Ben Simmons
by Rafael Pena

January 30, 2024

Ben Simmons Makes Impressive Return In Nets Victory

Ben Simmons made a resounding comeback from his prolonged back injury, narrowly missing a triple-double as the Brooklyn Nets secured consecutive wins.

Ben Simmons made a resounding comeback from his prolonged back injury, narrowly missing a triple-double as the Brooklyn Nets convincingly beat the Utah Jazz 147-114.

The Australian guard, sidelined for 12 weeks and 38 games due to a nerve impingement, showcased his skills in a dominating performance, finishing with 10 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds in just 18 minutes of play.

“We got the win, so yes,” Simmons said, according to ESPN, when asked if it was a successful return. “That’s the main objective for me, and that’s really all I care about.”

Simmons’ return proved instrumental in Brooklyn’s most convincing win and highest score of the season, breaking a streak of inconsistent performances. Mikal Bridges and Cam Thomas topped the Nets in scoring, contributing 33 and 25 points respectively.

Entering the game with a two-point lead, Simmons, in only his seventh appearance of the season, sparked a 14-0 run, propelling the Nets to a 16-point advantage. Throughout the game Brooklyn maintained a lead of at least nine points, securing their first back-to-back victories since late December 2023.

Simmons set a franchise record in the first quarter with six assists off the bench. Displaying no signs of a back injury, he demonstrated his all-around skills, contributing defensively with steals and offensively with well-timed assists and rebounds.

“Extremely impressive,” Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn told ESPN after the game. “Other people played so well tonight because of the impact of Ben Simmons. It’s that simple.”

Having participated only in the shoot-around on game day after training with the G-League affiliate Long Island over the weekend, Simmons’ return exceeded expectations. Vaughn acknowledged the need to assess Simmons’ condition postgame, considering his injury history, to determine an appropriate workload for future games.

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Chief Keef, UKNOWN, London, rap, rapper, collaboration
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 30, 2024

Chief Keef Collaborates With Ed Hardy And UNKNOWN London

Chief Keef collaborates with Ed Hardy and UNKNOWN London with a 12-piece collection that is nearly sold out days after debuting during Paris Fashion Week

A collaboration between hip-hop recording artist Chief Keef and the fashion brand Ed Hardy has caused a frenzy among fashionistas. Their line for UNKNOWN London is practically sold out.

According to Complex, Chief Keef and Ed Hardy connected with UNKNOWN London to sell a 12-piece collection inspired by Keef’s “Glo Gang.”

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Unknown London (@unknownuk)

The collection sold out during its Paris Fashion Week debut. In addition, most of the items on the website are sold out. If you want a piece from the collection, act now!

The offerings include hoodies, reversible belts, a leather jacket, and long- and short-sleeved T-shirts. The collection also contains jeans, caps, beanies, stickers, and rugs.

The excitement for the collection may be a placeholder for the music Chief Keef fans have been salivating for since the promise of his next release, Almighty So 2, according to Hot New Hip Hop. It’s the follow-up to his original, “Almighty So,” which dropped more than a decade ago. The media outlet states the album should be released March 29 on Amazon Music.

He recently released a video with Lil Yachty called “Say Ya Grace” which, according to Complex, was released for Lyrical Lemonade’s latest compilation. He also has a new song being released on Feb. 8 called “Hot Cheetos,” which is slated to be the lead single for Almighty So 2.

While Keef has been in the lab cooking up the next dish for his fans over the past year, he has collaborated with Drake, Lil Yachty, and Trippie Redd, to list a few. Fans got a recent feature from him that may make them even more anxious to hear the new project by the Chicago rapper. He appeared on Sexyy Red‘s latest song, “Bow Bow Boy (F My Baby Dad).”

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‘Law & Order: SVU’ Episode Citing Racial Inequalities In The Justice System Upsets Conservatives
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 30, 2024

‘Law & Order: SVU’ Episode Citing Racial Inequalities In The Justice System Upsets Conservatives

Conservatives are speaking out against a recent "Law & Order" episode that cites the systemic racial inequalities within the American justice system.

