by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 20, 2021

Kobe Bryant Autographed Sneaker And ‘Black Mamba’ Watch Expected to Sell For $10M With $50,000 Going To Charity

With the interest in Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) growing daily and more celebrities and as industry executives become involved, it’s not a surprise that there is a planned auction of an NFT of a Kobe Bryant autographed Black Mamba package that is being auctioned on September 20.

According to WISeKey International Holding, which is a leading cybersecurity, AI (Artificial Intelligence), and IoT (Internet of Things) company, it has announced that, in conjunction with Polygon, and GDGC Enterprises, a New York-based NFT and luxury asset advisory, will take part in the NFT of Kobe Bryant Autographed Black Mamba Package being auctioned by GDGC Enterprises into its WISe.Art Platform.

Carlos Moreira, WISeKey’s CEO said in a written statement, “We are excited to have the Black Mamba NFT package auctioned through our WISe.Art platform. Our WISe.Art NFT platform is a fully fledged marketplace with its own digital currency, has the ability to include curators and multipliers, while-labeling options and special NFT designs.”

Back in 2013, the deceased Los Angeles Lakers legend signed the Black Mamba watch.

The watch features a manual winding brushed movement, 27 jewels, mono-metallic balance rotating in a one-minute tourbillon carriage, 18k rose gold and titanium case, ceramic bezel insert, ceramic bezel, skeletonized brushed dial, subsidiary dials for the chronograph and 30-minute registers, brushed serpent form around the tourbillon and registers, sapphire crystal back secured with Kobe Bryant signature, single pusher at 2 o’clock and dial and movement signed by Kobe Bryant with an 18k rose gold and titanium deployment clasp.

The auction will also consist of a limited Edition 1/3 18K Rose Gold Tourbillion Black Mamba watch, designed, and signed by Kobe Bryant, a sneaker signed by Kobe Bryant, and a custom curated digital artwork designed by New York City-based artist Moshé Douglas. The auction will go live on September 20, 2021, through the WISe.Art digital marketplace, with a starting price of $ 1,008,240.

The package has been given a value of a minimum of $10 million, according to GDGC Enterprises. They will donate $50,000 of the proceeds to the Greater Los Angeles Make-a-Wish Foundation.

“That’s going to help us probably grant an additional five wishes this year, which is so important with looking at the last year and how hard fundraising has been in our current environment with the pandemic,” said Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles President and CEO Mike Kallhoff.

NFT stands for non-fungible token and it is a unit of data stored on a digital ledger, called a blockchain, and it’s been mentioned more these days in the sports and entertainment world.

Rapper Gunna Partners with Goodr to Open Free Grocery and Clothing Store In Atlanta School
by Ashantai Hathaway

September 20, 2021

Rapper Gunna Partners with Goodr to Open Free Grocery and Clothing Store In Atlanta School

Rapper Gunna is working to make a difference in his childhood neighborhood by opening a first-of-its-kind grocery store.

The rapper partnered with Goodr to open the pop-up grocery and clothing store called Gunna’s Drip Closet and Goodr Grocery Store. The shop is located at his former Atlanta middle school and allows students and their families to get shoes, clothing, food, toiletries, and other necessities they need—at no cost.

Gunna attended Ronald E. McNair Middle School, which is located in the Fulton area, with his four brothers as a child. The school is located in a community where many children live in poverty.

11 Alive reported the store will benefit 900 students and their families for years to come. The store will be restocked weekly, and families can also go online for items their child needs allowing them to obtain a ticket for school pickup.

“It just makes me feel like I’m doing what needs to be done for my community,” shared Gunna.

Before the ribbon cutting, Gunna was awarded his own day.  South Fulton, Ga. Mayor William “Bill” Edwards announced “Gunna Kitchens Day” with an official declaration proclamation as a way to honor his achievements.

“Just like the Phoenix, rising above the ashes of adversity, Gunna is committed to giving back to the community that raised him, buffered him, sheltered him and supported him by creating Gunna’s Drip Closet and Goodr Grocery Store which is set to provide students of McNair Middle School with access to free meals, clothing and toiletries for years to come,” it reads.

