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Many of us females of the new millennium were raised to be independent women and not to rely on a man for anything. But has that caused us now to be undersirable and single? Have we become too independent?

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If you spend too much time in front of the TV or computer, no matter how much you exercise, you may be causing damage to your heart.

People who spent at least four hours per day watching TV, playing video games, or using a computer for fun were more than twice as likely as those who kept their recreational “screen time” under two hours to experience a heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular problem, the study found. Couch potatoes were also about 50 percent more likely to die of any cause during the four-year study.

The link between screen time and heart problems barely changed when the researchers factored in the amount of moderate-to-vigorous exercise the study participants did, suggesting that the health benefits of exercise don’t cancel out all that time in front of the tube or computer. (The researchers also controlled for obesity, smoking, diabetes, social class, and other factors.)

The study followed 8,800 adults with no history of heart disease for more than six years. Compared to those who watched less than two hours of TV per day, people who watched four hours or more were 80% more likely to die from heart disease and 46% more likely to die from any cause. All told, 284 people died during the study.

Each additional hour spent in front of the TV increased the risk of dying from heart disease by 18% and the overall risk of death by 11%, according to the study.

Another problem with watching TV too much or spending too much time in front of the computer has to do with snacking.  A lot of people snack while they are doing either activity.  So not only are people sitting when they could be moving, but they are putting junk in their body instead of healthy food.

I know I am guilty.  I work at a computer all day and then go home at night and put more time in the computer.  I am not real big on watching TV, but I would be a little afraid to actually figure out how much time I spend on the computer.  I think if everyone would even cut a half hour off their TV/computer time and do some type of activity, we would have healthier people.  I have been trying to get in at least 30 minutes of activity a day.  I just started back to exercising the end last week, but I am already feeling the benefits.   I have also been trying to cut out the junk food.  It is just way to easy to sit in front of the computer or TV and grab a bag of chips and a pop or some other kind of unhealthy food.

Source: CNN.com, Health.com

Posted by Cheryl Francis of Black Diamond’s Book Reviews.com

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Now bare with me here, I will not try to be so deep with this, that is not my nature, but I would like to lightly touch on our community’s or some in our community’s issues with The Cosby show.  I was reading an article about Katie Couric’s statement that, “Muslims need their own Cosby Show”.  Now I thought this was interesting (and I agree Muslim’s in America need better representation on film & TV), until the article turned into a bashing of the Cosby Show. Yes, I am a fan and yes I understand the points, but it grates my nerves.

I have heard everything from, 1. The show did not touch on the issues in the Black Community 2. The show does not represent us…(that statement in itself is not factual) 3. The show was white washed….and so on and so on.

Here is my “confusion” (please believe, when I say confused, I really am not) The Cosby show premiered in the 80’s during a historic time of change, from Reganism, to the birth of Hip Hop, to issues within our community from drugs, assaults, rise of single parent homes and then some.  Now, here’s my thing, when did it become Bill’s responsibility to speak on the issues or even cater his show on the depressive state or negative state of our community, especially when you already had shows prior to his such as, Good Times (which was based in the projects), What’s Happening and even Cosby’s own Fat Albert, which touched on the very issues afflicting the black community at that time and even into the 80’s in a comedic way? So enlighten me. The problem with The Cosby Show is what again? The fact that it was a comedic show that decided to go against the grain and showcase Black Love, family stability with some dysfunctions (if you really paid attention), etc.

The Cosby Show in itself was historic, in finally putting another face on Black America by sharing the stories of some of those who came from middle America and if I am wrong, he even briefly touched on sharing the stories (in a comedic way) of us who may have come from hard areas and was able to move from such, to going to college.  He even had his own son (Theo) work within our supposed “dangerous” communities and help our  supposed “at need children”.  So again…why are we so intent on devaluing a show that ushered in a changed that was sorely needed?  Tell me why our stories about Black Families today aren’t being told and if they are in a positive way, we complain and say we need more blood, fighting, “slang”, etc.?

We can’t even keep positive shows that are tailored to us, in primetime or in film due to that mentality. So again, what is the issue? Instead of degrading The Cosby show, we need to create more and think outside of the box and also tell the story of the, quote on quote, hood as well. We are a multifaceted community, we come from every life, even internationally. Can we get it together and swallow our bourgeois ways and focus on telling our stories, all of them.

~Icypoetress

Source: Black Voices

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I am thoroughly disgusted by my city. Tears spring to my eyes at the audacity of my ancestors fighting to bring us to a place of freedom, only to have idiots hop, skip and jump at a chance in reacting something so horrific. My ancestors are rolling in their graves.  My people…wow. I’m sure many are saying, they are doing this to know the pain and that they are respecting the past in this… Educate…create dialog, but reenacting a head on Slave Auction? I can not believe this…

This getting approved in St. Louis Missouri is no shock. My state, my city has a long history of racism and even now blanketed racism is still alive.  Everyday in throughout STL, mainly in East St. Louis, North County and downtown St. Louis, black men are targeted. If you are black male driving in the “wealthy” parts of STL you have a high chance of being pulled over DWB…if you are just going home from work and your in North County….the Black Jack area…you have a high chance of being pulled over. It never ends. We are being gunned down, we are being pulled over…Yet my people are backing this?  You want the chains on you? You want the tearing flesh and wounds from them chains? Okay…*spits on my city* I’m done….

“As long as the mind is enslaved, the body can never be free. Psychological freedom, a firm sense of self-esteem, is the most powerful weapon against the long night of physical slavery.”

MARTIN LUTHER KING, speech, Aug. 16, 1967

~Icypoetress

Source: Riverfront Times

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