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Federal judge Christopher Klein renders his ruling Monday on the City of Stockton's bid for bankruptcy.
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Survivors' Club
By Anna Knight, Club Administrator, and Ron McBride, Chief of Police (Retired) and Law Enforcement Consultant
he IACP/DuPont Kevlar Survivors' Club® pays tribute to those deserving officers who have avoided serious or potentially fatal injuries through the use of any kind of body armor. This column is dedicated to sharing their experiences, in hopes of persuading others to wear their armor. If body armor has helped you or a member of your department survive such an accident or assault, please contact Anna Knight, Club Administrator, IACP/DuPont Kevlar Survivors' Club®, 5401 Jefferson Davis Highway, Richmond, VA 23234; 804-383-3853; 800-441-2746; fax: 804-383-2477; e-mail: email@example.com.
The Survivors' Club application is also available on the IACP's Web site, www.theiacp.org under Awards/Survivors' Club.
Vest Saves Utah Officer from Shotgun Blasts
Officer Jason S. Thomas was alone on patrol duty for the Cedar City, Utah, Police Department when he stopped to render aid to a motorist stuck in a snowdrift.
Thomas encountered two subjects with the immobilized vehicle and another Good Samaritan motorist that had stopped to render assistance. In talking with the passenger in the vehicle that was stuck, Thomas determined that the individual was providing false information. He also noted the presence of empty beer cans on the ground near the vehicle and detected the odor of intoxicants about the driver and passenger.
The driver of the immobilized vehicle walked around the rear of his vehicle as Thomas continued to talk with the passenger. The driver then reappeared with a 12-gauge shotgun and opened fire on Thomas at a distance of five feet or less. The first shotgun blast hit Thomas on the right side of his chest. Thomas was able to stay on his feet and moved for cover. The suspect shot a second time from a distance of between six and ten feet; this blast hit Thomas in the back. The third shotgun blast missed Thomas and hit a nearby residence instead.
The shooter hijacked the Good Samaritan's vehicle at gunpoint and fled the scene. Thomas was able to stay on his feet and summon assistance. Another patrol officer then transported him to a local hospital. Attending physicians examining Thomas reported that he had "a significant right upper lobe pulmonary contusion under the right chest blast site, which obviously was blocked by the Kevlar vest that the patient was fortunately wearing." Officer Thomas suffered penetrating shotgun number 8 pellet wounds outside the vest coverage area. He spent two days in the intensive-care unit and a total of five days in the hospital. He has since returned to modified duty for rehabilitation and is expected to make a full recovery.
The 30-year-old shooter, who has a criminal history that includes a prior arrest for assault, was subsequently arrested on charges of aggravated robbery and attempted homicide of a police officer. The matter remains before the court.
Body Armor Helps Officer Survive Head-on Collision
Deputy Michael N. Gross of the Boone County, Kentucky, Sheriff's Department was patrolling his assigned area. As he traveled north on U.S. Route 25, a Toyota 4-Runner sport utility vehicle, equipped with a front push bumper, pulled into the path of his cruiser. The impact was nearly head-on. Damage to the vehicles was severe.
Deputy Gross was stunned by the force of the impact. When he recovered from the crash, he realized the severity of the incident. Gross had suffered a large wound on his left arm from the force of the airbag deployment. He completed a self-examination and detected no injuries or wounds to his upper torso, but he did find an injury to the back of his head.
Deputy Gross was transported to a trauma center for examination and care. The attending physician noted the lack of torso injuries and credited this to Gross's body armor. He was treated and released after four hours. Gross was returned to full duty.
Officer's Torso Protected from Shots at Close Range Officer David E. Fikes of the Anderson, South Carolina, Police Department responded along with his supervisor and another officer to a reported armed robbery in progress. Upon arrival, the first officer made contact with the complainant while Fikes drove around one end of the building and the supervisor the opposite side. The officer in contact with the complainant broadcast a description of the suspect. Fikes immediately spotted an individual matching the description running from the back door of the building where the robbery had taken place. The suspect was fleeing on foot.
Officer Fikes activated the emergency lights on his police vehicle to attract his supervisor's attention as he drove toward the suspect. He then dismounted and began to chase after the suspect on foot. Fikes overtook and tackled the fleeing suspect, who began firing a handgun of unknown caliber. The suspect got off five rounds at a range that varied from one to five feet.
Fikes was hit by all five bullets; two passed through his right bicep, and three slugs hit his torso. The shots to the torso were stopped by his body armor. Officer Fikes was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released after six hours. Fikes recovered from his wounds and has returned to duty. The suspect fled the scene and has not been identified. ■
From The Police Chief, vol. LXXV, no. 5, May 2008. Copyright held by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, 515 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 USA.


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Recycled Crayons
Photos by Ashley Rodriguez
Ashley Rodriguez over at Not Without Salt is one of our favorite food bloggers. A professionally trained baker (who has worked under Spago's pastry chef Sherry Yard), Rodriguez had an appealing, creative sensibility about food. In a recent post she used her kitchen smarts–and her kitchen supplies–in a fun afternoon activity: recycling her sons' broken crayons in a muffin tin.
Read "Recycled Crayons" on Not Without Salt to find out more about how Ashley made the crayons.


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Is the national anthem being penalized in high school ice hockey games?
It's a question being asked after the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League suggested the anthem be cut from pre-game ceremonies.
The league said the suggestion had nothing to do with patriotism and everything to do with economics.
The suggestion was made because parents and players pay upwards of $300 an hour to rent a rink, and the delay potentially caused by playing the national anthem could cut game time and impact the outcome, said Ed Sam, commissioner of the PIHL, which has since rescinded the suggestion after coming under fire. "Going forward, we are putting forward all of the mechanics of playing the national anthem at all of our games."
"We used to play the national anthem before every varsity game, and for some odd reason, I don't know the reason, we stopped doing it," said Brian Ruff, president of the Lehigh Valley Scholastic Hockey League, which plays at the Lehigh Valley Ice Arena in Whitehall Twp., Lehigh Co.
The national anthem, Ruff said, hasn't been played before high school games in three years. Officials said it's because the arena developed problems with its sound system, and by the time it was fixed, no one asked for the national anthem to be played at high school games.
Arena officials said it is played before college games.
While re-instating the patriotic tribute would be good, Ruff said:
"There is just so many things that everybody is volunteering to do, it has basically become one more thing for someone to worry about, whether it's right or wrong. I even feel bad saying that."
Ruff said he is meeting with league members on Wednesday, and he will talk about reinstating the national anthem at that time.


