We Lost Count: Abby De La Rosa Gives Birth To ‘Wild N Out’ Host Nick Cannon’s Twins
‘Wild N Out’ host Nick Cannon is a busy man managing his entertainment gigs while keeping up with pregnancy due dates.
The father of six received a double blessing this week after his girlfriend Abby De La Rosa gave birth to two new sons on Monday.
De La Rosa shared an intimate video cuddling and cradling her baby boys named, Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir.
Cannon and De La Rosa, a DJ and broadcasting professional, held out until Wednesday, June 17 to give us a first look at the little cuties with a picture simply captioned:
“JUNE 14TH, 2021. Welcome to the world Zion Mixolydian Cannon & ZIllion Heir Cannon.”
“#MyWorld #TwinBoys,” she added.
Cannon’s got his hands full with his second set of twins. The Masked Singer TV host and superstar Mariah Carey share 9-year-old twins, Moroccan and Monroe.
Cannon’s also dad to Golden “Sagon” Cannon, 4 and Powerful Queen Cannon, who was born in December to Cannon and Brittany Bell.
And in case you haven’t been keeping a tally, as we previously reported, then there’s Wild N Out actress Alyssa Scott, who is expecting Cannon’s seventh baby. Scott has reportedly named her unborn baby and Cannon hasn’t confirmed the rumor that it is his.
Somebody get Maury on the line please!
In the meanwhile, De La Rosa is basking in the joy of having two new baby boys. She has chronicled her pregnancy and revealed in April that Cannon was the daddy. “Our dearest sons, my miracle babies, Thank you for choosing me to be your Mommy,” she wrote in a post. “I know the Lord has destined me and prepared me for the gift of not one but two little angels. I pray that God give you both the strength to walk brave and boldly in your individual truth just like your Daddy.” “That God bless you and your brother and guide you into living out your full purpose,” she continued. “Your Dad and I will always be here for you both; in complete unison and support. No matter what this world may throw your way, know that forgiveness is key and what is for you is for YOU! You both are already so loved, and we can’t wait to meet you both.”
We’ll keep you posted when Cannon has the next batch of kiddies.
Slutty Vegan and Big Dave Cheesesteaks Owners Gift Thousands of Atlanta Black Men With Life Insurance
Pinky Cole, the Founder and CEO of Slutty Vegan and Derrick “D” Hayes, CEO of Big Dave Cheesesteaks in Atlanta, have linked forces to give back to Black men in a big way.
Not only have the two found common ground, hustling their respective businesses to the top of the Atlanta eatery leaderboard as very popular staples in their communities, but their humble backgrounds have also paved a way for their understanding of what their community needs are.
So, Cole and Hayes are using their platform and financial power to arm thousands of Black men with life insurance. The two said they realize that it’s a much-needed commodity in under-served communities where cash-app payments and GoFundMe campaigns have largely become the norm to pay for funerals for people who don’t have life insurance policies in place.
“While growing up in West Philly, I witnessed people put together fish frys and create GoFundMe pages to pay for their loved one’s funerals,” Hayes said. “I vowed to change that narrative with this program. Now I’m able to provide resources and benefits such as life insurance policies and mental health programs. I am sure we will bridge the wealth gap and strengthen the Black community with this campaign.”
Pinky Cole and Derrick “D” Hayes, Photo Courtesy of Slutty Vegan
And Black men are at the top of that list of those who lack insurance policies, yet who suffer the most and are highly targeted to be killed.
According to a published report by Statista, “In the first half of 2020, 11 percent of Black Americans had no health insurance.”
“As a Black woman and entrepreneur, it is my duty to build up and equip the Black man,” Cole said. “We established this campaign to create better lives for Black men and their families by providing life insurance and mental health treatment in underserved communities. It is another way we are collectively using our platforms to pour into the communities in which we serve.”