Conservatives are speaking out against a recent “Law & Order: SVU” episode that addressed the systemic racial inequalities within the American justice system.

The “Truth Embargo” episode of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” which aired on Thursday, Jan. 25, follows the fictional case of a white woman (played by Romina D’Ugo) who was sexually assaulted inside a clothing store by a Black man she’s hesitant to name as her accuser due to the racial inequalities within the U.S. justice system.

“She’s inconsolable,” the character’s partner tells detectives, as cited by Newsweek. “We’re acutely aware of the systemic inequities that exist within the criminal justice system.”

“Well, I can’t deny that there’s a history of racial bias,” Mariska Hargitay’s character, Olivia Benson, says in response. “It’s certainly not a perfect system.”

While the episode tried its best to tackle the important issue, many conservatives weren’t in support of the show’s efforts.

“Apparently, even if you get r*ped, you shouldn’t seek justice if you are white. Amazing,” jwrote one user who posted a clip from the show.

The viewer posted another clip showing the Black attacker, played by Mykey Cooper, admitting to the sexual assault and explaining why he committed the crime. But to the conservative viewer, the show allowed the Black teen to “play the victim card.”

“Law & Order features a woke white woman character who was R*ped by a black man refuses to press charges because of her White privilege and doesn’t want the black man to go to prison,” one user said in response.

Among the respondents included Twitter/X owner Elon Musk, who replied with exclamation marks showing his support of the conservative viewers’ complaints.

“Every white woman needs to see this and decide if that’s what they want for themselves, their daughters, nieces, granddaughters, friends and friends daughters,” opined someone else.

In the fictional show, the white woman did testify against the teen, who was sent to prison for his crimes. But according to one critic, “the seed has been planted.”

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UPS
by Derek Major

January 30, 2024

UPS Cutting 12,000 Jobs Months After New Labor Agreement

UPS announced Tuesday it will lay off 12,000 workers just five months after it reached a new labor deal that gave its workers big raises.

CBS News reports UPS CEO Carol Tomé said in a conference call Tuesday morning that reducing the company’s headcount will save UPS $1 billion in costs. Tomé added that UPS was also ordering employees to return to the office five days a week this year.

“We are going to fit our organization to our strategy and align our resources against what’s wildly important,” Tomé said, according to CBS.

Last summer, UPS and its 50,000 workers agreed to a five-year contract after contentious labor negotiations threatened to disrupt millions of deliveries to businesses and households across the United States.

In the agreement, part-time workers got a raise from $15.50 an hour to $21 an hour; full-time workers now average $49 an hour. Under the deal, workers also received $2.75 more an hour in 2024, and $7.50 an hour more over the five-year contract. UPS drivers are set to average $170,000 in pay and benefits at the end of the five-year agreement.

The New York Times reports that union jobs will not suffer the layoffs. Instead, the layoffs will be of UPS’ managerial staff “throughout the world and in all functions.” 

UPS added that it expected package volumes to continue falling in the first half of this year, then increase in the second half. 

“The moves reflect a “change in the way we work,” Tomé said, adding that even if the business rebounds, those jobs may not come back.

After the announcement, UPS shares dropped nearly 9%, falling just short of its revenue projections for the fourth quarter of 2023.

UPS is one of several large companies that have announced layoffs in recent months amid forecasts for slower economic growth. Google, Microsoft, and Amazon also recently announced layoffs, along with eBay, Macy’s and Wayfair.

According to UPS, the multinational shipping & receiving service delivers 27 million packages per day and 25 billion per year.

Yusuf Salaam, out-of-state, council man, tint, driving, resign
by Rafael Pena

January 30, 2024

Exonerated 5, Yusef Salaam Called To Resign As NYC Councilman

Councilman Yusef Salaam is facing calls to resign from his position as the head of the council’s public safety committee following a contentious traffic stop.

BET News reports New York City Councilman Yusef Salaam is under scrutiny and facing calls to resign as the head of the council’s public safety committee. This comes after a contentious traffic stop on Jan. 26 that revealed he was driving with out-of-state license plates and allegedly illegally tinted windows.