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All Articles Tagged "pariah"
Bet You Didn't Know: Secrets Behind The Making Of Pariah
Writer and director Dee Rees made her feature film debut, Pariah, in 2011 at the Sundance Film Festival. Semi-autobiographical in nature, Pariah is a coming-of-age film that chronicles the story of Alike, a 17-year-old lesbian discovering how to be. It features a breakout performance by actress Adepero Oduye, who is supported by a rich cast, including Aasha Davis, Pernell Walker, Charles Parnell and Kim Wayans. After its Sundance debut, the film, which was executive produced by Spike Lee, was acquired by Focus Features. Authentic, beautiful, stirring. We can't say enough great things about Pariah. Read on to learn some secrets behind the making of the film.
Tags:adepero aduye, bet you didn't know, Dee Rees, pariah
Beauty And the Butch: The Real Reason Straight Men Should Feel Threatened By Lesbians
*Name has been changed to ensure privacy
A few weeks ago I came across the movie Pariah. It was one of those vague, but poignant IFC network films that I'm always waking up on the end of in the middle of the night. Before the credits begin to roll there's a dark-skinned girl staring out of a bus window with a vacant look of relief which had me like, "Wonder what the hell that was about?" So I did a search and set for it to record the next day. The movie begins in a seedy strip club. Our main character stands a bit behind the crowd shy, but in awe of this mocha-colored beauty doing some kind of butterfly thigh move on the pole. And soon it hits me that this person in a fitted cap looking confused, amazed and about a "Drake" on a comfort level of saint to sinner in the strip club is wait…a girl. Pariah is the story of a young African-American woman dealing with discovering her own blossoming sexuality and self-expression while confronting the expectations of her traditional church-going parents who have skeletons of their own. Even more so, it's a story of a butch African-American lesbian teenage girl.
Over the past twenty-years and so, America has hesitantly swallowed the shock value of gay America and in the past decade or so even slowly infused it into our popular culture in a social understanding that LGBTQ is American culture too whether we like it or not. But as familiar as some of us have become with Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and LOGO TV, we've forgotten that lesbians are about that life too. And not the lesbians that Lil' Wayne glorifies and America likes to see. I'm talking about the lesbians that we don't completely understand, so we think if we don't discuss them, they'll go away: the butch lesbians.
Because I honestly must say, I don't get it. When I watched Pariah I had the same question I'm sure everyone else does when they see a beautiful woman holding hands with someone at first glance you think is a guy, until something that would otherwise go unnoticed gives it away only because you ARE staring so hard, "Why is she with her when she could just get a real man?"
"That's not a question that's easy to answer," I was told Friday evening. See because the fact that I didn't "get it,"bothered me. So instead of making assumptions I wanted to talk to someone who could give me a glimpse into what life is like for the "lesbians straight people don't understand." I decided to call up Jazz*, a friend I hadn't talked to since high school. In fact she was someone I had liked a lot, my best friend since grade school. So of course I felt like a complete jerk that my first phone call to her in over ten years was to interrogate her about her sexual status. It was nothing personal, just one of those situations where life stuff makes you lose touch. Luckily the whole conversation wasn't just about who she was sleeping with, and she was still the great friend I had from all of those years ago.
For as long as I knew, Jazz and I never had much in common. In fact I'm pretty sure our friendship blossomed from always being grouped together for some kind of seating arrangement or project in grade school because our names were close together in the alphabet. We always enjoyed each other's company and even when I'd come over she'd be playing basketball in the back of the house and I'd be upstairs playing Barbies with her younger sisters. But it was further proof that friendship is more than just all of the activities you have in common; it's about inside jokes, common enemies and the fact that someone who is not obligated to love you, does for whatever reason that may be.
When I vaguely learned that Jazz was dating women through a random Facebook update, I can't say I was super surprised, but apparently it wasn't anything she ever really entertained when we were younger. Here I was marching around with my LGBTQ ally flag singing, Baby I was Born This Way when Jazz quickly corrected, she really doesn't think she was, "Some people say they're born gay and I don't know if I agree with that. I'm not even going to say I wasn't ever attracted to men. Even you know when me and you were younger we talked about boys we thought were cute." It made me think of the notes we'd pass in eight grade bickering over who Batman from Immature (or was it IMX by then) belonged to. It wasn't a front or her fighting any feelings she was ashamed of. She was just blindly navigating her sexuality like the rest of us adolescents. It just further confirmed to me how sexuality isn't as black and white as we'd like it to be, whether you're gay or straight. We may not be all pushing any boundaries on gender representation and who were attracted to, but sexuality and emotions are confusing for everyone.
MN Daily Salute: Pariah Director Dee Rees
Dee Rees
CALLING: Screenwriter and director
Screenwriter and director Dee Rees is the mastermind behind several short films, as well as the critically acclaimed feature film Pariah, which was the first major movie to showcase homosexual black women in a non-stereotypical way on the big screen.
Rees, who was born in Nashville, TN, didn't begin her career in the entertainment industry. In fact, after she received an MBA in Business Administration from Florida A&M University, she moved to Cincinnati to work for Proctor & Gamble where she marketed panty liners. When she was was laid off from that job, she moved to New York City to work for marketing firm Schering Plough, and during one of the commercial shoots for Dr. Scholls, Rees realized she was interested in film and enrolled in New York University's graduate film program.
While at NYU, Rees met Spike Lee, who became her personal mentor, and she also worked as a script supervisor intern for two of his films, Inside Man and When the Levees Broke. Rees began working on the Pariah script while she was working on Inside Man in 2005 and shortened the full-length script into a short for her graduate thesis. In 2007, the short played at 40 festivals worldwide, winning 25 shorts awards including the Audience Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival.
In 2008, Spike Lee agreed to formalize his role with Pariah, serving as executive producer, but Rees had trouble pitching the film because investors believed it was too small and too specific. As Rees translated the rejection, "It was just code for too black and too gay." So, realizing that she had to invest in her film in order for others to do so, Rees sold her own apartment and eventually found some investors. Pariah, which Rees said, "kind of transposed my own experience of coming out onto a 17-year-old girl," was shot in 18 days and all interiors were shot at a single Brooklyn brownstone. At Sundance, it was acquired by Focus Features, and when the flick made it's big screen debut in 2011, there was much talk about Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. Although such honors were never realized, Pariah was widely regarded with several award nominations and wins from the African-American Film Critics Association, Black Reel Awards, and the Black Film Critics Circle.
For having the courage to tell her own story and shine light on the African American lesbian community, we salute Dee Rees.
Click here to meet all of our salutes
Tags:Dee Rees, MN Daily Salute, pariah, We Salute You
MN Year In Review: Our 10 Most-Read Essays
In MN's Year In Review, we're counting down our top stories as well as the biggest moments in television, music, movies, and news.
Though you might think slideshows make this site (yes, we sense the shade), it's the unique essays penned by our team of writers that really make the Madame Noire voice and spark the discourse we enjoy having with you — our lovely readers. Here's a list of the 10 most-read essays we've published this year. Which one's your favorite?
1. I'll be honest, I feel like Lala is my celebrity BFF. Last season I only watched her show because it filled a gap somewhere in between my Monday night TV lineup, but after a few episodes I realized she wasn't boring, she was the type of down to earth, unwaveringly loyal friend, mother, and wife of a pro athlete that I think I would really like in real life. Her show and her personality definitely grew on me. With the premiere of season 2 last night, I was pretty excited to see a group of girls hanging out together, sharing laughs, and catching up—especially after the foolishness that came on before her show—but unfortunately that's not exactly what I got…Read more.
OK, so maybe we all haven't been asking this, but as a lover of T.I. I can admit I have been a hater of Tiny. And as my Twitter timeline often shows on Monday nights, and obviously author Shahida Muhammad's as well, lots of women find themselves asking, out of all the women T.I. could have, why did he choose Tiny?…Read more.
So I caught the latest addition to the Isht that So & So Says meme called Isht that Natural Hair Girls Says and I got a good chuckle out of it because it just reminded me of how sometimes the whole fascination over natural hair gets to be ridiculous…Read more.
A few months ago, I went on a date with a gentleman who really had me scratching my head. When I initially met him, I can recall thinking that he was perhaps more sensitive (aka, feminine) than most of the guys I engage. However, I decided to be nice and at least get to know him a little more before drawing any conclusions. I left my number with him and within a few days he'd arranged to take me to dinner at a restaurant I had been eager to try. While I had resolved to keep an open mind, in my head was the reality that I would need to see some unbridled manliness (whatever that is) during this date in order to be comfortable with seeing him for a second one….Read more.
I went to go see Pariah over the weekend and actually, I really enjoyed it.
The film, which was written and directed by Dee Rees (protégé of Spike Lee's protégé'), is a coming of age story of Alike, a 17-year-old Black girl from Harlem coming to terms with her own sexual identity as a lesbian and must waver the waters between her conservative mother, played by Kim Wayans, and her contradictory father, played by Charles Parnell. The film has been getting lots of praise for highlighting the invisible voice of black female queers in the community; however, the intense and strained relationship between mother and daughter has such a universal theme, which makes it relatable to just about anyone, who once struggled in their youth…Read more.
Style to Steal or Girl, Stop: Adepero Oduye's Colorful & Classy "Red" Carpet Looks
If you made the very intelligent decision to go see the film Pariah this past year (or in this early new year), then I'm sure you've seen Adepero Oduye's face before. She actually plays the main character, Alike, who struggles with her identity as a lesbian. While her character in the film prefers fitted caps and baggy jeans, in real life, Adepero clearly likes to show out on the red carpet (make that a purple, and a blue and white carpet…). Check out her looks from this past weekend.
On Saturday, Oduye hit up the Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, Calif. in this eclectic pantsuit in a gorgeous African print. The jacket had a very unique cut since it skipped buttons for a flowing, open bottom, and the pants seemed to be of the skinny leg, cigarette pant persuasion. She topped the vibrant blue, gold and white printed ensemble off with a loose yellow top and bronze colored, strappy, open-toe heels. Her natural hair was braided at the crown, and she kept both her makeup and jewelry to a minimum.
Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer Nab Oscar Nods for "The Help"
Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer (no, not Sherri Shepherd or Yvette Nicole Brown) got great news this morning when it was announced they both received Academy Award nominations for their work in The Help.
For Davis, who garnered her nomination for playing Aibileen Clark, the soft-spoken maid and heroine of the film, this is her second Oscar nod. She picked one up in 2008 for her role as the pathetic mother, Mrs. Miller in Doubt. Coincidentally, for this year's Academy Awards, she'll be battling for the little statuette against her Doubt co-star, Meryl Streep. Oh yeah, and some other folks.
For Spencer, who has racked up any and everything this awards season, including her recent Golden Globe win for playing the hilarious Minny Jackson in the film, this is her first Oscar nomination, but probably not her last. She seems like a frontrunner for the award and we'll definitely be rooting for both Spencer and Davis on the big night–Feb.26.
These two seem to be the only black folks who picked up nominations this year, and after last year's drought, two is better than none at all, right? But I'm just wondering, where is Pariah at nominations wise? I guess after not being able to grab a Golden Globe nomination, there was no way the awesome independent film could slip in the back door for Oscar noms–but still. Kim Wayans should have picked up some kind of something for her amazing work, and I know I'm not the only one who was moved by the movie. But I guess, to each their own. You know how I like to rant (*smile*).
But anyway, congrats ladies!
More on Madame Noire!
- Things Black Mothers Say
- Celebrity Mistresses: The Good, The Bad, and The Trifling
- 7 Curl Defining Products to Get Your Curls and Coils Poppin'
- How to Attract a Healthy Relationship This Year
- 6 Ways to Tackle Relationship Arguments
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Tags:academy awards, film, Madame Noire, nominations, Octavia Spencer, pariah, stars, The Help, Viola Davis
Why Are We Expected To Line Up For Red Tails But Not Pariah?
I went to go see Pariah over the weekend and actually, I really enjoyed it.
The film, which was written and directed by Dee Rees (protégé of Spike Lee's protégé'), is a coming of age story of Alike, a 17-year-old Black girl from Harlem coming to terms with her own sexual identity as a lesbian and must waver the waters between her conservative mother, played by Kim Wayans, and her contradictory father, played by Charles Parnell. The film has been getting lots of praise for highlighting the invisible voice of black female queers in the community; however, the intense and strained relationship between mother and daughter has such a universal theme, which makes it relatable to just about anyone, who once struggled in their youth.
Yet the awesomeness of Pariah has been pretty much been overshadowed by the hype over Red Tails. Despite the film, which centers on the plight and fight of the Tuskegee airmen, being well in the works for well over two decades, the hype around it didn't start until recently, when folks began to spread the fear of God that if the film is not a box office success than all hope for the future of black films is doomed.
It all started when George Lucas, the Star Wars guy and creator and financier of Red Tails, appeared on The Daily Show to promote the film and started talking about racism in Hollywood. In a follow up interview, Lucas hinted that if Red Tails was a failure, it could have negative repercussions for black filmmakers: "I realize that by accident I've now put the black film community at risk [with Red Tails, whose $58 million budget far exceeds typical all-black productions]," he said. "I'm saying, if this doesn't work, there's a good chance you'll stay where you are for quite a while. It'll be harder for you guys to break out of that [lower-budget] mold. But if I can break through with this movie, then hopefully there will be someone else out there saying let's make a prequel and sequel, and soon you have more Tyler Perrys out there."
Oh great, more Tyler Perrys.
Interesting enough, Red Tails was created by the same guy who brought us Jar Jar Binks, the computer-animated character who appeared in the Star Wars prequels and which generated much controversy over its racially charged, Rastafarian mimicry. So why there is such a heavy emphasis on supporting Lucas' Red Tails while genuine black films like Pariah are left to their own devices?
First off, I take issue with what is essentially has been a fear and race-based marketing campaign by Lucas to persuade moviegoers, particularly Black moviegoers, to see this film. We are told that if it would be the end of Black filmmaking as we know it. Never mind, if the film is interesting or compelling or even entertaining. We have a racial duty to unite to see this film or else we make Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. weep?
And never mind that Hollywood has been operating with the same M.O. for decades and decades. The industry will not likely change even if the film magically breaks box office records, which it will probably not. Why? Well stories told from the black perceptive have always had trouble finding dedicated audiences outside of the community. Point blank, the mainstream is less inclined to see films featuring black actors. And if we are to go on the long rationalized reason that Hollywood is a business, than we can be certain that Red Tails, even if it is moderately successful, will not inspire the business to take a chance on us.
But of course, Black filmmakers have known this little secret, which Lucas appeared to just discover, for years. This might explain why Black filmmakers haven't been waiting around for Hollywood to give the proverbial green light to make and finance their own films. They may not get the big audiences and big box office numbers as their mainstream counterparts but the lack of financial support from inside tinsel town isn't stopping brothers and sisters from picking up cameras.
However, all may not be lost in the world of Black filmmaking if Red Tails tanks. As reported, Rees is currently working on a project for HBO that will feature actress Viola Davis and a thriller flick called "Bolo." And on Sunday night, Pariah received a special shout-out at the Golden Globes by legendary film actress Meryl Streep. Likewise the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement, also known as AFFRM, has been steadily pushing for the theatrical release of quality independent African-American films through simultaneous limited engagements in select cities including I Will Follow and Kinyarwanda. In short, the future of Black film – with or without the success of Red Tails – will survive.
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the effort of Lucas to bring more Black films, or at the very least a black film funded by a white man, to the big screen, but if this flops, I think it is less likely that we can count on him bringing a sequel to the screen. And that is all. So folks can stop with the "must read" emails and Facebook invites for bus trips to the movie theater. There is no more of a moral obligation to see this flick as there would be for any other mainstream film, which lets us carry the lead.
Long gone are the days that we should have to feel a need to prove anything to Hollywood. If anything, it is the reverse. And if Hollywood is as racist as we all know it is why should we feel the need to let the decision of what images gets green-lighted continue to be placed in the hands of those, who don't see us as human beings? I mean, the last time Hollywood took interest in the black market we got a bunch of one-dimensional Blaxiploitation and gangster flicks in both the 70s and in the 90s.
Instead let's throw our support – and dollars – behind filmmakers, who continue to make conscious efforts to not only make films despite not having the blessings of mainstream Hollywood but make good films period.
Charing Ball is the author of the blog People, Places & Things.
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- Color on Campus: What It Really Feels Like to Be the Only Black Girl
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- 10 Artists That Blew Up…But Shouldn't Have
- We Are Family: Shocking Celebrity Relatives!
- Vitamin B(eautiful): Nutrients To Help You Stay Healthy and Gorgeous
Tags:black cinema, black movies, Dee Rees, george lucas, pariah, red tails
MN Exclusive: Director Dee Rees & Kim Wayans Talk "Pariah"
By now you've probably heard some of the hype behind the independent short turned feature film "Pariah."(You might have even heard about it here.) Well, I, along with another Madame Noire editor, had a chance to see an advanced screening of this movie back in September. Even though we saw the film months ago, it's a story that sticks with you. Shortly after the screening we had the opportunity to tape into one of the masterminds behind the film, director Dee Rees.
After seeing a group of what Rees describes as "out and proud" teenagers in Brooklyn, she started thinking about her own story and how she lacked confidence and self awareness when she first came out as a lesbian. This thought eventually turned into the subject for Rees' senior thesis for NYU's film school.
"Pariah" is a coming of age story for a black, lesbian teenager growing up in Brooklyn, New York. The lead character Alike, played by actress Adepero Oduye, deals with expressing her sexual identity, fighting to maintain a relationship with her mother Audrey, played by Kim Wayans, and finding herself as a woman.
Rees who has stated that the movie is largely autobiographical spoke with Madame Noire about what inspired the film, her own story and what she wants audiences to learn.
Pariah Acclaimed for Exploration of Black Female Sexual Identity
"Pariah" is already being considered a contender for an Oscar just a few days following its limited theater release, and the film was a large hit at the Sundance Festival earlier this year.
The largely autobiographical production from Dee Rees is, as the New York Times says, a "film made by a black lesbian about being a black lesbian." It explores issues of identity, alienation, and sexuality among young black girls, while Kim Wayans and Charles Parnell also depict the struggle with denial and acceptance many parents go through–particularly African Americans–as they watch their child come into their sexuality.
What began as just a feature script in 2005 was expanded into a feature project with the support of several independent film studios and shot over 19 days in Brooklyn. Check out the trailer for the film and tell us what you think.
Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.
More on Madame Noire!
What's The Hold Up With Black Indie Films?
In 2008, filmmaker Dennis Dortch was living the life that many independent film directors and writers aspired to. After being rejected by Sundance the previous year, his film "A Good Day to be Black and Hot" was gaining well-deserved praise and attention.
"It was probably the greatest experience in my filmmaking career. It's the time that every filmmaker wants. To be recognized in the street, have your film be talked about," said Dortch. "People come pat you on the back. That happened for like two weeks. They take care of you very well and make you the star when usually the stars are the people in the film."
Nicknamed "Blackdance," it's apparent that since 2008, there has been an increase in the number of African-American filmmakers showcasing their work at the most esteemed film festival in the country. In 2010, there were just over a dozen, still a significantly low number compared to the 113 films that were accepted. One of the most prevalent black films that did make it to theaters was Tanya Hamilton's "Night Catches Us," a romantic drama based on the 1970s Black Power movement.
Though beyond the Sundance Film Festival, there lies a misty void in African- American culture that many in the film industry are working hard to solidify. Organizations like the Urbanworld Film Festival, the American Black Film Festival and distributor Codeblack Entertainment (Qasim Basir's Mooz-lum and Laugh at my Pain) significantly contribute to the cause every year. However, it's using the foundation that these organizations have built, breaking out of a subculture and making an impact on the general indie film market that will garner lasting effects.
While countless theatrical projects find themselves birthed at film festivals and carried by unwavering support to neighborhood theaters, black independent films are still lagging behind. From their presence in the general independent film market to their journey onto the big screen, an inquiry constantly hovers: what's the hold up with black indie films?