Jasmine Crowe, CEO of Goodr, an Atlanta company that aims to solve the hunger crisis, shared the impact the store will have on the South Fulton residents.

“He’s providing a way of life for these families and this is something that is legendary,” said Crowe. “I don’t think anything like this has been done before in the city of Atlanta.”

Goodr fights food waste and food insecurities by organizing pop-up grocery stores that help people in need shops for fresh produce and necessities. 

“We believe that hunger isn’t a scarcity issue. It’s a logistics issue,” states the company. “Goodr provides a secure ledger that tracks an organization’s surplus food from pickup to donation, delivering real-time social and environmental impact reporting analytics. The Goodr model aims to provide a triple-win solution by improving an organization’s bottom line through charitable tax donations, reducing its greenhouse emissions from landfills and getting its edible surplus food to local communities in need.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 20, 2021

Drake Buys Stake In Dave’s Hot Chicken Restaurant Chain

Rapper Drake is ready to take his net worth to new heights by taking a minority stake in Dave’s Hot Chicken.

On the heels of scoring his 10th number one album with Certified Lover Boy, Drake went and teamed up with the likes of actor Samuel L. Jackson and Boston Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner, in becoming an investor in the food chain, Bloomberg reports.

Potentially taking a note out of the LeBron James-backed Blaze pizza, Dave’s Hot Chicken appears to be looking for more celebrity support to grow their brand. Drake has already posted up photos of himself eating chicken tenders, pickles and fries from the west coast food chain.

“I tried the food and it was amazing. After meeting the founders and hearing their story, I jumped at the opportunity to invest,” Drake said in a statement.

Dave’s Hot Chicken currently has 22 locations based in California with plans of opening up more chains in cities like Chicago and Houston. With Drake being the biggest celebrity name linked to the restaurant, the “Way 2 Sexy” rapper could help introduce Dave’s Hot Chicken to new markets.

With over 92 million followers, 10 number one albums, and international superstar status, Drake is a name any business would love to have as an investor. Drake will own less than 50% of the company while still being among the company’s biggest investors alongside Werner and Jackson.

Launched in 2017, Dave’s Hot Chicken was founded by four friends who invested $900 into just one food truck in Hollywood, Ca, Bloomberg reports. Two years later, the company got its big break when the same investors behind Blaze Pizza invested in their chicken-based business.

Dave’s Hot Chicken has a menu featuring sliders, crinkle-cut fries, and spicy tenders. The company uses social media to advertise itself and has already sold the franchise rights for more than 500 locations in the U.S. and Canada, Financial Post reports.

Drake’s latest investment shows his love for chicken. The “Hotline Bling” hitmaker recently invested in the plant-based chicken company Daring Foods, Inc.

Atatiana Jefferson’s Family Sues City For Trauma Nephew Suffered Watching Fatal Shooting
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 20, 2021

Atatiana Jefferson’s Family Sues City For Trauma Nephew Suffered Watching Fatal Shooting

It’s nearing two years since Atatiana Jefferson was fatally shot by a former cop while inside of her home. After filing a wrongful death lawsuit last year, Jefferson’s family has launched a new lawsuit for the trauma suffered by her nephew.

On Wednesday, Jefferson’s family filed a federal lawsuit against the former officer and the city of Fort Worth for the emotional trauma inflicted on Jefferson’s now 10-year-old nephew Zion Carr who was inside her home when she was fatally shot, Star-Telegram reports.

“At the age of 8,” the child “was forced to watch the murder of his aunt, Atatiana Jefferson, at the hands of Fort Worth Police.”

It was in October 2019 when Jefferson was home with her nephew playing video games. Jefferson had her front door open to allow in the fresh Autumn breeze. At the time, former officer Aaron Dean, was responding to a call that came in at 2:25 am from a neighbor who expressed concern about Jefferson’s front door being open.

