Happy muhfuggin Valentine’s Day! Nicki Minaj Posts Instagram Pic In A Bikini A picture is worth a thousand words, and an enhanced a$$ is worth 10 times that in cold hard cash. So without further ado… Apparently Nicki took this picture to help promote her fellow NYC rapper French Montana’s new single “Freaks” on which she guest appears. Now THAT’S love. Image via Instagram
Winter Storm Nemo, a.k.a. the blizzard going on outside for tens of millions of Americans, is doing its thing. But why does a big snowstorm need a name? You can thank The Weather Channel alone for the moniker, it turns out. It also turns out that the National Weather Service is not amused. The massive New York / Northeast / New England snow storm will be among the biggest on record, but the region has seen plenty of snow in the past. Why is this one so special? And why Winter Storm Nemo of all names? Here’s the Weather Channel’s rationale for naming the blizzard: Naming a storm raises awareness about it, and the weather Naming it makes it easier to monitor the system’s progress A name gives it personality, which adds to the awareness A name makes it much easier to reference in communication A named storm is easier to remember and refer to later It’s not about marketing, or hype, or ratings, or generating more buzz for the Weather Channel, they say. Just doing their part for awareness and safety. Right. The Weather Channel defended the unusual move by saying it’s just stepping up to tackle a task to benefit the public that the government won’t: “There is no national center, such as the National Hurricane Center, to coordinate and communicate information on a multi-state scale to cover such big events.” Therefore, they say, “it would be a great benefit for a partner in the weather industry to take on the responsibility of developing this new concept.” The National Weather Service doesn’t see it that way. After TWC first began the practice by coining Nor’easter Athena in November, the NWS put out a statement disassociating itself with the naming system. The agency urged employees to “please refrain from using the term Athena in any of our products,” while local meteorologists were also unimpressed. Some wondered if TWC was just trying to parlay its peak audience during hurricanes – which are all named by the National Hurricane Center – into winter ratings. The network denies this and insists it’s just trying to help. It’s true that #nemo is trending on Twitter right now, and that’s easier to type than #blizzard. Maybe? And why Nemo? TWC says Winter Storm Nemo is NOT named after Disney’s Finding Nemo or the character in Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues under the Sea . It say that Nemo is “A Greek boy’s name meaning “from the valley,” and means “nobody” in Latin. So, yeah. Read into that however you like. And stay safe people.
Amanda Bynes, threatened with eviction by her landlord for breaking rules and being disrespectful toward others, packed up and left her NYC apartment last week. According to reports, Bynes got a letter from management in January explaining that her lease would be terminated (presumably February 1, when she left). Reason: She’s a pothead. Management made the decision to evict following complaints of marijuana smoke emanating from Amanda Bynes ‘ apartment “morning, noon and night.” Sources say she was also seen smoking weed in the halls. It’s a non-smoking building, like most New York structures. She’s kind of a big a fan of the herb, it would appear. In any case, TMZ reports that Amanda wasn’t going to wait and challenge management’s decision and decided to simply find somewhere else to live. It’s unclear where the 26-year-old plans to go next, but departing this spot is a done deal. Trucks were seen packing up and moving her stuff on outta there. Anybody need a roommate?
The early American Idol auditions have finally come to an end. With Steven Tyler in drag . Yeah. It’s nice to be moving on to Hollywood. But before we pick up and head to California, let’s take a look at the best acts we’ve seen so far, shall we? Might one of the following be our next American Idol? Brunell Taylor, who was relocated due to Katrina and Charlie Askew, both of whom tried out in Louisiana: Burnell Taylor American Idol Audition Charlie Askew American Idol Audition Ja’Bria Barber, a wonder at 16; and Ashley Smith, who made Carrie Underwood proud with “Cowboy Casanova” in Charlotte: Ja’Bria Barber American Idol Audition Ashley Smith American Idol Audition Seretha Guinn, who sang the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song; and Lazaro Arbos, who stutters when he talks but amazes when he sings: Seretha Guinn American Idol Audition Lazaro Arbos American Idol Audition Tenna Torres, who attended Mariah Carey fantasy camp; and Frankie Ford, who sings in the NYC subway system: Tenna Torres – American Idol Audition Frankie Ford – American Idol Audition WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE SO FAR?
NYC subway fare cost a little more than an iTunes single the last time the (mildly embarrassed) Queens MC rode the rails. By Rebecca Thomas Nas Photo: MTV News
Lindsay Lohan is an actual, high-class escort who pays her bills by dating rich men, according to a new report … using quotes from her father, Michael Lohan. Just when you think you’ve heard everything. Desperate for money, the troubled actress has, celebrity gossip site Radar Online claims, begun offering up her “services” as a professional escort. Bolstering this claim? None other than her dear ol’ dad. “She is getting paid to date rich men,” Michael Lohan said of his 26-year-old daughter. “Dina (Lindsay’s mother) is pimping her out … it’s disgusting!” MiLo isn’t the only one dishing on her alleged new profession. “The dates last for days, and the guys pay for everything – hotel, travel costs, food, whatever – as well as jewelry and other gifts,” someone close to her revealed. No one is suggesting that Lohan is doing anything more than act as arm candy for rich playboys who like to be seen with beautiful and famous women. However, that’s definitely the implication of an “escort.” One of Lindsay’s most high profile clients ? A man who is third in line to the throne of Brunei, a small country in Southeast Asia: Prince Haji Abdul Azim. A billionaire playboy who loves American celebrities, he allegedly paid Lindsay a whopping $100,000 to join him in London for a New Year’s celebration. Wealthy Spanish-American painter Domingo Zapata is another client who reportedly supported the troubled actress for much longer than a holiday. “Domingo let Lindsay live in his penthouse at the Bowery Hotel in NYC for free and at his L.A. pad at Chateau Marmont [for months],” says one of his confidantes. “They’re both super swanky,” the source said, adding that there’s no way a broke Lindsay Lohan could’ve afforded either of those trips on her own. What do you think: Is Lindsay an escort? Would you hire her? Will she be lavished with this kind of royal treatment in Lynwood Cell Block D later this year?