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David Moyes has taken responsibility for Manchester United's poor start to the season, and in order to get back to winning ways, he may spend big in the January transfer window.
With the Red Devils sitting ninth in the Premier League, and having lost back-to-back games at Old Trafford in the first week of December, the 50-year-old may be tempted to set out overhauling the squad left to him by Sir Alex Ferguson.
The following slides will examine several of the players United are being linked with, and this page will be updated regularly throughout the week. So check back often to see who may be arriving at Old Trafford next month.
- Updated 14 December -


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To the Editor:
This is in reference to Helena Malascalza's letter on Dec. 9:
She expressed her "big relief" after reading that Assemblyman John Burzichelli, D-3, of Paulsboro, is sponsoring a bill called the "Death with Dignity Act," which would permit terminally ill patients with less than six months to live to request from their doctors a lethal dose of drugs.
I could not disagree more with this bill.
Both of my parents "died with dignity," as our family surrounded them with prayer and love and respect. On Dec. 10, 2007 — five years ago — my brothers and sisters and I were in our second day of sitting with our mother as we waited for God to take her back to Him.
I can understand why some would prefer to end a loved one's suffering and be allowed the chance to decide when to end a life. It is not easy to wait, but I cannot believe it is our right to make that decision. I don't pretend to be wiser than God.
Both of my parents had legal documents with their desire to not be kept alive artificially, but they did not believe they knew better than God as to when they should leave this world.
I am thankful that my parents trusted in God. They walked with Him every day of their lives, and when it was time, he walked them to His home.
Gail Kennedy


