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Better Business Bureau Reveals Truth Behind Weight Loss Ads

webmaster — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:53:37 +0000

Summer is just around the corner and so are the endless advertisements for weight loss. Common sense will tell you that cutting down on your caloric intake and exercising are your best bets for shedding those extra pounds. But just in case, The Better Business Bureau (BBB) provides some helpful information and tips on what to be aware of when looking for ways to lose weight.

Claims to watch out for include: Lose weight without diet or exercise! — Getting to a healthy weight takes work. Take a pass on any product that promises miraculous results without the effort. The only thing lost will be money.

Lose weight no matter how much you eat of your favorite foods! — Beware of any product that claims that you can eat all the high-calorie food you want and still lose weight. Losing weight requires sensible food choices. Filling up on healthy vegetables and fruits can make it easier to say no to fattening sweets and snacks.

Lose weight permanently! Never diet again! — Permanent weight loss requires permanent lifestyle changes. Don’t trust any product that promises once-and-for-all results without ongoing maintenance.

Just take a pill! — Doctors, dieticians, and other experts agree that there’s simply no magic way to lose weight without diet or exercise. Even pills approved by FDA to block the absorption of fat or help you eat less and feel full are to be taken with a low-calorie, low-fat diet and regular exercise.

Lose 30 pounds in 30 days! Losing weight at the rate of a pound or two a week is the most effective way to take it off and keep it off. At best, products promising lightning-fast weight loss are a scam. At worst, they can ruin your health.

Everybody will lose weight! — Your habits and health concerns are unique. There is no one-size-fits-all product guaranteed to work for everyone. Team up with your health care provider to design a nutrition and exercise program suited to your lifestyle and metabolism.

Lose weight with our miracle diet patch or cream! — You’ve seen the ads for diet patches or creams that claim to melt away the pounds. Don’t believe them. There’s nothing you can wear or apply to your skin that will cause you to lose weight.

A Heart to Heart About Heart Disease in African Americans

webmaster — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:50:13 +0000

April was National Minority Health Month, and though it has past there is still time to increase awareness of diseases and health conditions that disproportionately impact minorities. African Americans are one group of minorities that are more likely to have certain conditions, and hypertension — or high blood pressure — is one of them.

While anyone can develop hypertension, research shows that African Americans are 40 percent more likely than Caucasians to have the condition.

High blood pressure is a chronic medical condition in which blood pressure levels are elevated. It’s important to know that high blood pressure can lead to heart attack and stroke.

David S. Kountz, M.D., President, International Society on Hypertension in Blacks (ISHIB), understands the concerns many African-Americans face when diagnosed with high blood pressure. To help African-Americans manage the condition, Dr. Kountz talked to the Atlanta Daily World and answered key questions about high blood pressure. He also shared his thoughts on lifestyle modifications and medications that can help to lower high blood pressure.

ADW: How is your blood pressure level measured?
Dr. Kountz: Blood pressure is measured using two numbers – the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure.
• The systolic number, which is read first, measures the pressure in blood vessels as the heart beats.
• The diastolic number, which is read second, measures the pressure in your blood vessels between heartbeats. Your doctor is the best person to evaluate your blood pressure measurements.

ADW: How prevalent is hypertension in the African-American community?
Dr. Kountz: Compared to Caucasians and Hispanic Americans, African Americans develop hypertension at an earlier age and to a more severe degree. More African-American women than men have hypertension. African Americans with hypertension also face a three times greater risk of stroke than Caucasians with the condition. The good news is that African Americans are more likely to be aware that they have high blood pressure and to get treatment.

ADW: What are some of the symptoms that may signal high blood pressure?
Dr. Kountz: Hypertension typically has no symptoms, so it’s important you visit your doctor and have your blood pressure checked regularly. Only your doctor can determine whether you have hypertension.

ADW: Are there risk factors for African Americans that contribute to the development of hypertension?
Dr. Kountz: There are risk factors associated with the development of high blood pressure that apply to everyone.
These may include:
• Age. As we age, our risk of developing high blood pressure increases. About 67 percent of American men 75 years and older have hypertension. For women 75 years and older, the proportion is higher – more than 78 percent have high blood pressure.
• Family History. Genetics can play a part in the development of hypertension. • Lifestyle habits. Consuming too much salt or alcohol, smoking or failing to exercise regularly are risk factors.
• Overweight or obesity. You’re more likely to develop high blood pressure if you’re overweight or obese.

Geroge Zimmerman Won’t Seek Immunity Hearing

webmaster — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:45:34 +0000

The former neighborhood watch leader charged with fatally shooting Trayvon Martin told a judge Tuesday that he agrees with his defense attorneys’ decision not to seek an immunity hearing under the state’s “Stand Your Ground” self-defense law.

