Sometime it seems with Diddy all things are possible, so when you stepped to the mayor of New York City offering $1 million to change the NYE ball to blue. I thought it was a go, especially since New York seems to be having some difficult financial times. Check out previous refund post. From a business standpoint it’s brilliant, nobody hypes their products more or is as lavish as Diddy. He’s already plastered massive and numerous billboard in Times Square. Also he seems to think Circo is the ‘Official Vodka of New Year’s Eve’, I’m sure local new yorkers and the million visitors would love to be apart of a Diddy party.

The blue color Diddy wants to tranform the apple to has historic meaning, according to Livesteez it traces back to the “pastel” plant that was once native to the Gaillac region of France. The dye produced from the plant was commonly used for painting and clothes during the 15th and 16th centuries. Its distinctive look eventually made the dye a symbol of wealth in the region, and earned it the phrase “Pays de Cocagne,” meaning “the land of plenty.” Diddy told AllHipHop.com, “Having this iconic blue stone sit atop the New York skyline on New Year’s Eve is my way of wishing New York a fruitful New Year.”

But obviously NOT. According to The NY Post, the mayor and all others involved is not that impressed with Diddy, Ciroc or his offer cause he flat out turned down the mill.

Why he gotta throw people in foreclosure, the homeless and the public school systems business in this? How can anybody change the ball to blue, it’s the Big Apple, Apples are Red, Diddy, Red. This had to be a joke, right? I mean really these events are planned a year or so ahead of time, how he gone wait til three or fours days before everything is to happen and threw a million dollar curve ball. What businessman offers a million dollar deal on You Tube, Puff is too much sometimes. I’m so over him. Check out his Video Channel and request below:

On the low, I heard Ciroc mixed with lemonade ( referred to as “The Diddy”), goes down real nice. But y’all didn’t hear that from me. Drink Responsibly!

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With Katrina coming through and disabling the NO, it seems Detroit has unwilling stepped up to the place to replace it as America’s most beleaguered city. And I’m not just talking about their football team, Detroit Lions, who had the worst record in NFL history 0-16, this year or their ex-mayor being in the slammer for lying under oath about creeping around with a city council member. It’s the unemployment rate being 21%, the school district faltering and even criminals choosing to stay in jail, simply because they are better off in jail than their communities. I mean at least you’re guaranteed three meals a day and somewhere to sleep, who cares if it’s slop and on a concrete floor, it’s free!

Many feel this meltdown is sphere headed by the auto industry financial issues, check out Bossip, I mean it is the “Motor City”, 83% of the population is African American and the recession, is taking no prisoners for many Detroit citizens.

According to The Huntington Post, car companies were hardly multiracial utopias, but they, especially Ford, employed blacks when many industries would not. Through the decades, the automakers and their higher wage scales provided a route to the middle class for many blacks, especially those with limited education, and their children. Now, with Detroit reeling, many blacks find their economic well-being threatened. By last month, nearly 20,000 African-American auto workers had lost jobs, a 13.9 percent decline in employment, since the recession began last December.

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In his new movie, Seven Pounds, Will plays an IRS agent trying to do good, look for a post on the movie soon, but in real life his 2007 tax return was released and completely scrutinized of course. Since Will and Jada who’s #2 on Forbes Wealthiest couple list, previous post making $85 million last year, got money to give, they did it in abundance. The couple donated a total of $1.3 million to various religious, civil and arts organizations, $250,000 went to the Christian-based Yesha Ministries of Philadelphia, $200,000 to a Christian ministry in California called Living Waters. Other groups and organizations included the Church of Scientology, Christian schools and churches, the Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Center in Israel and the Progeria Research Foundation.

The couple also supported the fall opening of New Village Academy, a private school in Los Angeles that bases its teachings on Scientology.

Obvious 2008 was a good year for Will, outside of making crazy bank, he was named the “Most Powerful Actor in Hollywood” by Newsweek magazine, after #1 movies such as “I-Robot”, “Hancock” and “I Am Legend” to his credit this year.

They say the more you give, the more you receive.

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The Velvet Teddy Bear has problems with the gov-ment, the newly married Ruben owes the IRS $200K and they have started to repossess his ish until he comes up with the money. Rube owes $171,920 to the IRS and $21,731 to the Alabama Department of Revenue and the tax liens could endanger the opening of a nightclub named after him in Birmingham. It seems these troubles started when he won Idol in 2003, winning a $1 million contract placed him in a different tax bracket and when taxed I’m sure that million shrink to bout $650,000. Ruben is trying to raise the money by releasing a new album and performing some shows.