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1. Can I register for programs if I am an international student?
Yes, because ed2go programs are online you never have to actually travel to the school. Most schools offer telephone or online registration.
2. How long does it take to complete a program?
All of our programs are self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start them when you want and finish them at your own pace. Upon registering, you are given six months to complete this program.
3. Do I have to buy additional materials?
All the materials you'll need are included, and their cost will be covered by your tuition. ed2go will ship all materials ground service upon enrollment.
4. Can I get financial assistance?
ed2go courses are non-credit courses, so they do not qualify for federal aid. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses.
5. What happens when I complete the program?
Upon successful completion of the program, you will be awarded a certificate of completion.
6. Am I guaranteed a job?
ed2go programs will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. We don't provide direct job placement services, but our facilitators and career counselors will help you build your resume and are available to give advice on finding your first job. Facilitators will also be available to use as a professional reference upon completion of the program. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.
7. Who will be my instructor?
Each student is paired up with a facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available (via e-mail) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our facilitators are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach.
8. What software or hardware do I need in order to take online programs and what are the system requirements?
In order to take our online programs, you must have access to a computer and the Internet. You can access the program contents from any Web-enabled computer. You don't have to use the same computer to log-in to the program every time. We recommend that you have a word-processing program (Microsoft Word is best) and the latest version of Internet Explorer.
9. Can I use a Mac?
Yes, you can use a Mac for this program.
10. How can I get more information about the program?
If you have questions that are not answered on our website, please feel free to contact us via LIVE chat (click the button toward the top of the page). If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please feel free to send us a question using the "Contact Us" form to the right. You may also call us at 1-855-520-6806. We will answer your questions promptly.
11. When can I start the program?
Our programs are all open enrollment. You can register and start the program as soon as you are ready.
Please note: Once the program curriculum is accessed online or through submission of a material shipment confirmation, refunds cannot be issued.
12. What are the language combinations?
English plus any other language.
13. Am I certified when I finish the program?
No. You will have a Certificate of Completion/Diploma. This means that you can begin working as a professional interpreter, but you cannot say that you are certified. You can say that you are a "trained" interpreter. (The situation is similar to someone who has a degree in accounting: The person could work as a bookkeeper, but is not an accountant until passing the CPA exam.) This program gives you the foundation for future specialized coursework in medical and judicial interpreting (certification exams exist in these disciplines in some countries). The difference is, this program will enable you to become a general interpreter just as soon as you complete it.
14. How much can I earn when I finish the program?
Immediately after you finish the program, you can begin accepting interpreting assignments. The average hourly rate for new interpreters is $20 per hour. Simply follow the instructions in the career module of the Professional Interpreter program and you will be on your way to accepting interpreting assignments right away.
15. Is there a language test?
Yes. As part of your program, you will be required to take a spoken language fluency assessment in both your "A" Language (native language) and your "B" Language (second language). These tests are included in your tuition cost and are conducted over the phone. Certified testers will have a conversation with you in your languages, designed to assess your level of fluency on a 1-5 scale. You must have a fluency level of at least 3 in that scale in both languages to pass. If you do not obtain a level 3 fluency qualification in both languages, you will not pass the program. In order to be an interpreter, you must have full verbal fluency in two (or more) languages.
The time allotted to complete your program has been
calculated based on the number of hours for each program, so don't worry
too much about not completing in time. If, after a concerted effort,
you are still unable to complete, your Student Advisor will help you
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|Mother of 5 sons, stepmom to 3 daughters!
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Hi, my name is Mary. I am the mother of 5 sons and I have 2 stepdaughters. I was married for 19 years but I left my husband on the 17th year. I am currently in a very serious relationship with a good man. We have been living together for the past 2 years. My children are my life but I am having issues with my 4 oldest children because they feel that I should have stayed in my marriage with their dad. They get along with my new guy but they really have alot of angry towards me. My youngest son lives with me and he gets along great with my guy, but because he chose to live with me his father refuses to have anything to do with him. He acts like he doesn't have a son named Travis. Travis is dealing with it as good as can be expected but it is starting to effect his school work. Back to me! I am the oldest of 3 children and I am a Navy brat. So I know what all the military children are going thru having their father or mother gone so far away and for so long.HI, My name is mary. I am the mother of 5 sons and the stepmom to 2 daughters. I was married to my sons father for 19 years. Got my divorce from him in Feburary of this year. I've been in a serious relationship for almost 2 1/2 years now with a man who has 2 daughters. We gained custody of them back in October because Social Services removed the children from their mom because of sever child abuse to both girls. The baby who at the time was 18months old suffered blunt force truama to her head and body. She was in the hospital for 9 days. I could really use some advise on how to deal with step children. Since we were ordered by the courts to let her have her children again everyother weekend we have had nothing but trouble out of the 4 year old. She is doing everything her mother tells her to do.
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My name is Allison. After my high school graduation in Texas, I decided to attend college all the way up here in Oregon. It was a tough decision to leave my family behind in Texas, but I liked the college here and what it had to offer academically.
Private Lessons
Brenda Richter was one of those girls that every other girl in the school either loved or hated, but all envied. Michelle was no different. She had admired the girl's curvaceous, perfect body and cover-girl looks since she first met her. Brenda ha
The Bus Depot
Lindsey McCord watched intently as each bus slipped into its parking place and unload. It was two in the morning and the old bus depot had an eerieness about it that time of day. There were a few people milling around waiting for passengers, obviou
Not Alone
Sharon stood alone at the far end of the locker room, not taking part in the horse play that was taking place not more than forty feet away. Almost shyly she shed her sweaty gym clothes, wrapped herself in a towel and slipped off to the communal sho
Women's Private Gym
"Hello, Women's Private Gym, this is Karen, how may I help you?" "Uh, my name is Winnie Andleman and I saw your ad in the underground paper and was thinking about maybe joining. Could you please tell me a little bit about it, I mean the cost and ev
After School
"Finally," Krista thought to herself, "the last period of the day is about over. Just three more minutes and I'm outta here! Eighth period English Lit, what a lousy way to finish up the school day!" "Okay, class," Miss Redmond ordered, "pages 213
June Walker fidgeted nervously in her seat while waiting for Dr. Sherman. "How do I get myself into these things?" she thought to herself while staring at the sweeping second hand of the clock on the wall. She was lost in thought, until she was rip
Overseas Encounter
This day had been a long time in coming. We have been talking to each other over the internet for almost three years. Finally, I am going to meet him in person. Finally, I get to meet Riley, the man who had spent so many nights talking me off the
After the second joint we were both pretty baked so my cousin Sue and I decided to watch a movie. i asked sue what movie i wanted to watch and she said she had one in mind. She then said i had to close my eyes first.
" dont peek , i know your goin
Delilah's Summer of Sex Part 2
When Delilah awoke the next morning, her pussy was still wet and juicy. Oh, what a night. She climbed from bed and stretched her naked body then went into the bathroom to turn on the shower. Delilah stepped under the hot spray of water, letting the
One-night Stand
by too_tastee
As his hand gripped his semi-hard penis, he contemplated his usual thoughts……. wondering why women were not in the mood as often as men. You would think they would want a nice hard cock to hand
MY BBW REDHEAD chapter one
It was a Friday afternoon In January in upstate New York . With less than an hour to go before the weekend started I was looking forward to a weekend watching TV and staying warm . I had to check with Judy in telemarketing so I would be ready for th
Preachers Kid Cumming Out
When I first met Beth, I thought she was an angel sent from heaven just for me. My family and I were having a lot of problems. I was really stressed out so I really needed a booty call.
One day, Beth and I were on our way to lunch. I looked
Preachers Kid Cumming Out
When I first met Beth, I thought she was an angel sent from heaven just for me. My family and I were having a lot of problems. I was really stressed out so I really needed a booty call.
One day, Beth and I were on our way to lunch. I looked
Galieni (Part 2)
Galieni has left the tavern where her dream has given her an overall new look on life and its many mysteries. Her destination is home, where the wood elves reside in the trees.
It will be a long journey through the mountains of the Dwarves.
Men of the Cloth, Part 1
MEN OF THE CLOTH Part 1
by too_tastee
I have often believed in the purity of ministers, priests, rabbis, any man of the cloth. They exude a reverence that makes you want to confess your sins, no matter what………and tha
Pussy Tag……..by too_tastee
By too_tastee
There is only one way to pursue a fantasy. You must first determine what your desires are and then just act them out with or without a pa
The Doctor Is In
by too_tastee
The scent of her wet cunt assailed his nostrils. It was beautiful, glistening and shining, the wetness matting her pubic hairs to her pussy lips. Aaaahhh, the smell of her perfume mingling with the
A Womans Best Friend
My day starts out like any other day,I'm in the shower thinking about how I,m gonna get my taste of cum for the day.As I shower my hands travel over my breasts which aren't large,but they are extremely sensitive and are very often my nipples are hard