Under questioning from Circuit Judge Debra Nelson, Zimmerman repeatedly said “yes” to a series of questions asking if he was aware he was giving up the right to a hearing before his second-degree murder trial in June. A judge would have sole discretion in an immunity hearing to decide if Zimmerman is exempt from culpability in the shooting. A jury would make the determination in the murder trial.

“After consultation with my counsel, yes, your honor,” Zimmerman said.

The judge had set aside two weeks at the end of April for an immunity hearing should Zimmerman want one. Prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda had filed a motion asking that Zimmerman make clear his intentions on whether he wanted the hearing.

Zimmerman’s defense attorney, Mark O’Mara, told the judge Tuesday there was nothing in the law that required the immunity hearing to take place before Zimmerman’s trial and could be requested after prosecutors have presented their case.

“We’d much rather have the jury address the issue of criminal liability or lack thereof,” O’Mara said.

Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty, claiming self-defense. Martin was fatally shot in February 2012 during a fight with Zimmerman in a Sanford gated community.

O’Mara also wanted the court to unseal details on a civil settlement Martin’s parents received from Zimmerman’s homeowner’s association. O’Mara contended the settlement could influence the testimony of Martin’s parents, if they are called as witnesses.

Obama Jokes: ‘I’m Not the Strapping Young Muslim Socialist I Used to Be’

webmaster — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:43:06 +0000

President Barack Obama joked Saturday that the years are catching up to him and he’s not “the strapping young Muslim socialist” he used to be.

Obama poked fun at himself as well as some of his political adversaries during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner attended by politicians, members of the media and Hollywood celebrities.

Entering to the rap track “All I Do Is Win” by DJ Khaled, Obama joked about how re-election would allow him to unleash a radical agenda. But then he showed a picture of himself golfing on a mock magazine cover of “Senior Leisure.”

“I’m not the strapping young Muslim Socialist that I used to be,” the president remarked, and then recounted his recent 2-for-22 basketball shooting performance at the White House Easter Egg hunt.

But Obama’s most dramatic shift for the next four years appeared to be aesthetic. He presented a montage of shots featuring him with bangs similar to those sometimes sported by his wife.

“So we borrowed one of Michelle’s tricks,” Obama said. “I thought this looked pretty good, but no bounce.”

Obama closed by noting the nation’s recent tragedies in Massachusetts and Texas, praising Americans of all stripes from first responders to local journalists for serving the public good.

Saturday night’s banquet not far from the White House attracted the usual assortment of stars from Hollywood and beyond. Actors Kevin Spacey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Claire Danes, who play government characters on series, were among the attendees, as was Korean entertainer Psy. Several Cabinet members, governors and members of Congress were present.

Former Republican Congressional Candidate Arrested For Sending President Obama Poisonous Letters

webmaster — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:25:41 +0000

U.S marshals arrested Everett Dutschke, 41, of Tupelo, Mississippi, Saturday morning for mailing letters laced with the poison ricin to President Barack Obama and two other public officials, report Reuters.

According to the DJ Journal, Dutschke was charged with “knowingly developing, producing, stockpiling, transferring, acquiring, retaining and possessing a biological agent, toxin and delivery system, for use as a weapon, to wit: ricin, and with attempting, threatening and conspiring to do the same, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 175(a). If convicted on this charge, Dutschke faces maximum possible penalties of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and 5 years of supervised release.”

Dutschke, who ran for Congress as a Republican in 2007 and for local office as a Democrat in 2008, went into hiding last week after multiple agencies searched his home.

According to Reuters, the martial arts instructor also currently faces charges for fondling three adolescent girls, ages 7 to 10, from 2007-2013.

Jailed Gang Leader Accused of Father 5 Kids With 4 Prison Guards

webmaster — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:21:28 +0000

Thirteen female correctional officers, seven inmates and five others with gang ties have been charged with plotting to smuggle drugs, cellphones and other contraband into Baltimore’s jail and other corrections facilities, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.

The ring involved sex between inmates and guards that led to four of the officers becoming pregnant, one of them twice, by Tavon White (pictured), leader of a gang called the Black Guerrilla Family, according to an indictment.

The indictment unsealed Tuesday said that White, who is being held at the Baltimore City Detention Center awaiting trial on a charge of attempted murder, once boasted in a wiretapped phone call: “This is my jail …. I make every final call in this jail.”

In at least one case, a corrections officer stood guard outside a closet at the jail so a corrections officer and an inmate could have sex, prosecutors said in court documents. Some of the female officers even tattooed White’s name on their bodies, according to the indictment.

FBI agent Stephen Vogt said White “effectively raised the BGF flag over the Baltimore City Detention Center,” and the indictment brings that flag down.

The indictment claims the gang ran the scheme from inside the detention center and charges gang members and corrections officers with conspiracy, drug possession and distribution and money laundering.