In 2006, Studdard was awarded $2 million ( $500K for losses & $1.5 million for punitive damages) in a lawsuit against his former business manager in which he claimed the manager misappropriated funds.

Rube was as part of the lawsuit brought by Louie Vuitton ( Yeah the same LV that’s made a fortune off Hip Hop) against several artist including; Da Brat, T.I and Britney Spears for using their trademark and likeness, in videos, cd cover, etc. Sony coughed up $155,830.

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Hi All,

This is my Merry Christmas wish, hope you and your families are having a wonderful, fun filled day.

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Also, the first family has their last vacay as ordinary citizens. Now tell me what country has a President hotter than ours, Boy Stop!

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In this months Black Enterprise, one of my fave magazines, simply because they are so informative, I came across an article on young successful entrepreneurs. The age range of this group is 21-35 and their ideas and innovative ways are brilliant. Much is expected of this Obama generation, all of whom seem to be delivering. Check out Black Enterprise for the complete article. Also peep the new thinner layout for BE. This damn recession!

1. Jerome Boykin Jr. 26, – owns JB Sweeping earned $850,000 in 2008, a commercial parking lot detailing and maintenance company. At 23 and a victim of Hurricane Katrina, Boykin Jr. was jobless and aimless, to get him off the couch his father, Jerome Boykin Sr., a local NAACP president, took him to watch a mall parking lot being cleaned and suggested it might be a profitable business. Jr. swore it wasn’t the gig for him and states it wasn’t until he found out from a local Wal-Mart manager that was unsatisfied with his current contractor who he paid, between $3,200 and $3,800 a month for just that one store, that he thought he could do it. The light bulb blew up in my head. I was, like, “I’m sold.” The manager said, basically, “If you buy a sweeper truck, then I will give you the contract.” In three weeks he was an approved vendor and truck owner with a new contract. Fast forward three (3) years, that’s it 3 years and he has more than 15 parking lots every night, with two sweeper trucks. According to Inc Magazine, Boykins says, I cleaned that Wal-Mart so good that other people started noticing. And the word started to spread, he doesn’t do advertise. Store managers tell other store managers and now Target, Home Depot and Lowe’s are on board. Now I take their name and number and tell them I’ll let them know when I get another truck. Must be nice.

2. Brandon & Lorielle Broussard, 32 & 27 – Baracka Wear Inc. earned $600,000 in 2008 -According to her Spelman profile, Lorielle Broussard’s first entrepreneurial endeavor was selling candy on the bus to and from elementary school in Houston, Texas. She continued to develop her business and networking skills while throwing parties as a student at Spelman College, and in recent years, as a stylist/costume designer for TV, film and music for acts like Ciara. In August 2007, her older brother Brandon called on her fashion savvy, creativity and design skills to create a graphic in support of then presidential hopeful Barack Obama, and inspired by MTV’s “Rock the Vote.” The result was “Ba-rack the Vote,” and combined with celeb support, check out supporters at B-Life formally sparked the Broussards’ foray into the business world. Eighteen months and 40,000 t-shirts, hoodies and tank tops later, Barackawear donated more than $30,000 in cash and goods toward grassroots campaigning.

3. Julius Erving III, 34 – Erving Carter Entertainment LLC, he earned $1.5 million in 2008, an entertainment company he started with a friend.Yes this is the son of the basketball legion, Dr. J, but we won’t tell no one. In 1996, he launched his own management company, J. Erving Group, and secured his first client, a female R&B group out of Chicago. Erving later teamed up with longtime friend Troy Carter to form Erving/Wonder Management in Philadelphia, a city described by music executives as one of the most fertile breeding grounds for developing new talent in the genres of hip-hop and R&B. He and his partner sold their company to Sanctuary Records, in 2004 for $12 million, with his share he started JEG, another entertainment management company, opened Absoloot Boxing Gym with R&B singer Mario and with three friends two sneaker collections, the shoe line and gym total revenue for 2008 was $3.5 million.