Dean and another officer went around the backyard and shone his flashlight through Jefferson’s window. Out of her own concern, she grabbed a gun and approached the window after hearing people outside. Upon seeing Jefferson, Dean fired a fatal shot killing her while her nephew was in the same room.

The latest suit was filed by Jefferson’s sister and the child’s mother Amber Carr. Listed as defendants are the city of Fort Worth, former officer Aaron Dean, former Police Chief Ed Kraus and former Mayor Betsy Price.

It accuses the city of inflicting trauma on young Zion and says the Fort Worth police department “has displayed a consistent and systematic failure to properly train and supervise its officers on the proper use of force.”

Since the fatal shooting, Dean was fired and charged with murder. He has been out on $200,000 bond since October 2019, PBS reports.

#EmmysSoWhite, Emmys Blasted After No Actors of Color Win Any of The 12 Main Categories
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 20, 2021

#EmmysSoWhite, Emmys Blasted After No Actors of Color Win Any of The 12 Main Categories

The Emmy Awards aired on Sunday night and was praised for its diverse lineup of hosts and presenters. But when it came to the list of award winners, there wasn’t much diversity displayed in the 12 main categories.

In a not too surprising move, only white actors won all 12 lead and supporting acting categories with shows like The Crown and Ted Lasso sweeping the award show, BuzzFeed reports.

While it took social media hashtags like #OscarsSoWhite to bring more diversity to the Academy Awards, Sunday nights Emmy Awards show that there’s still a long way to go. It was the first time where performers of color made up 44% of the acting nominations for the Emmys, as noted by The Hollywood Reporter.

Actresses MJ Rodriguez and Rosie Perez were within the 37.5% of Afro Latinas helping to make an increase in representation this year compared to the 2020 show. Rodgriguez would have made history as the first transgender performer to win a lead actress award. However, the award went to The Crown‘s Olivia Colman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQTb9jKfrXI

But despite their nominations, along with the likes of Bridgerton’s Regé-Jean Page, and the late Michael K. Williams for Lovecraft Country, they all went home empty-handed.

While there were historic wins for the likes of Maya Rudolph, RuPaul, and Michaela Coel, there weren’t many victories for entertainers of color. As a result, many sounded off on Twitter about the Emmys missing the mark and dubbed the new #EmmysSoWhite hashtag.

“The #Emmys really said representation but only the nominees. #EmmysSoWhite,” one Twitter user said.

“Attempting to increase diversity by having POC as host and 90% of the presenters, but only giving awards to white folks isn’t a great look for the #Emmys,” added someone else.

“The emmys, predictably, chose white comfort,” said writer Alex Jung.

https://twitter.com/e_alexjung/status/1439806599191728132?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1439806599191728132%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeednews.com%2Farticle%2Fellendurney%2Femmys-so-white-academy-failed-to-award-any-actors-of-color

““Emmys do this every year: Nominate a diverse selection of our faves, only to give them to the same white actors and/or stories,” one viewer said. “Middle-aged white folks in conflict or British period pieces will win over nuanced, multi-dimensional plots involving characters of color.”

Hopefully, the Emmy committee is taking notes from social media and viewers will get to see more diversity among the winners next year. It took a proposed boycott to get the Oscars to get it together. Maybe the Emmys might need that same energy.

‘It’s Not An Easy Fight’: Wendy Williams’ Brother Gives An Update On Her Hospitalization
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 20, 2021

‘It’s Not An Easy Fight’: Wendy Williams’ Brother Gives An Update On Her Hospitalization

The new season of The Wendy Williams Show has been delayed after the host tested positive for COVID-19 before voluntarily admitting herself for a psychiatric evaluation.

As many spectate on Wendy’s latest health concerns, her brother Tommy Williams recently gave her fans an update on his sister’s condition. Tommy took to his YouTube podcast to let Wendy supporters know she’s pushing through.

“I did speak with Wendy, she’s stabilized, she’s doing alright, you know I can’t give all the blow by blows I told her I’ll never proceed her voice through the show,” Tommy said.