text:
Art galleries tend to come and go with the economy. When I first started looking at contemporary art in the 1960s, there was only one serious art gallery in Portland, Maine -Frost Gully Gallery, which eventually returned to Freeport from whence it came. By 1987, at the height of the 1980s boom, there were more than a dozen, only one of which – Greenhut Galleries (then Posters Plus) – is still in business today.
Two decades on, there are again about a dozen art galleries in Portland, 10 of which are the subject of The Business of Art, a fine survey of the local art market at the University of New England Art Gallery on the UNE Portland campus (through September 2).
UNE gallery director Anne Zill, inspired by what she saw in the city's galleries, invited the owners of A Fine Thing, Aucocisco Galleries, Elizabeth Moss Gallery, Greenhut Galleries, Jameson Gallery, June Fitzpatrick Galleries, Susan Maasch Fine Art, Sarajo, The Daniel Kany Gallery, and Whitney Art Works to select representative works from their galleries. The result is a Portland potpourri that runs the gamut from pottery, glass, and antique prints to contemporary paintings, prints, and drawings.
Just within the realm of painting, The Business of Art features everything from the watery realism of Sarah Knock (Greenhut) to the latterday Impressionism of Stephen Pace and the minimal abstraction of Noriko Sakanishi (June Fitzpatrick). There are also drawings by the late Bernard Langlais (Aucocisco), fanciful glass lures by Richard Remsen (Daniel Kany), and antique textiles (Sarajo).
As Elizabeth Moss Gallery is in suburban Falmouth, the inclusion of Frost Gully Gallery out in Freeport might have made The Business of Art a more comprehensive look at what's on the art market in Greater Portland. But as it is, the UNE show is a welcome celebration of the survival of art commerce in a down economy.
Art is a confidence game, in a very real and very positive sense. Dealers, curators, fellow artists, and to a lesser degree art critics conspire to create buyer confidence in the lasting value of an artist's work.
"The dealer," writes gallerist Daniel Kany, "selects and stands behind the work he sells; it is my job, if you will, to select the 'philosophical object' for my clients rather than some fashion industry tchotchke that will look like a pass


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I've been investigating more uses for these little nutty bittersweet things. Brewing cacao nibs just like coffee beans turned out to be… interesting. The resulting brew was a bit too floral for my taste, but it was indeed chocolately and with a hint of sweetness. If you want to try it at home, I would suggest more than 2 Tbs of grounds per 6 ounces of water.
Recipes using cacao nibs I've found on line:
~ from the Oregonian, Raspberry Sorbet Sandwiches with Cacao Nib Meringues
~ from Scharffenberger, Cacao Nib Macaroons
~ from Seattle Cooks, Kriss Harvey's Cremuex of Valrhona Pur Caraibe with Carmelized Orange Peel and Cacao Nib Nougatine
~ from City TV Vancover, Cacao Nib Bark
~ and of course, a protocol for making your own chocolate
More uses:
- in biscotti: see Kiiwee.com
- sprinkled in your pancake batter
- mixed in trail mix or granola
- sprinkled on salad
- mixed into a nut brittle
- mixed into mint ice cream
- mixed into coconut ice cream!
- mulled with rum
- incorporated into tuile batter
- sprinkled onto peanut butter
- blended into smoothies


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Scuba Diving Vacations in the Best Diving Destinations
Dive right in to the best scuba diving vacations organized by Scuba Dive Asia | The Dive Travel Experts! We offer:
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You can vacation in confidence knowing that our staff has personally visited and selected only the dive resorts, liveaboard accommodations and dive trip operators that meet our high standards. Our goal is to make certain your dive vacation is everything you've dreamed about and more.
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A mind-blowing scuba diving adventure awaits your arrival!