Salaam is accused of embellishing the details of his encounter with an NYPD officer in Harlem on Friday night. The officer pulled him over for the tinted windows but reportedly showed leniency when Salaam identified himself as a councilman. The incident has ignited controversy, leading some fellow council members to question Salaam’s actions and credibility.

Councilman Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) joined the criticism online, emphasizing that the entire incident was captured on police bodycam footage. Borelli remarked on X, “What is sad is taking an incident where someone cuts you a break, does right by you, and then misrepresenting the truth to get them in trouble.”

Salaam, known for being one of the exonerated “Central Park Five,” has not responded to multiple requests for comment. However, his office confirmed that he had Georgia license plates on his car until just this week, despite having lived in New York and holding office for two years.

According to Board of Elections records, Salaam registered to vote in the state on July 27, 2022 and had a legal obligation to transfer his Georgia vehicle registration to New York within 30 days. The fact that he still had Georgia plates when pulled over has raised questions about his compliance with vehicle registration regulations.

The controversy surrounding Salaam’s traffic stop has fueled a broader discussion about transparency, accountability, and adherence to the law among elected officials, particularly those holding influential positions related to public safety.

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Dillon Brooks, los angeles lakers, VANDERBUILT, JAMES, LEBRON
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 30, 2024

Dillon Brooks Shakes Up Los Angeles Lakers: Jarred Vanderbilt Ejected, LeBron James Floored

The Los Angeles Lakers were upset that Dillon Brooks wasn't ejected after hitting LeBron James in the face.

Known as one of the NBA’s villains, Dillon Brooks of the Houston Rockets once again got into the head of an opposing player, knocking Jarred Vanderbilt of the Los Angeles Lakers off his game and out of the game.

It all started in the second quarter of last night’s game, after Vanderbilt’s teammate Austin Reaves scored. As CBS Sports reported:

Brooks gave Vanderbilt a bit of a nudge and the Lakers forward responded with a shove of his own. That earned Vanderbilt his first technical — and he wasn’t done just yet. As Brooks was walking away, Vanderbilt followed him and poked him in the back of the head for some reason. That was enough for a second technical and an early trip to the showers.

Vanderbilt’s frustration seemed to stem from a play a few possessions prior where he drove to the basket and Brooks pushed him in the back. Brooks was whistled for a foul on the play and Vanderbilt took a hard fall into the basket stanchion.


Yet Brooks wasn’t done.

Brooks has jawed off repeatedly with LeBron James over the past year, and although no argument took place, Brooks was assessed a flagrant 1 foul after hitting the Lakers superstar in the face.

After the game ended, when questioned about Brooks’ behavior, James just said, “Next question.” However, his teammate Anthony Davis, had something to say.

“It’s bogus,” Davis said. “You take a hard foul, that’s part of basketball, but you not gonna push someone in the back when they have no control of their body in the air. He should have got ejected for that and then him and Bron had their, whatever. From what I saw, it was a blatant hit on Bron to the face. The refs saw it differently. It is what it is.”

The Rockets beat the Lakers 135-119.

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30th anniversary, Snoop Dogg Doggystyle, super bowl, superbowl
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 30, 2024

Snoop Dogg And Dr. Dre To Host Epic Super Bowl After-Party

The event may double as a celebration for Usher's latest album, "Coming Home" which will be released two days before the Super Bowl.

Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre will be at the Super Bowl once again! But, this time, the stage will be at Wynn Las Vegas and will take place after the football game.

According to “Page Six,” the dynamic duo will be throwing a Super Bowl after-party for the matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 11. The big sporting event will be held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The purpose of the party, well, besides it being Super Bowl weekend, is to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre classic record “Gin and Juice,” based on what was told to the media outlet.

It’s also rumored that this year’s Super Bowl halftime performer, Usher, will be a guest of honor for the festivities. It may also be a kickoff bash for Usher’s upcoming Coming Home album the celebrated artist releases two days before, on Feb. 9.