Together, The Pinky Cole Foundation and The David & Derrick Hayes Foundation, worked to create a solution to that call to get more Black men insured by creating a program called, Square 1: The Liife Experience, is aimed at insuring 25,000 Black men between the ages 15-45, earning $30,000 or less annually, by December 2023, said Keeyah Johnson, executive assistant to Cole. They have partnered with New York Life as the insurance carrier.
The Liife Experience Campaign also endeavors to teach the importance of having life insurance and life longevity through routine mental health and wellness screenings. Its goal is to shed a positive light on Black men while uplifting them and bringing nationwide awareness centered around financial literacy. The program runs in partnership with Kaleidoscope Therapy for Black Families Fund and Seviin Yoga.
And they are off to a slow, but promising start. This past Saturday at Slutty Vegan’s Edgewood location in Atlanta some 250 men signed up, Johnson said. And on Thursday, June 17, they are doing a live signing event again at Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks.
Eligible participants also must be tobacco free.
Getting Black men life insurance take on an even deeper meaning for Cole and Hayes.
In response to the June 2020 shooting of Rayshard Brooks, who died outside of a Wendy’s parking lot in Atlanta, Cole and Hayes stepped up by providing Brooks’ family a life insurance policy. The widow, Tomika Miller, was also gifted a new car. The dynamic duo also secured a partnership with Clark Atlanta University to provide scholarships for Brooks’ four children to attend the HBCU.
The need for Black men to have life insurance is uniquely urgent than most: Black men disproportionately suffer from poor health, get involved in high crime-related matters more than other racial groups, and have the lowest life expectancy yet they have the highest death rate compared to both men and women of other racial and ethnic groups, according to a study by Harvard.
There is still time to sign up for Hayes’ event this Thursday on June 17, between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at his Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks on 57 Forsyth St NW Suite 63.
For those who can not attend, the application will be available online via this page.
Gone But Not Forgotten: Mother Emanuel AME Church Honors The Victims, Survivors
The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, will begin to host its Nine Commemoration Committee, a forum this Thursday to remember the victims killed during a random act of hate.
In June 2015, during a Bible study group at the church, Dylan Storm Roof, a white supremacist, opened fired at the AME Church, killing nine innocent Black church members, NBC News reported.
One of the nine was 87-year-old Susie Jackson who a trustee, an usher, and a singer in the choir. Jackson is missed by her surviving grandchild, Walter Bernard Jackson Jr.
“Hate is an evil force that has hindered us as a country from doing a lot of things,” said her grandson Walter. “My grandmother always believed we need to see past that and really dig deep into getting to know individuals.”
The Emanuel Nine Commemoration Committee’s forum will host the families of the Emanuel Nine victims; Sarah Collins Rudolph, who survived the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963; and Rabbi Jeffrey Meyers, who survived the Tree of Life synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh in 2018.
The topic they will be talking about is healing.
“It’s a process,” Jackson said as finding forgiveness about the situation is more difficult than he thought. “I truly believe that you don’t necessarily have to put a timeline on individuals in terms of when or how long it should take for them.”
Jackson has vowed to fight for social justice, using his newly elected position as a board member for the Franklin Township Board of Education to advocate for equity in education with the goal of fighting back white supremacy.
“The goal is to eliminate systemic racism, white supremacy, and remove barriers, so all students have equal access to rigorous academic programs,” Jackson said.
Candace Owens Blasts Chrissy Teigen, Calls Her A ‘Malignant Sociopathic Narcissist’
When there’s an opportunity to cut deeper, you can always count on firebrand Candace Owens to throw salt into open wound and go for the jugular.
And this time the wounded soul would be Chrissy Teigen, who brought this pain on herself, yes, but she’s been on an apology tour and owning up to her bullying behavior against TV personality Courtney Stodden, who identifies as non-binary, in a long, emotional Instagram post and Twitter manifest.
“I know I’ve been quiet, and lord knows you don’t want to hear about me, but I want you to know I’ve been sitting in a hole of deserved global punishment, the ultimate “sit here and think about what you’ve done.” Not a day, not a single moment has passed where I haven’t felt the crushing weight of regret for the things I’ve said in the past.