We keep trying to tell you that race matters ! Black and Latino students in NYC who attend poverty stricken schools are more likely to end up with teachers who have received unsatisfactory ratings. Via NYPost reports : Teachers who received bad performance ratings in the past school year were likelier to be teaching in high-poverty schools, or in schools with high percentages of black, Hispanic or low-achieving students, a new analysis found. The StudentsFirstNY report on the 3.2 percent of teachers were rated “unsatisfactory” — known as a “U-rating” — for the 2011-12 school year found large differences in how they were distributed throughout the school system. The analysis found that students in high-poverty schools were at least three times more likely to be taught by a U-rated teacher than were students in low-poverty schools. “An ineffective teacher in any classroom is a failure of the system at the expense of students,” said StudentsFirstNY Executive Director Micah Lasher, a former legislative liaison for Mayor Bloomberg. “A concentration of ineffective teachers serving specific student populations is an injustice.” Among the group’s eight recommendations, including having the city and teachers’ union reach a deal on a new teacher evaluation system by next week’s Jan. 17 deadline, are financial incentives for good teachers who stay in high-needs schools. Failing to reach a deal by the deadline would cost the city at least $250 million in state education aid. StudentsFirstNY also calls for a cap on the number of ineffective teachers who are allowed to remain at one school from year to year. The city currently does have at least two programs that offers incentives for teachers who agree to work in high needs schools – one that offers recruitment and tuition reimbursements, and the other that offers $15,000 in housing support in return for a 3-year commitment. The teachers’ union has also said that high concentrations of U-rated teachers can be caused by other factors — such as antagonism between a principal and his or her teachers. A 2011 investigation by the Department of Education found that the current principal at Fordham HS for the Arts – where 20 percent of teachers received a U-rating in 2011-12 – tried to force out teachers she didn’t like by giving them bad ratings without actually having observed their teaching. So the good news is not all these teachers are really as bad as it looks, but the bad news is enough of them earned their bad ratings for us to be fairly certain that our kids are not receiving the same quality of education that white students in more affluent schools are getting? Yeah… This doesn’t seem like a newsflash, but this needs to be fixed quickly. We wouldn’t be surprised if they discovered the same kind of inequalities in cities like Chicago where youth violence is rampant either. We need to be concerned about who is teaching our kids! Shutterstock
Freakazoids!!! As VH1 prepares to premiere the latest edition of Love & Hip-Hop , one of the show’s “couples” were caught in the act last week while misusing the bathroom at popular NYC eatery Cafeteria. Via Page Six : “Love & Hip Hop” stars Rich Dollaz and Erica Mena celebrated the VH1 show’s new season with a restroom romp at Cafeteria. Following the premiere party at Kiss & Fly, the pair hit the Chelsea restaurant, where they caused a backup in the loo line. A spy said, “Security were knocking, but no one would come out. Rich and Erica emerged from the stall disheveled.” Staff asked the couple to leave, and “Rich was staggering. He almost fell,” says the spy. “He got into a Mercedes, and friends had to get him from the driver’s seat to the back. Cops were called, but they’d already left.” Dollaz told us, “You can run with the sex in the bathroom. I won’t confirm or deny. I vaguely remember being there. It was a fun night.” SMH. And in related news, contrary to what you may have heard, Rich Dollaz and Erica are not engaged. In fact Rich told Power 105.1′s “The Breakfast Club” morning show that they’re both “TRYING” to be monogamous. These fools are crazy. Actually Erica is nuts and Rich is an even bigger fool to think this won’t end badly. Did he not watch her on last season of “Love & Hip-Hop”? Has he never heard of how difficult it is turning a ho to a housewife? If that getup doesn’t scream BIRD…
Jesus take the wheel … NYC Boy Murdered After Refusing To Hand Over $600 Jacket A 16-year-old boy is dead, after being shot Friday night on the Lower East Side. Via NYPost reports: A Lower East Side teenager by the name of Raphael Ward was senselessly slaughtered after he refused to hand over his trendy Marmot winter parka to a gang of thugs, police sources said yesterday. The gunman, described as 5-foot-6, 120 to 140 pounds, was wearing a dark wool hat and a ski mask when he walked up to Ward in the 32 degree cold and shot him just minutes after the altercation over the jacket, police sources said. After he was shot, a dying Ward — still wearing his bloodied parka — stumbled across the street to the Tearedhan convenience store and told workers there he had been approached by a group of people who had wanted his jacket, police sources said. The Marmot parkas can sell for as much as $600. Police are looking at security-camera video that may have captured the coldblooded murder. The victim’s stunned friend Cynthia Nieves, 14, said she met Ward just before he was gunned down. Although he didn’t tell her what was wrong, he warned her: “Go home!” “He knew they were coming back,” she said. Nicholas Ramos, 18, said he and Ward went to get a slice of pizza across from the church, but Ward “stopped to talk to somebody and I went across the street to the pizza place, and that’s when he got shot,” said Ramos. Ramos said he heard several shots, but waited a minute before he ran out to help Ward. The victim was later declared dead at Beth Israel Hospital. A young life cut short because of a simple piece of clothing, how sad. Keep the Ward family in your prayers. Tajanae Brown