“But I do thank you all for all the kind words, I really do believe and have the faith that Wendy’s going to make it.”

However, the tone of his update wasn’t the most positive. Tommy noted how challenging it is for Wendy to stay healthy.

“It’s not an easy fight,” Tommy continued. “It’s not one that individuals always win. Sadly, come November we are on the anniversary of my mother passing.”

Last Tuesday, TMZ revealed Wendy voluntarily admitted herself into an NYC hospital for a psych evaluation. The hospitalization came after the talk show hosts’ COVID diagnosis was confirmed.

Wendy was gearing up to host a new season of her popular daytime talk show prior to falling ill. She has been transparent about her struggles with drug abuse and ailments like Graves disease dating back to 1999. In 2017, Wendy infamously passed out during the show’s Halloween episode. It was later attributed to dehydration.

Around the time she was going through a highly publicized divorce from her husband of 20 years, Wendy admitted herself into a sober house and admitted it on her show.

“I have to tell you, I’ve been dealing with issues with addiction, alcoholism, and I have a whole new life that I planned for myself and my son,” she told her audience.

“Believe me you, when you lay in a room with no TV and four gray walls all day and no telephone… and you lay there and you think about your life – this is my life in the sober house – it’s one of the best things, honestly, that could have ever happened to me.”

Tyra Banks Criticized For Inviting Olivia Jade To ‘Dancing With The Stars’ After Parents’ College Admissions Bribery Scandal
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 20, 2021

Tyra Banks Criticized For Inviting Olivia Jade To ‘Dancing With The Stars’ After Parents’ College Admissions Bribery Scandal

The executive producer of the dance competition series, “Dancing with the Stars” Tyra Banks is being criticized for defending the choice of inviting a contestant whose family was involved in a high-profile college admission scandal two years ago.

The popular dance competition show, ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” is returning for the current season but not without controversy before the first taping. One of the contestants scheduled to appear this season is a YouTube star who also happens to be the daughter of two parents who were caught in a college admissions scandal back in 2019.

The backstory is that YouTube content creator, 21-year-old Olivia Jade , whose parents are actress Lori Loughlin and designer Mossimo Giannulli, is scheduled to be a contestant on this season’s “Dancing With The Stars.”

In 2019, the married couple was caught up in a high-profile college admissions scandal because they gave $500,000 to a fixer so that their two daughters, Olivia Jade and her sister Bella, could gain entry into the prestigious University of Southern California. Although the girls didn’t play a sport, they were listed as members of the school’s rowing team.

The uproar is due to the show “rewarding” Giannulli with an appearance after the scandal she and her family were involved in.

Banks made an appearance on “Entertainment Tonight,” to defend the decision to have Giannulli on the upcoming season.


“I think Olivia is so brave. I think people don’t know her, they know what happened to her,” Banks expressed in the interview. “She has said that she did not know about what was going on and it’s really sad, and it’s very hurtful when something publicly happens but you had nothing to do with it. So I trust that she says she didn’t know.

“She is having to deal with that and I think she’s coming to Dancing With the Stars to be able to tell her story and show her vulnerability. And is she a celebrity? Not traditionally, but what is a celebrity today? If that’s the case then there’s no Instagram influencer that is a celebrity. We are in a whole different world and celebrity has taken a turn and a change. If people are talking about you, you’re famous. And you can be on Dancing With the Stars.”

But one fan didn’t buy it saying Banks was “so wrong.”

Another person called Banks “pathetic.”

Loughlin pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and was sentenced to two months at Federal Correctional Institution Victorville, a minimum-security federal facility in Dublin, California. Mossimo Giannulli also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and was sentenced to five months at a federal prison in Lompoc, Near Santa Barbara, California.

Gabby Petito’s Fiancé Brian Laundrie Not Being Arrested Points To White Privilege
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 20, 2021

Gabby Petito’s Fiancé Brian Laundrie Not Being Arrested Points To White Privilege

Police are searching the family home of Brian Laundrie after the likely remains of his fiancé Gabby Petito were found in a Wyoming camping site.

