If you’re a recent college graduate trying to find an entry level job, it can be a rough and tough world out there in the job market. Luckily, we’ve rounded up some of the best entry level jobs out there that are perfect for college grads looking to get a foot in the door. Check out the top entry level jobs in your city below: Washington, D.C. Sales Assistant – CBS Radio – Washington D.C. News Assistant – Bloomberg – Washington D.C. Foreign Language Instructor – ABM Industries – Washington D.C. New York, NY Teachers – Harlem Village Academies – NYC Internet Retail Customer Service – Alpine Access – NYC Faculty- University of Phoenix – NYC Charlotte, NC Intern – Johnson Controls – Charolette Executive Assistant – Kforce Professional Staffing – Charolette Sales – Target – Charolette Houston, TX Occupational Therapist – HealthSouth Corporation – Houston Director In Training Pre School – Learning Care Group – Houston Retail Sales Associate – T-Mobile Retail – Houston New Orleans, LA Journeyman Sheet Metal Commercial Roofer – Simon Roofing – New Orleans ERA Customer Service Representation – SEACOR Holdings Inc. – New Orleans Occupational Therapy Assistant – Amedisys Home Health Inc. – New Orleans Detroit, MI Part Time Accounts Receivable Clerk – Exotic and Automatic Supply – Detroit R & D Automotive CAE Intern – Hitachi America, Ltd. – Detroit Sales Management Trainee – Enterprise Rent-A-Car – Detroit Chicago, IL Tutor – Everest College – Chicago Bartender – HMS Host – Chicago Assistant Manager – Panda Restaurant Group – Chicago Atlanta, GA Instructor Math/Algebra – Everest College – Atlanta Jr. Content Manager – Kforce Professional Staffing – Atlanta Electrical Engineer Project – Philips – Atlanta New Jersey Assistant Director-Child Care – Learning Care Group – New Jersey Electrical Engineer Staff – Siemans Healthcare – New Jersey Applications Engineer – Panasonic Electronic Works Corporation of America – New Jersey San Francisco, CA Inside Sales Associate- Aerotek – San Francisco Physical Therapist – St. Mary’s Medical Center – San Francisco Medical Assistant – Kaiser Permanente- San Francisco
In my last 2011 summer movie preview entry , I highlighted mainstream, studio blockbuster releases — from titles like Transformers: Dark of the Moon , to Captain America: The First Avenger . This time around, I will focus chiefly on alternate summer movie fare; “alternate” as in those relatively smaller films, mostly independently-financed and -produced, and/or foreign titles that a lot of you likely won’t have the opportunity to see in theaters, because they will all be distributed in a limited number of cities, as is often the case with films of their ilk. Limited theatrical distribution usually means release in New York and/or Los Angeles first, with any later expansion into other cities determined by how well the film does in those initial markets. But, at the very least you’ll know about them so that when they eventually become available on DVD or Blu-ray, the titles won’t be unfamiliar and you might consider adding them to your Netflix queue. Viva Riva! I’ll begin with a film that’s opening this weekend in New York and Los Angeles – a Congolese crime thriller titled Viva Riva! set in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in central Africa. Viva Riva! is directed by Djo Tunda Wa Munga, who has said that he wants to put a new face on African cinema, portraying aspects of life in his hometown that are rarely seen on screen. Having seen the film earlier this year at the New York African Film Festival, I can say that he accomplishes just that and more, with a film that’s audacious in its depictions of violence and sexuality, in ways African films in general avoid, and isn’t at all for the PG-13 crowd. Viva Riva! centers on Riva, a small time hustler who, after several years away, has just returned to his hometown of Kinshasa, Congo, with a major score: a fortune in hijacked gasoline, in a country where it’s scarce, in high demand, and thus more of a luxury. Wads of cash in hand and out for a good time, Riva is soon entranced by the beautiful, mystifying Nora while at a night club, only to find out that she’s the kept woman of a local gangster. But that doesn’t stop Viva from pursuing her, though not without repercussions. Throw into the already volatile mix a sadistic Angolan crime lord relentlessly seeking Riva for the return of his stolen shipment of gasoline, as well as other greedy, manipulative hands with Viva’s booty in their crosshairs, and what you’ll uncover is a pulsating look at a post-war city. The film excelled at the 2011 African Movie Academy Awards, winning both the Best Film and Best Director trophies. If you live in New York City, or Los Angeles, you’re encouraged to check it out when it debuts this Friday, June 10 th . Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest Opening about a month later, on July 8 th , is actor Michael Rapaport’s documentary on the legendary hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest (Q-tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Jarobi), aptly titled, Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest . Rapaport shot more than 2 years worth of footage of the group, including interviews with various hip-hop luminaries, music, and behind–the–scenes recordings of them on tour, and more. The final version — a 2011 Sundance Film Festival selection (which is where I saw it, earlier this year) — is a 97-minute time capsule that those of you who frequently reminisce about the “good old days” of hip-hop, when groups like ATCQ, De La Soul, Jungle Brothers, Leaders Of The New School, and the rest of the self-labeled Native Tongues, reigned boom boxes, car speakers, house parties, and the like. Those unfamiliar with the group should consider this a primer, and may even be inspired to buy a track or two after watching it. Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest , like Viva Riva!, opens first in New York City and Los Angeles, although, according to the film’s web page, there are plans to expand it into several other cities around the country, through mid-August. So, it just might play at a theater near you. Life, Above All The following week, on July 15 th , is a drama called Life, Above All , South Africa’s official “for your consideration” entry into the Best Foreign Language Film category in this year’s Academy Awards. The film, which screened out of competition in the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, and is based on the award-winning novel Chanda’s Secrets by Allan Stratton, centers on 12-year old Chanda, who, after the death of her newly-born baby sister, learns of a rumor about her family that spreads throughout the small village near Johannesburg, where she lives; a rumor that destroys her family and forces her mother to flee, causing Chanda to leave home and school in search of her mother and the truth. Of the four films mentioned in this post, this is one that I have yet to see, but will, in a press preview next week. So my awareness of its contents is limited to what I’ve read about it thus far – mostly impressed reviews from other critics who have seen the film while it traveled the film festival circuit. The trailer looks strong, and I’m looking forward to watching and experience the entire film. When will you be able to see it? Sony Pictures Classics acquired all North American distribution rights to Life, Above All last year, and now plans to open it in New York and Los Angeles first, on July 15 th , with other cities possible, depending on how well it does during its early release. Gun Hill Road And on August 5th, once again, for those in New York and Los Angeles, you’ll have the opportunity to see NYU MFA graduate Rashaad Ernesto Green’s feature film debut, titled Gun Hill Road , when it opens in those 2 cities. In Gun Hill Road , a Sundance 2011 selection, an ex-con (played by Esai Morales) returns home to the Bronx after three years in prison to discover his wife (Judy Reyes) estranged and his teenage son (Harmony Santana) exploring a sexual transformation that challenges the already fragile bonds of their family makeup. Isiah Whitlock also features in the film, which I saw earlier this year and loved. It’s a contemplative, compelling drama, with all-around wonderful, naturalistic performances from the cast, notably newcomer Harmony Santana, who director Green found after an exhaustive search. The film has been travelling the country (and the world) rather aggressively since its Sundance debut, garnering fans, acclaim and support along the way, leading up to its eventual August release; so, some of you may have already seen it. And between today, the date of this posting, and the film’s official commercial theatrical debut, it’ll screen at festivals in Salt Lake City, UT, San Francisco, CA, and Philadelphia, PA; so, if you live in any of those cities, you’ll have an opportunity to see the film. Follow the film on Facebook and/or Twitter to be kept abreast of its release schedule. And that’s about it! There might be a surprise release or two here and there worth mentioning, but if you are able to see all four of the films listed above, you’ll be in good shape, as far as indie/foreign cinema by and/or about people of African descent, released in the US this summer, is concerned. There are some films that played at film festivals earlier in the year, with and without distribution, which might surface at film festivals or other screening series during the summer, so look out for them; they may be closer to you than you realize. And, of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that there are a few upcoming black film festivals over the next three months, during which audiences will be introduced to new works by independent black filmmakers. Kicking things off will be the American Black Film Festival in South Florida, which runs in early July; and closing out the summer will be the Martha’s Vineyard Black Film Festival, in early/mid August. And there are certainly others. You’re encouraged to attend these festivals, especially if they are happening in your city, and check out films that you may never get to see elsewhere. I hope that between my two summer preview entries, you’ll be able to find something(s) of interest. And if not, there’s always content available on television, the web, old movie rentals, and more. Or you could always read a book… or two or three! Tambay Obenson is editor of Shadow And Act on the indieWIRE Network , which can be found at http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact .
While walking to work yesterday, I was caught off guard when a woman walking in the opposite direction randomly smiled and waved at me. I spent the following ten minutes trying to figure out why a stranger had acknowledged me in this way, taking into account every aspect of my appearance, especially my recently dyed hair and even the smile I had also been wearing. However, despite by best deductions, I could not figure out why that woman had decided to be so openly warm and friendly in such a big city. After a prolonged time of thinking, what occurred to me is that this situation was a test of my daily expectations. Since the smile was most likely a moment of spontaneity, my expectations were shaken and I was not sure how to react, despite the nice surprise a stolen second of kindness caused. The big question I had to ask myself, though, was: Why is kindness and warmth so unexpected in public places? Have we been so desensitized to human contact beyond our own associations that strangers have become just beyond our reach? Does unsolicited optimism scare us? There are many questions that can be raised from a small wave and smile, but the strongest question you can ask would be: is there a way we can see beyond these expectations and embrace the small instances of the unexplained? 1. Don’t see yourself as in a bubble, but within a web of human contact. If you don’t just view yourself as your own contained sphere, you’re more likely to exert an air of friendliness and see the world in a different way. Walking through a big city or a crowded area can feel intimidating and it’s tempting to want to tune everything out as you maneuver through the madness, but keeping your sights open and approachable can make the experience much more rewarding. Just smiling at a stranger and not being so within yourself can make someone else’s day better, even possibly your own! I was talking to a friend in the office about this topic yesterday and she informed me of a story from the 1970′s that correlates with my thoughts. I found the story referenced in this article , as well as many other scenarios with similar commentary. There was a man intent on committing suicide by jumping off of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and he wrote in his suicide note that if on his way to the bridge, one person smiled at him, he wouldn’t go through with it. Unfortunately, no one payed him any attention and he ended up jumping to his death. This is seriously one of the saddest scenarios that I’ve ever heard, which confirms that small gestures like smiles and acknowledging others can mean more than you realize. You never really know what is going on in people’s heads and kindness can be the catalyst to their inner pain, especially if they think that no one cares about them. 2. Keep your manners in check, even in a crowded area. Saying “thank you” when someone opens the door for you is always a common courtesy. If you don’t like people cutting in front of you, try to be conscious of others as you run to your destination. It may be hard to realize what you are doing when you are running late somewhere or trying to catch a train, but it can be important sometimes to think of the image you project outward to the world. The calm, collected person you see yourself as might not be the image you present to others on your way out the door! Try leaving room for someone to sit next to you on the bus or give up your space in line at the grocery store to a mother struggling with her child. You never know how much of an impact you can make until you open yourself up to the possibilities! How To Make Fear Your Friend 3. Try to do one act of kindness a day. Even if you are just calling a family member on a whim or giving one of your friends a small gift that reminds you of them, the effort you make to connect with people won’t go unnoticed. There is a common quote that says, “Don’t frown because someone might be falling in love with your smile.” As I said before, a simple gesture like a smile in someone’s direction or surrounding your presence with a bit of optimistic energy can work wonders, as others can feel what you project! If you present yourself as a friendly person with an air of self confidence, running into unexpected situations doesn’t seem so scary or daunting! 4. Keep an open mind about people. Just as you are not supposed to judge a book by its cover, it isn’t a smart idea to judge a person based on your first impression of them. There is common phrase that says, “In order to have a friend, you have to be a friend.” If you go into a new situation thinking that you don’t want to meet anyone new, then you are not being open to the possibilities of friendship. In my experience, the times I didn’t expect to meet someone fantastic, it just happened. For example, one of my newest and now closest friends came up to me and introduced herself on a whim. Once we started talking, we realized that we had an insane connection and a ton in common. After only a few months, it became second nature to confide in her and now we basically talk every day, even though we don’t live near each other. You just never know what opportunities for human connection are out there unless you put yourself out there and are open to meeting new people! 