Tag Archives: recession

Random Ridiculousness: People Are Out There Spending $12K On Fake Babies

ROFL, did someone forget to tell us the recession was over??? According to recent news reports, elaborate fake babies—called “reborn dolls”—are becoming popular with adult women. The dolls, which can cost more than $12,000 (but often sell for several hundred or a few thousand dollars)—have extremely realistic hair and incredibly lifelike facial features and skin tone, thanks to many hours spent by artists who paint them, complete with one-of-a-kind birthmarks—and painstakingly apply their locks and lashes. Some of the dolls are made to look exactly like premature babies and delivered with an incubator and even with IVs. Some younger women claim the dolls satisfy their maternal needs. Some middle-aged women claim the dolls comfort them as their children leave for college. Indeed, companies will supply custom-made dolls that closely resemble a woman’s own baby—born twenty years before. It would be one thing if women were buying “reborn dolls” out of morbid curiosity or a passion to collect them (like Hummel figurines). But women are taking their dolls out in strollers (no kidding) and strapping them into car seats for trips to the mall. Fortunately, they don’t actually believe their “babies” are real. That would be a true psychotic delusion. But they are able to suspend disbelief and play with them as though they are real—kind of like believing in a movie while you are watching it… No, no: these broads are absolutely certifiable if they’re a) spending this kind of money on baby dolls and b) treating them like real babies… But it gets worse. Check the flip…

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Random Ridiculousness: People Are Out There Spending $12K On Fake Babies

Eff The Recession: Study Shows That 38% Of African-Americans Lost Their Jobs Over The Last Three Years

If you don’t think the recession is affecting Blacks more than anyone else, check again. According to a survey conducted by Your Black World, 38 percent of African-Americans lost their jobs in the last three years. Of those people, more than 88 percent were unable to find jobs of equal or better pay, which means they have to downgrade to get back on their feet. More than 67 percent of the 839 respondents were college educated, too. To make matters more striking, the problems have affected African Americans at every socio-economic level. You know what they say: if America has a cold, Black America has a flu, and this is just another example. Time to get Barack Obama on this and help out, don’t you think?

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Eff The Recession: Study Shows That 38% Of African-Americans Lost Their Jobs Over The Last Three Years

Eff The Recession: Study Shows That 38% Of African-Americans Lost Their Jobs Over The Last Three Years

If you don’t think the recession is affecting Blacks more than anyone else, check again. According to a survey conducted by Your Black World, 38 percent of African-Americans lost their jobs in the last three years. Of those people, more than 88 percent were unable to find jobs of equal or better pay, which means they have to downgrade to get back on their feet. More than 67 percent of the 839 respondents were college educated, too. To make matters more striking, the problems have affected African Americans at every socio-economic level. You know what they say: if America has a cold, Black America has a flu, and this is just another example. Time to get Barack Obama on this and help out, don’t you think?

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Eff The Recession: Study Shows That 38% Of African-Americans Lost Their Jobs Over The Last Three Years

SMH: 57-Year-Old Woman Charged Stealing Little Boy’s Identity To Get Food Stamps

SMH at “Ms. Jo Ann”: A Greensboro woman has been charged with using another person’s personal information for food stamps, according to the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office. Jo Ann Foster, 57, has been charged with one count of identity theft. The victim reported to the sheriff’s office that someone had been using his grandson’s personal information to receive food stamps from the Alamance County Department of Social Services. Foster was placed under a $2,000 secured bond pending her first appearance in Alamance County District Court. Source

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SMH: 57-Year-Old Woman Charged Stealing Little Boy’s Identity To Get Food Stamps

Don’t Make Us Work Until We Die

http://www.youtube.com/v/VB-g52TshO4

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Don’t Make Us Work Until We Die by digby I can’t help but be reminded of this post from a couple of years ago: CNN’s week-end “money” show did a story on how the recession is affecting people in California. They interviewed an 84 year old waitress. That’s right, an 84 year old waitress: Professor Michael Shires: Right now it comes down to fear… Thelma Guttierez: Fear for people like Mildred Copeland,… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Hullabaloo Discovery Date : 20/04/2011 23:41 Number of articles : 2