On Monday, the FBI entered Laundrie’s parents’ home in Florida for a “court-authorized search warrant,” CNN reports. Laundrie has so far been successful with evading arrest after returning to his Florida some without Petito earlier this month.

Petito and Laundrie set out on a cross-country trip in July but it ended on August 12 after police in Moab, Utah, responded to a report of a “domestic problem” between the couple, News One reports. The two reportedly had “some sort of argument” that turned physical. When cops arrived, no one was arrested and instead, the two were separated with cops even putting Laundrie into a hotel.

Laundrie returned home on September 1, but Petito didn’t. Laundrie’s attorney Steven Bertolino said Laundrie left with a backpack, ABC7 reports. After her parents reported her missing on September 11, Laundrie has declined to speak with investigators and went missing last week.

When considering the facts surrounding the case, it’s hard for someone of color to imagine going through a situation of this type and avoiding any type of arrest. Some have taken to social media to question the white privilege that appears to be on display in the Petito case.

“Black men get killed by police weekly for driving while black,” Thomas Thai said on Twitter. “#BrianLaundrie, a white man, drives his fiance’s van across the country while she’s missing, is allowed to chill with his parents, & mysteriously vanishes. How would Brian be treated if he was black?”

He followed up by sharing a link to an article that delved into why missing people of color get little to no media attention compared to white people.

“Why don’t they search for women of color like this also? Lots of questions,” someone said in response.

With Laundrie still not being in police custody, and the story getting nationwide attention that scores of missing people of color haven’t received, it appears to be one of the latest occurrences that highlight issues of white privilege in America.

by Seimond London

September 20, 2021

The Ultimate Road Trip: The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder Has Something for Everyone in the Family, Even Pets

The Ultimate Road Trip

“Inspired by Nissan Pathfinder, writer Chris Atwell has written a series about the fictional Anderson Family and imagined the adventures they might have on a summer road trip with Pathfinder. The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this article are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, or entities is intended or should be inferred.”

_____________________________________________________________________

It’s a Dog’s Life

The scale and comfort of the all-new Pathfinder inspired the Andersons to make an important decision about their long-planned road trip—they decided to bring their dog, Juno, along. Weeks on the road with a mid-sized retriever can pose challenges. Fortunately, the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder’s storage capacity can handle her pet accessories and so much more. The passenger space provides plenty of room for Juno to nap and window watch. Juno’s rewards for being such a good dog are pet-friendly excursions like this one. Teenage son, Zane, picks up the story…

We’ve been on the road in the all-new Pathfinder for a couple of weeks now, and I have to say that Juno is handling it great. Oh, yeah, Juno is our dog—an 8-year-old black lab who loves car trips! It’s as if she knows there’s always something fun at the end of it. Except when it’s the vet’s office or the groomers, but that’s another story.

I think Mom and Dad were a little worried about taking Juno on such a long road trip, but in the end, they decided we couldn’t leave without her. The all-new Pathfinder has plenty of room for her to settle in comfortably with the five of us—four now that we’ve dropped off my sister Malena at college for her freshman year. And don’t think Juno doesn’t love having a second-row chair with heated seats to herself now—and access to a window!

Dad explained that we couldn’t count on every stop along the way being “dog friendly,” so we made arrangements for those activities where she couldn’t join the fun, like last week’s kayaking trip. For Juno, the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder is a big “Yes,”; but boats on the water are an absolute “No!”

Today, though, was all about Juno! We drove the Pathfinder from Malena’s college to Rock City, Tennessee, up on Lookout Mountain, an elevation of 1700 ft. I know that because Dad kept bragging about how smoothly the Pathfinder handles mountain roads, with its seven drive and terrain modes available, and how the 20-inch wheels securely gripped the surface. Yeah, Dad, we get it.