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Vintage Carving Fork with Green Wooden Handle
Product Details
This Vintage Carving Fork will make meal serving a breeze! With two metal prongs and a beautiful patina consistent with light use and age, this antique kitchen accessory features a mint green wooden handle and is in fabulous working condition.
Due to the distressed nature of this antique cookware item, we recommend using this product with caution.
- Dimensions: W 1" x H 12 ½"
- Finish: Metal with Mint and Cream Painted Wooden Handle
- Condition: Good-Fair
Antique Condition Guide:
- Excellent: New/Old Stock | No dents, dings, or finish missing.
- Good: Minor scratches, dings and signs of Age | Minor finish chips, but functional.
- Fair: Scratches, small dents and signs of age | Finish chips or cracks, use with care.
- Poor: We Do Not Sell!
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Hi! My name is Denali
I am a Sphynx from kent, WA
Nicknames: nal nal, nali, naliday
Age: 10 years old
Gender: M
Coat: short haired
Education: he like to roll around on his back and be silly
My favorite tricks and treats are: he like to play what we call turkey legs long story but it's cute and pitr patr's
Where I hang out: his tent in his bedroom
My favorite grubs: the new fancy feast with garden greens
My pet peeves: baths and brothers
What I love about my owners: everything
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Dan Luttrell| about 4 years ago
Kerlin Bus Sales has always help our school system any time we call or email for help or assistance with any issue we may have had with a school bus. The Kerlin family business has supported many school systems with their service long after the sale. Thomas Buses sell themselves. Tech support is as close as the telephone. Very knowledgeable technicians. Kerlin's are second to none! Great people to work with. Dan - Bedford, Indiana.


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On the back of the worst daily decline since early November, stocks opened higher this morning, with the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC ) and the narrower, price-weighted Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) up 0.64% and 0.88%, respectively, as of 10:05 a.m. EST.
The "Old Tech" trade
Deutsche Bank is recommending what it calls the "Enduring 8" -- stalwart technology companies Cisco, EMC, Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ ) , IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Oracle, and NetApp. In a low-growth economy, this seems a reasonable idea, on the face of it. The numbers certainly back it up:
Enduring 8 (average, market-cap weighted)
Forward P/E
Return on equity, trailing 12 months
Return on capital, trailing 12 months
All three of these metrics compare favorably with those of the S&P 500 (or for the Nasdaq, I suspect). However, if you're going to be picking stocks, it may be worth a deeper dive to select the most promising of these "Enduring 8"; some of these companies are facing significant secular headwinds, such as the shift from the PC to the tablet and smartphone (I'm looking at you, HP).
Home Depot's earnings
This morning, home improvement retailer and Dow component Home Depot (NYSE: HD ) reported results for its fiscal fourth quarter ended Feb. 3, and the numbers were encouraging.
The company earned $0.68 per share on $18.2 billion in revenue, which compares favorably with Wall Street's forecasts of $0.64 and $17.7 billion, respectively. For the full fiscal year, U.S. comparable-store sales grew 4.9% -- roughly 1 percentage point faster than the growth rate of the economy. The company also announced a 34% increase in its dividend to $0.50 per share (equivalent to a 3.1 dividend yield, based on yesterday's closing share price) and a massive new $17 billion share repurchase authorization (nearly a fifth of the company's current market value). Accordingly, Home Depot shares are up 5.6% as of 10:10 a.m. EST.
To learn about two retailers with especially good prospects, take a look at The Motley Fool's special free report: "The Death of Wal-Mart: The Real Cash Kings Changing the Face of Retail." Inside, you'll see how these two cash kings are able to consistently outperform and how they're planning to ride the waves of retail's changing tide. You can access it by clicking here.


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Veteran Dallas County sheriff's deputy charged with sexual assault for 2006 incident
A veteran Dallas County Sheriff's deputy has been charged with sexual assault over an allegation that dates back to 2006, court records show.
Rodney D. Bailey, 45, a patrol deputy who has worked for the department for 21 years, was indicted by a Dallas County grand jury on Aug. 19, records show.
Bailey turned himself in two days later and has been released on $10,000 bail, records show. He is currently on leave, the sheriff's department said.
Bailey is accused of performing a sex act on a male victim in 2006. The Dallas Morning News does not identify possible victims of sex crimes.
Debbie Denmon, spokeswoman for the Dallas County District Attorney's Office, said Lancaster Police never filed the case with her office at the time of the alleged offense.
"A new detective was going through files and realized this case hadn't been filed so he notified us. Since the case was never filed with our office, we knew nothing about it," she said.
Denmon said the DA's Office presented the case to the grand jury after the police department referred it to them on Aug. 14. She said the prosecutor is still investigating the case.
Bailey, of Lancaster, was hired in 1993, county records show. He could not be reached for comment.


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In the last year I've been introduced to many animated series I wasn't familiar with before I had a kid. One of those is Arthur, the long-running PBS Kids show based on the beloved books about the lovable and friendly aardvark.
Next week PBS Kids kicks off Arthur's 17th season with an episode featuring another lovable and friendly fellow, Alan Cumming. In it, Cumming voices a snooty, prize-winning poodle named Sebastian Winkleplotz. Today you can see an exclusive preview of Winkleplotz in action.
Arthur actually has a history of recruiting cool guest stars to provide voices. Neil Gaiman, Matt Damon, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Fred Rogers, Alex Trebek and Frank Gehry are just a few of the notables who have popped up on the series over the years.
The 17th season premiere of Arthur airs Nov. 11 on PBS Kids. Times may vary. Check your local listings for times.


