside you'll get into my life is me writing about whatever relationship I'm in, or you might see me out too much, but that's it (laughs). Imagine how you'd feel? I mean nobody is perfect.

In relationships you have to be real, so imagine whomever you're with is constantly being victimized, constantly have people digging into their business and that's crazy.

BallerStatus.com: It's rough.

Estelle: Right! It's rough. I choose not to do that to whomever I'm with.

BallerStatus.com: I don't blame you. It's crazy because you just touched on this not to long ago, about how with every record you write, you're putting yourself out there. Many artists are scared of showing the fans their weaknesses and vulnerabilities. With that being said, on the new album All Of Me, do you offer your fans an even closer look at not what only makes Estelle a singer, but you as a person?

Estelle: Absolutely. I really want people to know that I'm comfortable with me. I'm happy with me. I'm not bothered by anyone's perception of who I'm supposed to be. This is me and I'm not scared to put it out there. I really want people to get me, understand where I'm coming from, and what I'm saying. From the last album, the song "More than Friends," I was like shy. "American Boy," I was more comfortable. I'm not trying to be perfect. I'm not trying to be the role model of life. I'm trying to be a real human being. I just want to make really good music that people give a sh** about. That's the basis of it. I also want them to understand that because I'm from London, doesn't mean that it's not the same sh**, but in a different currency. I think a lot of people think you come from London, so you're rich. No, I'm not. I want people to understand how real it is and what my struggle is and why I do the sh** I do. This is not a joke for me. It's my life.

BallerStatus.com: Wow. When you say that, it bugs me out because a lot of people now-a-days, it feels like when they make a single or a track, it's like they chase the radio. With your music, it feels like everything came together organically.

Estelle: I just do what the hell I do because I like it. I do the stuff I love and I feel like there are people who love it too.



BallerStatus.com: Do you feel like a lot of musicians, especially the R&B singers that connect more to the younger age group, do you feel they should be more responsible and accountable for what they say within their lyrics?

Estelle: Yeah, I think they should be responsible for their stuff, especially if they know it's going to be some embarrassment. Forget the money, because you're going to have money either way. It may take you longer. It may take a different route to get it, but I just feel like you need to be careful of what you're giving these kids to sing.

BallerStatus.com: I agree 100%. Another thing I noticed and I think you noticed it too, is that a lot of artists now have a tendency to release their albums on a yearly basis. They feel, to stay relevant, they wanna release two albums within a year. Do you feel that when you release your projects at a two, three-year difference, you're in a better space musically and creatively when you work on your album? Rather than rush the material out?

Estelle: Yeah, you don't get to physically grow as a human being. I've always approached it to being a human being. I have to cater to myself first, and it may put me at a disadvantage because I have to go work all over again, but when things are on the table and the album is released, you're gunna love it. Something you will listen to for ten years, not just for the next year. You have to make a commitment to growing and doing really good work. Do you see where I'm coming from?

BallerStatus.com: I completely agree with you on everything you've been saying. That's the first time I can say that about an artist. You're saying a lot of real stuff; I can't even lie. I might have to title the interview "Real Talk With Estelle" ...

Estelle: I'm not even frustrated about it. I don't judge anybody. I know for me, the way I think of music, the way my team thinks of music, the way the people I work with like John and Kanye ... They take their time and they work on their sh**.

BallerStatus.com: For your fans out there, can you give them once again the release date of when they can expect All Of Me to come out?

Estelle: All Of Me comes out in September. I think right now, it's the second week of September. The single is out now on iTunes, "Break My Heart."

BallerStatus.com: Can the fans expect another reunion with John Legend or Kanye? Can we expect that on the album?

Estelle: On the album, definitely with John Legend. I think it's exciting when we work together. I think we should just do a duet album at some point.

BallerStatus.com: That's what I was just about to ask you...

Estelle: I think we should. We haven't spoken about it. Maybe we'll do something. Common is on the new album.

BallerStatus.com: Oh really? That's big.

BallerStatus.com: You've worked with a lot of artists -- robin Thicke, John Legend, Kanye. Are there any artists that you're still looking at on your wish list, and you're like, "We have to get a record?"

Estelle: I would love to work with Mary [J. Blige]. She's my idol. I just love her. I'm a big fan of Shania Twain. I think she's amazing. I'm also a big fan of Jim Jones, Dipset.

BallerStatus.com: That would be a really interesting track. That would be dope. I will definitely be checking for it.

When Americans Think of Regrets, Love Tops List (BLOG)

 (HealthDay News) -- Whether it's the great guy who got away or the dead-end relationship that went on way too long, regrets involving romance are most commonly cited byAmericans when asked about things they wish they'd done differently.

Researchers at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign surveyed 370 adults aged 19 to 103 about their regrets. Each was asked to describe, in detail, one decision they came to rue.

About 18 percent cited regrets involving romance. That was followed closely by regrets about family (16 percent), education (13 percent) and career (12 percent), finance (10 percent) and parenting (9 percent).

Women were more likely than men to have regrets about romantic or family relationships. About 44 percent of the regrets described by women were about relationship mistakes compared to 19 percent of men's.

"It speaks to something psychologists have known for a long time. Women are typically charged with the role of maintaining and preserving relationships, so when things do go wrong, it's very spontaneous for women to think, 'I should have done it some other way,'" said senior study author Neal Roese, a psychologist and professor of marketing at Northwestern. "It's how men and women are raised in this culture."

Men, on the other hand, were more likely to have regrets about work or education -- 34 percent compared to women's 26 percent, the study found.

Many of the regrets around work involved missed opportunities -- turning down a job instead of going for it, failing to take risks that could have led to a more fulfilling career. "There was a sense of frustration that a job doesn't reflect inner passion," Roese said of the study recently published online in Social Psychological and Personality Science.

Those with less education were more likely to have education regrets. And those with more education were more likely to have career regrets.

"As people rise higher in our culture, there is a perception of greater opportunities," Roese said. "Paradoxically, the more opportunities you have, the more ways you can see how you could have gotten more . . . Opportunity fuels the regret experience."

So does this mean you should quit your desk job to realize your dream of working with horses or sailing the world?

Maybe, Roese said. In the survey, people were free to describe a short-term regret or a regret that lingered a lifetime.

Short-term regrets tended to be about things people did -- say, accidentally hitting "reply all" on an email, or forgetting to call Mom on Mother's Day.

But the long-lasting regrets were more often about things that people didn't do, such as never expressing their feelings to a loved one or taking a career risk.

"When you look to the recent past, you are more likely to kick yourself for blurting out something inappropriate at dinner or buying something you couldn't afford," he said. "When you look back at your own past to long ago, you are more likely to see things you should have or could have done. Alost love. A job you could have had."

Over time, people rationalize their actions, explaining away their mistakes, Roese pointed out. But when it comes to inaction, people forget the barriers that kept them from taking the action -- they only remember that they didn't try.

"When people reflect on the past, which is what regret does, we ruminate about the things that didn't go well but we don't savor the good times," said Joseph Ferrari, a professor of psychology at DePaul University in Chicago. "We are much more impacted by the negative stuff."

And though regret can be painful, a life without regret isn't only near impossible, it would lack a fundamental emotion that spurs people to avoid future mistakes.

"Regret is an essential part of the human experience," Roese said. "You should listen to the lessons your regrets tell you, which is quite often how you could have done things differently or how you could change things."

Everyone makes mistakes, Ferrari added. "It's how you get up, and how you rebound, that matters," he said. "Instead of letting regret dominate life, savor what you do have, and what did go right . . . We need to look more in terms of our strengths, and not our weaknesses."