“As you know, a bunch ofmy old awful (awful, awful) tweets resurfaced. I’m truly ashamed of them. As I look at them and understand the hurt they caused, I have to stop and wonder: How could I have done that?
But that only meant it opened up an opportunity for Trump’s most controversial minion, Owens, who took the time to chastise Teigen and call her out online for backpeddling after going on a nasty Twitter tirade against Stodden.
Owens, no stranger to attacking other people, jumped at the opportunity to respond to Teigen’s statements via her Twitter account and called the model and entrepreneur a “malignant sociopathic narcissist.”
The problem with #chrissyteigen’s diatribe is that she’s apologizing for who she was “a long time ago”.
Let’s be clear—
Chrissy spent the last 6 years online harassing conservative women who DID NOTHING to her.
This wasn’t some off-colored period of her life.
It’s who she is.
FYI— someone on Chrissy Teigen’s team is deleting negative comments under her Instagram account to create the illusion that the world is forgiving her.
This is little more than a carefully crafted Hollywood PR stunt.
Guys. I don’t think you understand. Michael Costello has spoken out and Chrissy Teigen was in his DMs telling him he should kill himself when he told her that the photoshopped image she was spreading about him was causing him to suffer.
Starbucks Customers Are Furious Over Menu Item Shortages: ‘I Can’t Handle This’
When it comes to cult-like customer bases, there are few chains that rival the following that Starbucks has amassed.
The brand has managed to capitalize on over-the-top drinks, offerings and promotions that have gone viral on social media, capturing the likes of both millennials and Gen-Zs alongside older generations who have already become accustomed to the coffee maker.
But new supply chain shortages have Starbucks trending for all but good reason.
The issue started back in April when the chain was experiencing oat milk shortages from its oat milk supplier Oatly, (which recently raised $1.4 billion upon its IPO debut) when the milk option was removed from the Starbucks app.
But this week, customers noticed a new notification when they logged on to the app.
“Due to current supply shortages, some of your favorites may be temporarily out of stock,” the digital memo read. “Feel free to browse the menu for different options or ask your barista for a reccomendation.”
Suffice it to say, fans of the chain were not having it.
“Starbucks having a matcha shortage is probably the most disrespectful thing they could’ve done to me,” one user asserted.
Others joked that the situation was a “national emergency”, some even tagging President Joe Biden and asking him for help and aid.
The 25 menu items affected by the shortage seem to hit every category, including breakfast sandwiches, chai and green tea bags, hazlenut syrup, matcha powder and even lemonade.
“We are experiencing temporary supply shortages of some of our products,” a Starbucks spokesperson toldInsider. “Specific items will vary by market and store, and some stores will experience outages of various items at the same time.”
Starbucks isn’t the first fast-food chain to feel the effects of pandemic-related food shortages.
Customers were recently up in arms over a sauce shortage at beloved chicken chain Chick-fil-A, following an overall chicken shortage in the U.S. that has affected hundreds of restaurants and franchises.
Video Shows Honolulu Police Department Lied About A Black Man They Killed
In April, a 29-year-old Black man was killed by Honolulu police after ringing the bell of someone’s else home.
A doorbell camera obtained by Lindani Myeni’s surviving wife shows a different story than what the Honolulu Police Department chronicled in the report on file, according to KHON-TV.
On April 14, Myeni and Asian couple, Da Ju “Dexter ” Wang and Shiying “Sabine ” Wang, pulled up to a residence at 91 Coelho Way in Nuuanu.
Myeni apparently frightened the Wangs because he entered the house – Mynei believed he entered ISKCON Hawaii temple on 51 Coelho Way, which explains why he removed his shoes and was wearing a Zulu headband out of respect.
Seeing how this was at nighttime, this incident was more likely an accident. Sabine made a fake 911 and when Myeni left the property, she made a real 911 call.
Myeni was confused as to what was going on, and apologized to the couple who called police.