This is all taking place at Wynn Las Vegas’ Encore Beach Club, with Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace co-founders Liberty Ross and Kevin Wall organizing the event. Diplo is slated to be the DJ for the night.

Dr. Dre and Snoop performed at the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show in 2022 and brought along other popular performers when they took the stage. Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent, and Anderson .Paak also wowed the crowd when they showed off their talent during halftime of the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals.

If you plan to be in Vegas that weekend, you should swing by Sin City Seafood Kitchen + Lounge, located at 353 E. Bonneville Ave. in downtown Las Vegas. The Black-owned eatery will host 10 events between Wednesday, Feb. 7, and game day. Five day parties and five parties at night will feature two main event celebrations for what the owners are calling “Sin City Seafood Super Bowl LVIII Week 2024.”

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culture genesis, Buzzfeed, merge, ad, partnership
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 30, 2024

Buzzfeed And Culture Genesis Merge Multicultural Advertising In Deal That Promises To Include Diverse Creators

Buzzfeed has inked a deal with Culture Genesis that will allow it to bundle and market advertisements to diverse audiences.

Buzzfeed has inked a new deal with Culture Genesis, a YouTube network that financially empowers multicultural creators, that will allow it to bundle and market advertisements to diverse audiences.

Culture Genesis, which oversees content creators like Steve Harvey, Kai Cenat, Cam Newton, and All Def Digital, will increase its scale of inventory to include BuzzFeed’s portfolio of multicultural brands like Cocoa Butter, Pero Like and HuffPost Voices, Digiday reports.

Buzzfeed will, in turn, gain an advertising sales partner to assist in the monetization of its ad inventory.

Under the agreement, advertisers have the opportunity to purchase brand activations, editorial sponsorships, and media inventory from both Culture Genesis and BuzzFeed across various platforms, including the web, YouTube, social media, connected TV, and FAST channels.

Together, BuzzFeed and Culture Genesis reach 55 million households.

Financial terms and any potential data-sharing agreements were not been disclosed. Jonah Peretti, CEO of BuzzFeed, said the ad split “depends on the nature of each deal,” including which creators are involved and the inventory.

“The concept of packaging multicultural content to be sold by a [multicultural and] Black-owned principal is gaining traction as a way to add scale to what may otherwise have been too small of partner to be added to a media plan,” Peretti said. “It also provides another space for advertisers to spend money in support of [multicultural] audiences, as there remain few Black-owned media areas with enough scale and targeted reach.”

While the deal will help put more money and ad power into the hands of diverse creators, it still points to a larger issue regarding Buzzfeed, a predominantly white company with a 52% white workforce as of November 2023, securing ad revenue many companies and corporations had set for more Black publishers.

These types of deals could be “taking dollars that are earmarked for Black-owned media networks or publishers and essentially filtering it to white-owned media,” Justin Barton, senior vice president of digital strategy and partnerships at BLACK ENTERPRISE, says. “You’re essentially using Black-targeted or Black-directed dollars and then pushing it off to a publicly-traded company and that’s not the intent of these pledges that the agencies or brands have made.”

Dévon Christopher Johnson, co-founder of The Black Owned Media Equity and Sustainability Institute (BOMESI) applauded the deal while expressing his hope that it won’t outshine advertisers’ diversity commitments.

“What I hope this becomes is an additional line item in the media plan [for agencies and brands]. What I hope it does not become is an easy way out from doing other diversity efforts,” he said.

Cedric J. Rogers, co-founder and CEO of Culture Genesis, noted the companies’ 50/50 revenue split with its creators and promised that all the inventory (including BuzzFeed’s) sold to advertisers as part of this deal will include diverse creators.

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Earned Wage Access, career, assessment, snapshot,
by Derek Major

January 30, 2024

Workers Are Using Earned Wage Access To Get A Portion Of Their Paychecks Earlier

American workers are increasingly using earned wage access to get early access to their paychecks, however, the programs are being compared to payday loans.

American workers are increasingly using earned wage access to get early access to money from their paychecks; however, that early access comes at a steep price.