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Mr. J Lo was hit with a $2.5 million tax bill, to his surprise so he claim. I don’t know why celeb brag and boast about loving The NY but none want to compensate the state for all the luxurious it provide for them, and they know NY ain’t having it. It seems Marc Anthony agreed to pay millions in back taxes, interest and penalties because of his failure to file returns from 2000 – 2004.

Manhattan D.A. agreed not to prosecute him because a professional accountant prepared his tax returns and the entertainer apparently thought the returns had been filed and any due taxes had been paid.They felt there was no intent to cheat or not file on the 15.5 million in income, but regardless of the reason he still has to pay the penalty and interest which is the bulk of the amount due, if filed timely he would have only paid just under $1 million.

Anthony feels his problems came from changing accountants. The state claim, Anthony drew attention because of discrepancies, yeah like up and filing in 2005 after not being heard from since 1999. Not only is Marc an artist, he’s a businessman, maybe not a very bright one but one none the less, his three company also filed to file returns and have been fine.

Thank goodness, Jenny from the Block is all about her business, we already know she ain’t nobody’s fool when it comes to her finances, that’s one of the reason she had to be gone with “Diddy” Combs cause his antics was about to mess up her cheese. She filed separate tax returns from her hubby and therefore have nothing to do with his tax debt.

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It must be nice! There’s a Virginia businessman that’s getting boat loads of free PR, advertising, marketing and everything else related to getting attention for your business, simply because he got it mucho dinero and he’s doing a good great deed. Earl Stafford, who founded The Stafford Foundation in 2002, a private foundation, but got his bank roll from a Technology company, is planning what he’s calling the People’s Inaugural Project. His foundation bought a $1 million inauguration ball package from the JW Marriott Hotel and plans to invite disadvantaged people, wounded soldiers and others to the prime event on Pennsylvania Avenue, because he feels people from all walks of life should be able to be apart of this historic event.

I guess if you got a million to spare, peeps in D.C will make room, but for everybody else, it’s been a sellout since January 5. The package includes 300 rooms, four suites, and $200,000 worth of food and drink at the hotel overlooking the inaugural parade route near the White House. Stafford also set aside another $600,000 to stage two balls for the attendees, hopefully with all this press the prez will stop by. To choose attendees, he’s reaching out to organizations such as the National Urban League, for those that have demonstrated hope and change in their communities. Not only Americans but people from around the world, inspired by deep faith and fortune, he would like to bring the less fortunate groups into the democratic process, “those who are marginalized, those who are terminally ill, domestic violence victims, Katrina victims, those who are distressed, terminally ill, socially and economically disadvantaged, veterans who are wounded and served our country, and people from foundations, volunteers and charitable organizations that Stafford is hoping to encourage for their philanthropic work.

The guests will get the VIP treatment per Stafford the event has evolved beyond his “wildest dreams.” His wife Amanda said part of the plan was that their effort to do good in America would be contagious and that other people and other organizations would look and say, “Well, you know, things might be a little tough for us, but we can still give.” They say their has been answered with many offering to assist in anyway they can.

Their reward, to look in the faces of those that they will be able to provide the opportunity for, “Dreams do come true”.

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Madonna has settled her divorce with ex-husband Guy Ritchie by parting with at least 50 million pounds ($76 million), I know it sounds like a lot but really it was no sweat off her back. She’s worth more than $525 million all from being like a virgin. Having crazy confidence in yourself sure is nice cause her voice didn’t get her this insane amount of loot. The girl is a bad bish but $525 million, I don’t know if she’s that BAD.

The material girl got this over and done with really fast, she and husband movie director Guy Richie, married in 2000. I must say he ain’t broke, he was worth $35 million without her but $525 million, maybe he should have just tolerated A-Rod. Ok sorry, some people do draw a line in the sand and mean it. The amount she has to give him include two homes in England, she let those go too, cause she was outta there like yesterday, back to NY with Alex, as of two or three months ago. $525 million shiiiii, I may try to bust a tone after hearing that.

The last million dollar settlement in England was when Sir Paul McCartney got off the hook for $50 million. His ex, Heather Mills tried to get half his billion dollar fortune but settled for less after being battered, bruised and label a gold digging skank by the judge, press and everybody else in the world.

Y’all know I loves a bad bish, to cough up almost $90 million to get rid of one nucca for a better one, constitute baddism in my book. Team Madonna. Check out Bossip for more!

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