When the Honolulu Police Department showed up, police officers did not identify themselves, causing an already confused Myeni, a South African rugby player, to defend himself.
The fight led to Myeni’s death who died from multiple gunshot wounds and an officer was treated for concussion.
The police, who knew Myeni was unarmed from the 911 description, only identified themselves as the authorities after he was shot.
Lindani Myeni’s family’s attorney, James J. Bickerton, is now seeking accountability through a wrongful death lawsuit. Bickerton said the police had access to the camera footage and audio from the 911 call an hour before the shooting.
Prosecuting Attorney Steven S. Alm and Honolulu police declined comment, however, the prosecutor’s office and police are investigating the matter.
Originally, the police were called and Myeni was falsely accused of burglarizing the Wang’s rented space, but he did not take anything.
The investigations are scheduled to be concluded by July 15.
Cryptocurrency Can Still Come Roaring Back. Here’s How.
Recent cryptocurrency dips have given energy-efficiency and accessibility solutions a much-needed boost.
Earlier this year, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen expressed concern over Bitcoin’s “extremely inefficient way of conducting transactions,” describing the amount of energy consumed with each transaction as “staggering.” Elon Musk justified his recent reversal on Tesla’s acceptance of Bitcoin by emphasizing the “rapidly increasing use of fossil fuels for bitcoin mining.”
Just like that, after months of steady growth, nearly every cryptocurrency was sent tumbling.
Like a row of dominoes, this month’s Bitcoin drop-off shook up the wider cryptocurrency market, instilling fears about the longevity of nearly every cryptocurrency and prompting serious reflections on the future of this digital market. Likely spurred by comments from Yellen and Musk, environmental and energy concerns are now at the forefront of these discussions.
The reality of cryptocurrency’s environmental impact
Let’s examine the reality of cryptocurrency energy usage beginning with Bitcoin, the first and most popular cryptocurrency. Bitcoin uses roughly 130 terawatts of energy every hour according to the University of Cambridge, roughly comparable to the energy use of the entire nation of Argentina. Why so high? It’s simple: Mining Bitcoin and processing transactions — both essential processes to its existence — require immense computational power.
Several other cryptocurrencies suffer from the same existential energy dilemma although some, such as Ethereum, are finding new ways to reduce their carbon footprint. In fact, the pressure is really on for Ethereum to find a scalable solution to this problem as emerging competitors, such as Cardano and Polkadot, race to beat Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin at his own game.
Until energy consumption is majorly reduced, however, many of these cryptocurrencies will continue charging fees relative to the energy needed to process transactions. Fees on the Ethereum Network, in particular, can swing from $20 to $90 in the span of just a few days. In addition to potential environmental damage, these fees pose a wealth of other problems, from discouraging trades to subsequently increasing price volatility.
For cryptocurrencies to become as widely used as fiat currency, they must reduce their environmental impact. With many nations and industries switching to sustainable methods of production and commerce, cryptocurrencies will need to put their best foot forward to stay in lock step with the rest of the world.
The race to scale cryptocurrency is well under way
Considering the intrinsic nature of these energy-gobbling processes, is there a way for cryptocurrencies to survive in a more sustainable world? The short answer is yes, but it will require a tremendous transformation across the digital marketplace.
One of the core components of cryptocurrencies, which consequently drives their energy consumption through the roof, is their use of blockchaintechnology. Blockchains are the backbone of countless cryptocurrencies, providing time-stamped records of each transaction across a decentralized, peer-to-peer network. While this technology is critically important for maintaining stability and traceability, cryptocurrencies can capitalize on the current dip to creatively reduce their reliance on older blockchain technology without sacrificing fundamentals.
One of the ways cryptocurrencies are doing this is by shifting to more energy-efficient blockchains where the transactions themselves take place. PumaPay, a cryptocurrency payment solution enabling merchants to accept cryptocurrency payments and receive them in any currency they so choose — including fiat — recently announced it would be making the switch from the Ethereum Network to the Binance Smart Chain (BSC). When analyzing Ethereum’s energy usage and subsequent price hikes, the reasons for the switch become clear: Why would any consumer use cryptocurrency to pay for a website subscription, for example, if the gas fee might cost more than the subscription itself?