CNBC reports that earned wage access programs, also known as daily pay, instant pay, accrued wage access, and same-day pay, allow workers to gain a portion of their wages before their payday for a fee, and the service has skyrocketed in popularity. 

The programs typically come in two methods: business-to-business, where the service is offered through an employer, and direct-to-consumer, where third-party apps provide the service.

The programs provide benefits such as quick access to cash in an emergency. However, the programs are very similar to payday loans, which can leave people thousands in debt due to high fees and interest rates, and have been banned in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, The District of Columbia, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Vermont.

“When used properly … it’s great,” Marshall Lux, a former senior fellow at Harvard University, told CNBC.

Lux added that consumers’ overuse of earned wage access programs can leave them in significant debt. Interest rates can reach up to 400%, turning the programs into “payday lending on steroids,” and the industry’s growth is concerning.

“It’s another version of payday loans,” Monica Burks, policy counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending, a consumer advocacy group, said of earned wage access. “There’s really no meaningful difference.”

A recent study by The Government Accountability Office revealed that earned wage access products “generally cost less than typical costs associated with payday loans,” and the typical user earns less than $50,000 a year. The study also determined more than 75% of people who have used earned wage access to get money from their paychecks faster used the funds for regular bills instead of emergency expenses.

However, the study also reported fees can add up for frequent users who access their paychecks early. That has prompted California lawmakers to debate whether to regulate earned wage access programs. Regulating the programs would institute caps on interest rates and fee transparency guidelines.

Another issue with earned wage access is the fees, which can easily become death by a thousand cuts if users are unaware.

According to the GAO study, employer programs may charge per transaction or for “expedited” delivery whereby users get their money faster, such as $2 for funds within a day or $10 within an hour instead of for free within a few days. Meanwhile, direct-to-consumer programs may charge subscription fees ranging from $5 to $10 a month. Users can also tip, and while tipping is voluntary, apps may default consumers to tipping a certain percentage per transaction when it comes to app-based providers. Users of app-based earned wage access programs tip an average of $4.09 more than 70% of the time.

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Beyonce, Shannon Sharpe, Taylor Swift
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 30, 2024

Shannon Sharpe: ‘Beyoncé Ain’t Moving The Needle’ In The NFL Like Taylor Swift

Shannon Sharpe doesn't think Beyoncé has as much star power as Taylor Swift in the NFL and explained why.

Shannon Sharpe doesn’t think Beyoncé has as much star power as Taylor Swift—in the NFL.

While chopping it up with Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson on their Nightcap talk show, Sharpe explained why he doesn’t think Beyoncé can “move the needle” like Taylor Swift, who has brought more attention (and millions of dollars) to the National Football League thanks to her relationship with Travis Kelce, the star tight end with the Kansas City Chiefs.

“The attention that she brings and the people, the eyes, that she brings that don’t even watch the game of football…it’s crazy what she’s been able to do for the NFL,” Johnson said.

“Tell the other person that’s gonna do that,” Sharpe added.

“Beyoncé,” Johnson said.

https://twitter.com/NightcapShow_/status/1752058783189103049

“Not like this,” Sharpe responded. “These 8-to-15-year-old eyeballs… Ocho, I love Beyoncé. [But] Beyoncé ain’t moving the needle like this chick, Ocho. She’s the closest thing to moving the needle like Michael Jackson that we’ve seen. This is it.”

Johnson disagreed, insisting that Beyoncé could move the needle as much as Swift, if not more.

“No she doesn’t,” Sharpe said. “Not like Taylor…Taylor Swift, I mean, she a different animal. Beyoncé is phenomenal.”

The First Take host claimed the NFL would rather have Swift perform at the Super Bowl halftime than “Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Rihanna combined.” He also noted reports saying Swift turned down the opportunity to perform at the halftime show.

Swift will be in attendance to support her boyfriend when the Chiefs play the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, February 11. Her presence is welcomed by the NFL. New credit card spending studies show the pop star has influenced 16% of U.S. shoppers to spend money on football.

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