Drugs brought into the prison included marijuana, Oxycodone, Xanax, Klonopin and Vicodin, according to the indictment. The gang was divided into “bubble regimes,” some of which had special functions such as collecting dues. Members were subjected to a code of conduct and sanctioned for breaking the rules through fines, beatings, stabbings and murder, prosecutors added.

New College Football Playoff Games Announced

webmaster — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:04:29 +0000

Atlanta will be the host of one of college football’s new playoff games to determine a national champion.

The college football playoff will replace the much-maligned Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and will be called simply “College Football Playoff.” The playoff games will begin in 2015, following the 2014 NCAA college football season.

“We decided to call the playoff what it is — the College Football Playoff,” BCS executive director Bill Hancock told the network’s Bretty McMurphy. “We think the new playoff will be the most dynamic improvement to college football in a generation. Certainly, it’s what the fans want. We also invite everyone to vote online to select the logo and help us kick off the new College Football Playoff.”

The Chick-fil-A Bowl, which has been played at Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, will join the Fiesta, Cotton, Rose, Sugar and Orange bowls in the six-bowl semi-final rotation for the new “College Football Playoff” that replaces the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), according to a report from ESPN.

Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will be the host of the College Football Playoff’s first national championship on Jan. 12, 2015.

White House Looking For African-American Interns

webmaster — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:01:45 +0000

The White House is currently looking for African-American students for its 2013 White House Initiative’s Year-round Internship Program.

Open to undergraduate and graduate students, the program provides students with an opportunity to learn about African American-focused education policy, communications and outreach at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C.

Interns will be responsible for collecting and compiling research and data on African American education, institutions and communities, as well as performing data entry and managing the office database.

Interns will also greet and escort visitors to meetings and participate in strategic planning and staff meetings and other Department policy briefings and meetings relevant to the work of the Initiative. Those interested in interning for the White house should also be prepared to respond to constituent inquiries verbally or in writing.

During the internships, students will have the opportunity to attend and possibly lead in the planning and management of meetings, briefings and other special events on the Hill, at the White House and in other federal agencies.

Atlanta Picked as Best City in the US to Start a Business

webmaster — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:59:13 +0000

With Small Business Month right around the corner, in May Atlanta has been ranked as the best city to start a business, according to a study done by NerdWallet, a financial literacy site.

The study ranked cities based on the ability to obtain funding, friendliness, local economy, hiring and affordability. Close runners up include Raleigh, Austin, Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

Atlanta earned an “A-“ on Thumbtack’s Survey of Small Business Friendliness. Forty-six percent of the city’s population has a Bachelor’s degree and the cost of living is low, which also boosted the city’s ranking.

With the help of Georgia Tech, Atlanta is growing as a technology hub as well. The Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) serves as a great resource for entrepreneurs, according to the survey. The MAC offers CEO Roundtables, networking luncheons and monthly workshops. The Small Business Development Center Network at the University of Georgia provides low-cost training and free consulting.

Survey Shows African Americans Optimistic About Financial Future

webmaster — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:27:35 +0000

According to a recent survey by Wells Fargo, African-American investors report high levels of confidence in their financial future. African Americans are also optimistic about the political and economic future of the country.

Three in five Black investors express confidence in their own financial future while half report they are better off now than they were three years ago.

“The optimism and confidence articulated by African-American investors is encouraging, particularly as those surveyed are feeling financially better off than they were three years ago,” said Jeff Cosby, Financial Advisor and Vice-President, Investment Officer in the Bloomington, Minn., office of Wells Fargo Advisors. “Where we see the biggest opportunity is helping people really consider how they are approaching saving and planning for retirement. It is important for financial advisors to help investors think through long-term strategies for investment planning, while also providing guidance on common concerns like how to balance paying off debt while continuing to save for retirement.”

Black investors have made progress in retirement planning and preparation but many still have concerns as far as having enough money to actually retire. African Americans have begun taking the necessary steps to help them better prepare for retirement such as cutting back on their spending to put away money for retirement. Forty-five percent of those surveyed say they have cut back on spending which is a step up compared to 36 percent of the national population. Forty percent of non-retired African Americans say they have a retirement savings plan in place which is roughly the same as the national population.

Among non-retired African Americans, having a retirement savings plan is most common among those earning over $100,000 annually. Only 35 percent of those earning less than $100,000 have a plan.

Compared to the national population, African-American investors are less likely to consider themselves financially comfortable. Thirty-six percent of African American investors consider paying their monthly bills their biggest financial concern. Saving for retirement ranked second at 22 percent, followed by healthcare costs at 15 percent.

According to the survey, three in five Blacks in the U.S. focus on reducing debt as opposed to saving for retirement. Fifty-two percent of those surveyed are worried they won’t have enough saved for retirement, particularly those under the age of 50.

Thirty-six percent of Black investors are confident in knowing where to invest in today’s market, similar to the national population, 31 percent.