In contrast to BSC, Ethereum consumes massive amounts of energy at 88.09 kWh per transaction, equivalent to about three days of energy consumption by the average U.S. household. With an average of 1.46 million transactions pushing the processing limits of the Ethereum blockchain every day, cryptocurrencies on this blockchain face significant scalability issues. Congestion on this network is often passed onto the trader, with gas fees reaching all-time highs during Ethereum’s run-up earlier this year. Recognizing this issue, Ethereum has geared up to completely renovate its technology.
Just as PumaPay has done, cryptocurrency companies that move their operations to alternative networks like the BSC enjoy faster processing, greater liquidity pools and enhanced flexibility, which prevent congestion and subsequent fees. Fewer fees means greater accessibility for traders, thus increasing volume and stability. Of course, Ethereum isn’t going away, and third-party efforts are already underway to solve its scalability issue. Polygon (MATIC) is one of the networks leading the charge, and its updard price action has shown there is a high demand for Ethereum scaling solutions because projects still want to build on the OG DeFi network.
For cryptocurrencies to survive the test of time, environmental sustainability isn’t enough — accessibility must be equally prioritized. The recent bull run was largely spurred by a wave of retail investors, followed by institutional investors. To sustain this growth and attract new investors, the cryptocurrency market must be approachable and straightforward. Lower energy fees are a start, but there is much more work to be done to simplify the process.
Where there are UX problems, there are companies — and many of them — that aim to offer solutions. Banxa is a payment-service provider (PSP) that works with crypto-asset companies to improve the purchasing experience for traders. By providing a bridge between fiat currencies and cryptocurrency assets, Banxa enables direct purchases with a wide range of payment methods, shedding light on the potential future of the cryptocurrency market, where millions will be able to buy and sell cryptocurrency assets with the swipe of a credit card.
A reality in which cryptocurrencies are exchanged and managed as easily as the cash in your wallet becomes increasingly possible with every push toward sustainability and accessibility. As more companies emphasize energy efficiency and a positive UX, a wave of advancements is sure to sweep the wider cryptocurrency ecosystem. Despite recent dips across the market, the future of cryptocurrency looks bright.
For Only $10, You’ll Get A Chance To Win $5,000 Worth Of Gaming Gear
If you want to get your hands on the coveted PlayStation 5, you’re out of luck. You can’t just hop on your favorite gaming site and add one to your cart. You have to wait for a restock and compete with thousands of bots and other gamers hoping to snag the ever-elusive console.
Luckily, there’s another option. It comes in the form of the Big Summer of Gaming Giveaway, which gives you a chance to win the PS5 and other exciting, next-gen consoles, as well as an opportunity to donate to a great cause. The best part? It only costs $10 to throw your name in the ring.
With this giveaway, you can a chance to take home over $5,000 worth of gaming consoles and gear. Should you be the lucky winner, you’ll get a PS5, an Xbox Series X, and a Nintendo Switch. You’ll also receive a 65-inch Sony Smart LED TV, a Bose QuietComfort gaming headset, and an Oculus Quest 2 VR headset. And to make your gaming experience truly epic, you’ll also snag five years of PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and a Nintendo Switch online individual membership.
Best of all, you’ll also be donating to a great cause. Part of the proceeds for this giveaway will go straight to the Playing For Change Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that aims to use music education to create positive change for children and communities in need around the world. Since its inception in 2007, Playing For Change has helped over 2,000 children from 10 different countries gain access to music and arts education through their schools and programs, as well as provide jobs to musicians and administrators.
If you want to donate and join the raffle at the same time, all you have to do is donate $10, which nets you 10 entries. You can increase your odds of winning by donating $25 for 250 entries, $50 for 1,000, $75 for 1,500, and $100 for 2,500 entries. The deadline to enter is September 18th, and the winner will be drawn on or around September 22nd. Good luck!