5. Embrace your true self. If you don’t have confidence in who you are as a person, then it can be very hard to break out of your shell and take advantage of all of the opportunities that life presents you. Once you have your own sense of self and can radiate that to others, the possibilities of the world seem much more attainable! The most important lesson to learn in life is to focus on others, yet also make sure that you are doing the right things for you. By learning to embrace the presence of others and people in different walks of life, you are opening yourself up to what the world is about: communication and human connection. Once you have yourself figured out, projecting that to others makes you all the more interesting. Plus, you never know: your smile could be changing someone else’s view of the world! Embracing the unknown can seem like an impossible task, especially if you are not used to it. However, by taking it upon yourself to throw caution to the wind and take risks, within reason, there is so much to be explored in this world. Just like the man who was looking for a smile within a sea of people on the Golden Gate Bridge, all any of us are searching for is recognition and acknowledgment from the rest of the world. By learning to compromise uncertainty and being open to all situations, you have the ability to gain confidence in yourself as well as inspire the same in others. Put your best foot forward and keep the optimism alive – you never know who you could affect! Isn’t It Time You Revealed The Real You? Did You Know Nicki Minaj Plays The Clarinet? See The Video Here! BLACK MUSIC MOMENT #62: Ludacris Debuts As Radio Personality “Chris Lova Lova” NEW MUSIC: Beyonce Ft. Andre 3000 “Party”
By 2015 more than 50% of all people living with HIV in the US will be over 50. Anna Fowlkes, 64, didn’t date for years after her husband, Sonny, died of a brain tumor. And after she finally did, she learned she’d become infected with HIV. She taught her son about safe sex, she says, but, like many other seniors, it didn’t occur to her that she needed to practice it too. “We are of a generation where that was not something we have to think about,” she says. “Now I know better.” One in 10 people newly diagnosed with HIV are age 50 or older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2006 statistics, the last year for which there is data. Dr. Brad Hare, the medical director of San Francisco General Hospital’s HIV/AIDS clinic, Ward 86, says up to half of the new infections seen in San Francisco among that age group are in women. That’s far higher than the 27 percent of new infections that occur in women of all ages, according to the CDC’s 2006 statistics. Some, like Fowlkes, may be entering a new sexual relationship for the first time in decades after the death of a spouse and may not be aware of the risk, says Hare. In other cases, women may have believed they were in a monogamous relationship with a husband or partner, who wasn’t monogamous with them. Today, Fowlkes, is an advocate for HIV prevention among her peers. “I don’t want [others] to have to go down the road I’ve gone down,” she says. “I want them to get tested.” It’s so important to be informed! Get tested and use protection. Sources
Elmer “Geronimo” Pratt aka Geronimo ji-Jaga died of a heart attack yesterday in his home in Tanzania. The former high-ranking member of the Black Panther party and godfather of Tupac Shakur was unjustly incarcerated for 27 years after being falsely convicted of the kidnap and murder of Caroline Olsen on a Santa Monica, California tennis court in 1968. Even though the husband of the victim that survived the robbery pointed out another man as the attacker, a judge ruled that the jury was not informed. Pratt served his time, and eight years of that time he was in solitary confinement. He was freed in 1997. Stuart Hanlon, a San Francisco attorney who helped overturn Pratt’s murder conviction said to The Times, “Geronimo was a powerful leader. For that reason he was targeted.” Read more here. RELATED: January 4, 1976 FBI Conspiracy Against Black Militant Groups Is Uncovered RELATED: Tupac’s Only Screenplay Going Into Production Next Year RELATED: R.I.P. Tupac Shakur [PHOTOS]
In ongoing ‘Seattle Sonics’ series, DCFC take us to a pair of venues that helped shape the band: Crocodile Cafe and OK Hotel. By James Montgomery Death Cab For Cutie’s Nick Harmer and Ben Gibbard Photo: MTV News All four members of Death Cab For Cutie grew up in and around Seattle, during a time that outsiders have since deemed “The Grunge Explosion.” But for those living around the city — particularly those not old enough to get in to most shows (thanks to the city’s now-abolished Teen Dance Ordinance ) — they didn’t know anything about an explosion. They just knew there were a ton of really great bands they were missing out on. And back then, as is still the case today, most of those bands played Seattle’s Crocodile Cafe, with gigs being advertised in the city’s late, lamented free paper The Rocket. And for kids on the outside, like DCFC’s Ben Gibbard and Nick Harmer, both of those things were the source of never-ending frustration. “We both grew up in the Northwest, and we’d look at the shows at the Crocodile, seeing them in this weekly music magazine The Rocket, and be like, ‘Aw, I wish I could go to that show,’ ” Gibbard told MTV News. “But it was a 21-and-over venue at the time, so we couldn’t go, and all our favorite bands were playing [at the Crocodile], and we could never come see shows there.” But, as they got older, and formed Death Cab for Cutie in the college town of Bellingham, Washington, things started to change. The band started coming to shows at the Croc (Gibbard remembers seeing Bedhead with DCFC guitarist Chris Walla at the club in 1998) and even managed to score a gig or two there. And finally, at the end of ’98, they played a sold-out show at the legendary venue. It was, to say the least, a highlight, and the reason Gibbard and Harmer took MTV News to the Crocodile as part of our “Seattle Sonics” tour : The club played an integral part in their lives, both before and during Death Cab. “Every once in a while, people will ask, ‘Oh, what are the highlights of your band’s career?’ And without fail, I always reference the first time we ever headlined the Crocodile Cafe. … It was in, I think, December 1998, and it was on a weekend, a Friday or a Saturday, and we sold the club out,” Gibbard said. “There used to be a wall they’d put in that would diminish the capacity down to 300, from 600 or so, so we played a wall-in sold-out show, which still for us was a huge deal. And I remember coming offstage in the little backstage area that used to be here, between our main set and the encore, and becoming flushed with emotion, like, really, it was too much for me to handle, because I couldn’t believe we had done it. We had actually sold out and headlined the Crocodile Cafe. “And it was this turning moment, I think, for all of us. … We had this realization that, ‘Wow, we can really do this. We’re a real band. We’re not just four guys in a college town goofing off on the weekends and practicing after class. If we could get 300 people into this room to see us play, we can do it in Portland, we can do it in San Francisco. It can happen,’ ” he continued. “So not only was it kind of the fulfillment of a dream I’ve had since I was a teenager — since we were all teenagers — but it was a powerful moment for me, because I finally felt like we were on to something.” And while the band’s first-ever headlining gig at the Croc was a milestone (made even more because, as Gibbard beamed, “Afterwards I got to meet Peter Buck from R.E.M. in the bathroom”), there’s another venue in town that holds an even dearer place in their hearts: the legendary OK Hotel, one of Seattle’s most celebrated all-ages venue, since shuttered and reopened as a gallery space. Located in a decidedly seedy part of town — beneath a viaduct near the piers on Alaska Way — it was one of the few places where kids could actually go to shows and a stop for any band not yet big enough to sell out a 21-plus venue. Not surprisingly, Gibbard and Harmer spent plenty of time there, and they made sure to take us to the spot on their tour. “I saw Superchunk and Sunny Day Real Estate here, Low, bands I loved. This was a really important place for me, because as a kid, it made a real impression on me, seeing bands loading their own equipment and setting up their own stuff, because before coming to places like this, the only places you saw rock bands play were in arenas and large venues. I wasn’t used to seeing bands do it themselves. You heard about it, but you actually never saw it,” Gibbard said. “The only options to see shows as a teenager in Seattle were this place or bands that were so big they were playing arenas or a venue that was large enough to take out an insurance policy. So this was a venue where a lot of touring bands came through, because this was the only place you could do all-ages shows, legally.” But since he was still living with his parents across the Puget Sound in Bremerton, Gibbard never really got to see full shows. His curfew saw to that. But sprinting across the street to catch the last ferry home is part of the reason the OK Hotel will always hold a special place in his heart: It was a piece of his youth. “There’s a ferry terminal right across the street, and I had to be on, I believe it was a 10:50 ferry to be home by curfew,” he laughed. “So if the show started at 8 or 9 here, it meant I was running across the street to catch the ferry at 10:40 … so I have memories of going to see Superchunk here when I was 17 and hearing the beginning chords of ‘Package Thief’ and just running out from the venue, across the street and just barely making the ferry.” “Death Cab for Cutie: Seattle Sonics” concludes Friday on MTVNews.com with a look at the iconic Seattle studio where the band put the finishing touches on their brand-new album Codes and Keys. Related Videos Death Cab For Cutie’s Guide To Seattle
“Yes, they are getting married and having an intimate family wedding,” her rep tells us. The wedding, Coppola#39;s second, will take place in the Palazzo Margherita, a 19th-century villa which the director#39;s father, Francis Ford Coppola, has rebuilt and is renovating. The family is originally from the region, and Coppola#39;s great-grandfather came from Bernalda. Director Sofia Coppola#39;s latest project? A wedding! The Somewhere director will marry longtime rocker beau, Thomas Mars, in A
Song is rumored to be next single off the pop singer’s new album, 4. By James Dinh Beyonce Photo: Getty Days after the premiere of the postapocalyptic dance clip for fans are now being treated to the recently leaked tune “Till the End of Time.” Rumored to be the next single off Beyonc
We reported earlier today that Christina Hopkins from season 5 of “The Bad Girls Club” is embroiled in a firestorm of controversy for going on a racist rant that was caught on video , where she said the word “n*gger” several times. Video of the rant ended up TMZ. Hot 107.9 has obtained an exclusive apology from Christina. You can read her apology below: RELATED: Bad Girls’ “Christina” Goes On Racial Rant: “You’re A N*gger, Nobody Likes You” [VIDEO] RELATED: Bad Girls Club Reunion Recap RELATED: Bad Girls Club Season 6 Trailer