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Q. Some expensive A/V preamp-processors and power amplifiers offer "balanced connections." And the new Axiom EP600 and EP500 subs also have them. What are they, and are "unbalanced" connections inferior to balanced? What would I gain in performance using balanced cable? – J.C.
Used almost universally in the world of recording studios and professional broadcasters, balanced cable use a three-wire cable fitted with very secure and solid "XLR" connectors (sometimes called "Cannon" connectors). The three-wire balanced configuration is composed of an outer shield surrounding two out-of-phase inner wires that carry the positive and negative portions of the signal. This enables running very long cables–hundreds of feet if necessary– between amplifiers and preamps or between microphones and a mixing console without picking up hum or interference and without significant signal loss.Log in


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5th District candidates focus on jobs, poverty
The 5th Congressional District is sweeping in geography and scope, with its 704,058 residents living in mostly sparsely populated areas in all or part of 16 Pennsylvania counties, including a large section of Erie County.
The candidates for the House seat in the May 20 primary, however, all readily pinpointed what they consider the main issues for their constituents, particularly in Erie County: reducing poverty and creating good-paying jobs.
Though they agree on the nature of the problems, the candidates differ on how they would address them. The incumbent, Glenn Thompson, of Centre County, a Republican who has no opposition on May 20, said he supports increasing educational and job-training programs before he would back raising the minimum wage.
"If there is nothing else we can do, we should look at that," Thompson said.
The two Democrats running in the primary both said they immediately would vote to boost the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10.
"I am fully in favor of increasing the minimum wage. It is not a living wage that we have now," said Thomas Tarantella, 54, a welder for Norfolk Southern Railroad and retired Army sergeant who lives in Renovo, Clinton County.
"I believe that raising the minimum wage is something we need to do to spur us forward," said Kerith Strano Taylor, 38, a family-law attorney who is the president of the School Board in Brookville, Jefferson County.
The 5th District stretches from Erie County to Centre County. Glenn Thompson was first elected to Congress in 2008, and was elected in 2012 to represent the newly redistricted 5th District, whose boundaries changed to include most of eastern and central Erie County, including much of Millcreek Township. The Erie County sections in the district have 114,314 residents, or about 16.2 percent of the district's total.
The rest of Erie County, including the city of Erie, is part of the neighboring 3rd Congressional District. Its representative, Mike Kelly, a Republican from Butler, is also running for re-election this year.
Regarding Erie County, Thompson said "poverty is a significant issue. A good part of that is in the city, which I obviously do not represent, some outside the city."
He said enhancing educational programs, especially for children, "is one of the keys of lifting people out of poverty."
In July, Thompson, a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, reintroduced the All Children are Equal Act, or the A.C.E. Act, which he said would redistribute federal Title I funds to better aid disadvantaged children.
The act, which has not come out of committee, would benefit rural school districts with large numbers of low-income students. It would arrange for school districts that have a high percentage of poor students, but a comparatively low number of such students, to receive a higher allocation of such funding, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.
"We need to find and we need to provide ways for individuals to have opportunities to grow in income," Thompson said of education and training.
He said he is concerned that an increase in the minimum wage would add to the cost of producing services and goods, especially food and other necessities, and that employers would respond by creating fewer jobs.
"If those wages go up, the way you make up for that, you hire less people," Thompson said.
Thomas Tarantella, who had never before run for public office, said he got into the 5th District race because of the partial shutdown of the federal government for 16 days in October.
"They were playing politics with the American people," he said.
Thompson voted to end the shutdown, and said before the vote that neither Republicans nor Democrats could afford to take a "no compromise" position.
In addition to advocating for an increase in the minimum wage, Tarantella said he will seek other ways to help workers, who he said do not receive enough representation compared with corporations. He said improving services for veterans is another main issue for him.
"The small guy doesn't stand a chance," Tarantella said.
"I am just an everyday person -- I work every day for Norfolk Southern; 22 years in the Army," he said. "I have been unemployed. I know what it is like to be unemployed. I will be a voice for the people."
To increase jobs in the 5th District, Tarantella said, he wants to use tax credits to reward businesses that add workers, and he said he wants to eliminate incentives for businesses to send jobs overseas. He said increasing the minimum wage would catalyze job growth as workers get additional money to spend.
"It is just an automatic thing that it will create jobs in manufacturing because it is a supply-and-demand system," Tarantella said.
He said he is not proposing to raise taxes.
"But if we broaden the tax base by putting people to work at a livable wage," Tarantella said, "I believe it will pay for itself."
The government shutdown also led Kerith Taylor to run for Congress. She said she got upset when a client of her law firm, a member of the National Guard, worried he would not get paid because of the shutdown.
"There should never be a time when our Guardsmen, our soldiers, should wonder about whether they will get paid," she said. "It was a pivotal moment for me."
Taylor said she has also seen the effects of the struggling economy at her law practice, where she said many of her clients face financial hardships -- and could use the boost she said an increase in the minimum wage would provide.
Taylor said studies she has read show states that have increased the minimum wage have not lost jobs.
In discussing economic issues specific to Erie County, Taylor cited the debate over the proposed rail terminal in Harborcreek Township, a project that is part of the Inland Port plan.
"On the one hand you want jobs, yet we have these other groups saying, 'We don't want it here,'" she said.
DevelopErie, the economic development agency behind the project, killed it on Monday amid criticism from many in Harborcreek Township, who said DevelopErie failed to get their input earlier.
Taylor, interviewed last week, said her job as a lawyer requires the kind of negotiating skills she would use to advance projects to benefit the economy in Erie County and elsewhere in the district.
"People who live around it have the feeling that no one talked to them," Taylor said of the rail project. If elected to Congress, she said, she would "bring people together."
"I practice family law," she said. "I am a negotiator. I find ways for people to agree who would normally not agree on anything."
ED PALATTELLA can be reached at 870-1813 or by e-mail. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNpalattella.


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text:
Market gains in publicly-held companies and book value gains in the real estate portfolio will allow Blackstone to increase the quarterly dividend by 5 cents to 15 cents. It is also anticipated that the firm will announce next February that the 4Q dividend will be in excess of 50c if market conditions remain stable. To return back to a 4% dividend yield, the stock would need to hit $20 per share. Something to watch.
Sentiment: Buy
Blackstone has been acquiring real estate and buying debt on real estate at a pretty good clip. Real estate should perform well in the coming years, and we might see sales of portfolios when they are ripe. BX has a large portfolio of real estate, Hotels, shopping centers and land. Take a look at REIT performance. BX should do at least this well if not better.
Sentiment: Strong Buy
In other sector news,
(+) WETF, Goldman Sachs adds the ETF sponsor to its Conviction Buy List with a $9 price target.
(+) CS, Federal and state authorities reportedly are investigating mortgage-backed securities packaged and sold by the bank, people familiar with the probe tell Reuters.
(+) BX, Reportedly near deal to sell the Chiswick Park office complex in west London for $1.3 billion, a 67% gain over its purchase price, two people with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg.
(+) LSE, JMP Securities starts coverage with an Outperform rating and a $7 price target.
well the next dividend should be around Nov 15th..dont they usally give the year end dividend then?... why February time for teh 4th quarter?
dividends (actually partnership distributions) occurs after the quarter is complete. You wouldn't know a year-end 'profit-sharing' until the year is over.