Clark Atlanta University Named As a Partner In a $90 Million Black Talent Initiative
Clark Atlanta University (CAU) announced that it will be one of the historically black colleges and universities which will prepare students for equity or alternative-credit investing careers, as a part of an extensive $90 million joint initiative.
“Investing in the future of our students at Clark Atlanta University is paramount toward the creation of pipelines designed to increase diversity in all industries, specifically the alternative investment industry.”
— @PrezGTFrench, Clark Atlanta University #CAUhttps://t.co/2FjGlNgz20
The AltFinance: Investing in Black Futures”™ is an initiative which will be administered by ALT Finance Corp. This nonprofit was established by Apollo Global Management, Inc., Ares Management Corp., and Oaktree Capital Management LP. Each one of the firms committed $3 million a year, over a period of 10 years to fund it, according to details.
Clark Atlanta University will kick off Alt Finance’s initiative. It is meant to attract, train, and provide career development, offer mentor fellowships, and scholarship opportunities for college students who attend CAU, Morehouse or Spelman College. The three inaugural HBCUs are part of the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC), according to the announcement.
The Wharton School said that their role will be proving a best-in-class virtual institute offering educational materials and tools.
“We are proud to play an important role in the creation of AltFinance which, through its efforts to support HBCUs, will make an immediate and positive difference for students of color,” Erika James, dean of The Wharton School explained.
Additionally, the virtual institute will be open to HBCU program participants. They will receive coursework and supplementary content developed by top professors and finance professionals. CAU’s press release also stated that students who are selected for mentored fellowships will be able to work with a mentor from the industry. According to The Wharton School, the fellowship component will entail partnership with Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT). This national nonprofit organization works to ensure that Black, Hispanic/Latino and Native Americans are able to thrive at the highest corporates levels in America. John Rice, founder and CEO of MLT, added that the alternatives investment industry is very influential.
“It’s a field for smart, creative and passionate people who can develop and execute ideas that break the mold. HBCU students should be prominent among the next generation of leaders for the industry,” Rice remarked. “AltFinance will be transformational for its future participants. They will have the chance to learn about investing and apply those skills to accelerate their trajectory as well as have a positive impact on our communities. It will be a game-changer for every one of them.”
Pack Of Wild Dogs Mauled And Killed Black Elementary Honor Roll Student
A Black 7-year-old boy from South Carolina who was an honor student, was mauled to death by a pack of dogs.
Shamar Jackson was killed on Sunday after he and his brother were walking through their neighborhood looking for their pet chihuahua, Marion, according to The State.
“They couldn’t get away because it was so many dogs coming from different directions,” Carnell Jackson, the kid’s father said during a phone interview. Shamar’s brother managed to escape.
In the neighborhood, about 45 miles away from Myrtle Beach, it was reported that the vicious dogs came from a person’s yard that had a hole in it, according WBTW, a CBS-affiliated television station.
The dogs’ owners have yet to offer an apology to the family, according to reports.
The Marion County Sheriff’s office said that it seized five dogs and a puppy at a nearby house and are investigating the matter.
“A search warrant was executed yesterday in the death investigation of 7-year-old Shamar Jackson. Five adult dogs and one puppy were seized from a property on Cleo Road. The investigation is active and ongoing, “ the department announced on Facebook.
“An account has been established at Anderson Brothers Bank for those wishing to donate toward the funeral cost for 7 year old Shamar Jackson. Shamar tragically lost his life earlier this week in a dog attack near Wilbur Road.
However, there is no word on anyone getting arrested or charged.
“I’m hurt. I want to cry but I can’t cry anymore,” the victim’s uncle Anthony Parsley said. “That’s my little fella there.”
“I didn’t think I would come home and find my son dead,” Jackson told McClatchy News. “I was just thinking he went somewhere and hid or jumped in a tree.”
Shamar was a straight A student at Lake View Elementary.