Don’t Make Us Work Until We Die

Church Donations Increase

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Since the recession in 2008, many U.S. churches have seen a decline in giving. But the tide may be changing. The third annual State of the Plate constituency survey of 1,507 churches revealed that 43 percent of these churches experienced an uptick in giving this past year (up from 36 percent the previous year). Overall, 6 in 10 churches reported giving that was flat or up in 2010 — encouraging results given the nation’s stalled economy. Smaller churches (under 249 people in worship attendance) saw giving declines (40 percent in churches under 100 people and 43 percent in churches with 100-249 people). The Pacific Coast states and Southeast states are leading the nation in church giving declines with 46 percent of churches experiencing a decrease in donations this past year. Whether giving increases or decreases in 2011 will depend on a variety of factors, said Matt Branaugh, Director of Editorial for Christianity Today International ‘s (CTI) Church Management Team, a survey co-sponsor. “It’s critical for church leaders to nurture relationships with people and show them how their giving directly helps the church’s mission and their surrounding community,” Branaugh added. Though churches appear to be coming out of a downward cycle, a new government proposal to limit tax deductions on charitable giving is creating concern among church leaders. Ninety-one percent of the State of the Plate respondents expressed concern that such a change could create yet another obstacle to generous giving among churchgoers. “Charities and churches have been hit hard by the economy the past three years. If the government’s plan to change the rules on charitable tax deductions goes through, giving to charities and churches, and the people they in turn assist, will likely be negatively affected,” said Brian Kluth, founder of MAXIMUM Generosity and the State of the Plate research. Related Stories Behind The Song: His Eye Is On The Sparrow Gallery: Signs Of The Times World Premiere Video: Love Of My Life -B Luv & Canton Jones

Church Donations Increase

Chris Brown Breaks Probation?: Slaps Paps Camera When Asked About Raz-B “Sh*t Out My Face Blood!” [Video]

This is what the pap said about the incident: Departing My Studio with his wannabe gangsta entourage, convicted felon Chris Brown demonstrates for us once again he requires additional anger management classes, as well as some more general character evolution. Asked by a paparazzi about his recent altercation with Raz B, after which Chris allegedly sent his bodyguards after the star instead of dealing with his issues himself, he actually strikes the paparazzo’s camera. Hey, don’t you realize you’re on probation, fool? Wanna go back to the slammer? Moments later, one of his groupies threatens to break a photographer’s camera. Another pap asks what his beef is with Raz-B, and Brown blabbers out, “Y’all niggaz are queenies,” prompting yet another photographer to question if Brown also issues with the gay community. We’re not sure, but if Mr. Chris winds up violently attacking someone else (maybe someone who’s not female, this time?), we won’t be surprised.

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Chris Brown Breaks Probation?: Slaps Paps Camera When Asked About Raz-B “Sh*t Out My Face Blood!” [Video]

Questioning The Value of Law School

The New York Times recently posed the question “ Is Law School A Losing Game ?” What they found out is that for many law school grads, it is. The legal profession, like almost every industry, has been gravely impacted by the recession and it appears that more and more law graduates have not been able to land those promised jobs in their field over the past few years. According to the Times,  law schools themselves continue to tout their success rates to prospective students despite the fact that job offers are few and far between for new grads. Continued at The Atlanta Post

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Questioning The Value of Law School

10 ‘Thank Ya Geezus’ Lessons We’ve Learned From the Recession

They say all that glitters isn’t gold and since 2008, it seems the global economy has been humming along with Lauryn’s famous hook on “All Falls Down.” But it hasn’t been all bad; in fact we’d like to think the recession has left us with some valuable lessons on money, love and life. More at MadameNoire.com

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10 ‘Thank Ya Geezus’ Lessons We’ve Learned From the Recession

Is The Recession Ending? Labor Department Claims Unemployment Benefit Claims Are Lowest In 2 Years

Maybe OUR President is doing a better job than some of these white folks Republicans are saying he is… The number of people applying for unemployment benefits fell to its lowest point in nearly two and a half years, a sign that the job market is slowly improving. Applications dropped by 34,000 to 388,000, the fewest since July 2008, the Labor Department said Thursday. The number of applications has either fallen or remained unchanged in five of the past six weeks. Fewer than 425,000 people seeking unemployment benefits signals modest job growth. But economists say applications need to fall consistently to 375,000 or below to bring down the unemployment rate. Applications for unemployment benefits peaked during the recession at 651,000 in March 2009. Hopefully this trend will continue and we’ll see a much stronger economy in 2011. Obama definitely needs that kind of movment to help spur his re-election campaign. Does it seem like things are improving in your city? Source

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Is The Recession Ending? Labor Department Claims Unemployment Benefit Claims Are Lowest In 2 Years