Anyway, the Rock City Park welcomes dogs, so long as they’re leashed, and Juno made the most of it. The hiking trail makes for some great mountain views, and she was excited to explore, stretch her legs, and make friends with the other dogs. I mean, she would have loved to chase the squirrels and rabbits, but she’s a good girl and kept the antics to a minimum.

Afterward, she jumped back in the Pathfinder and settled into her new favorite seat, ready for the next “dog-friendly” adventure—and treats.

  • Cargo-area under-floor storage:  Find even more room for adventure, thanks to out-of-sight cargo storage space that’s easy to clean. 
  • Cargo and load capacity limited by weight and distribution. Always secure cargo. Heavy loading of the vehicle with cargo, especially on the roof, will affect the handling and stability of the vehicle.

Haitian Migrants Receive Harsh Treatment At U.S.-Mexico Border From Customs And Border Protection
by Derek Major

September 20, 2021

Haitian Migrants Receive Harsh Treatment At U.S.-Mexico Border From Customs And Border Protection

Reuters – A U.S. law enforcement officer on horseback wielded what appeared to be a lariat, whipping it close to the face of a Haitian migrant wading in the Rio Grande carrying a plastic bag of food.

It was just one desperate moment in a few hours of such scenes along the Rio Grande on Sunday.

Hundreds of Haitian migrants who have been camping under a bridge in the Texas town of Del Rio were trying to bring food and other supplies from Ciudad Acuña in the Mexican state of Coahuila, while U.S. officials have stepped up security at the border and started flying migrants out of the area, some to Haiti.

Migrants said their squalid encampment under a bridge on the U.S. side of the river was short of supplies. U.S. officials over the last few days had let migrants cross back and forth at a shallow point of the river. On Sunday, however, they told migrants they would not be able to return to the U.S. side if they ventured into Mexico.

“We’re trapped,” said Joncito Jean, 37, who had spent three days sleeping on a sheet on the ground with his wife and children, ages 3 and 4. He said he regretted the decision to come.

“There are no humane conditions… We have to break out to buy water.”

More than 12,000 Haitian migrants, have been gathering under the bridge in recent days, awaiting immigration processing. Instead, U.S. officials began removing several thousand people from the camp over the weekend, including some who were later seen arriving in Haiti.

Still, several people who spoke to Reuters, most of whom traveled with their children, said they would take their chances to try to stay in the United States.

Mackenley Pearre, 25, left impoverished Haiti in July with his cousin, wife and 2-year-old daughter due to the worsening violence and inability to find work as an electrician. In July, Haiti’s president Jovenel Moise was assassinated, and in August a major earthquake and powerful storm hit the country.

“You have to do something to not die of hunger,” he said, eating a tamale given to him by a local resident on the Mexican side, one of several people who said they felt moved to help.

At a news conference in Del Rio Sunday, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz said resources were available.

“We are providing food, water, portable toilets, towels, emergency medical technicians are available for first aid,” Ortiz said.

“Over the next 6 to 7 days our goal is to process the 12,662 migrants that we have underneath that bridge as quickly as we possibly can,” Ortiz said. “What we want to make sure is that we deter the migrants from coming into the region so we can manage the folks that are under the bridge at this point.”

At the border, Haitian migrants waded deeper to try to evade law enforcement. Mostly men, many barefoot and in boxers, attempted trickier crossings through waist-deep water. Some migrants crossed at another point where water reached their necks.

Reuters journalists saw mounted officers wearing cowboy hats and vests emblazoned with “POLICE U.S. BORDER PATROL” blocking the path of migrants scrambling up the U.S. embankment carrying plastic bags and cardboard boxes.

After one of the officers in the vests unfurled a cord resembling a lariat like a whip and steered his horse to block the migrants, one tumbled back into the water. He got up and tried again, but the officer swung the cord again near his face.

In another incident, the same officer grabbed the back of the shirt of a migrant trying to run up the bank with bags of food.

Both people appeared to eventually slip past while the officers tried to hold back migrants who were scattering in all directions. A group of some two dozen people were later seen seated on the U.S. side of the river’s edge behind yellow tape near several patrol cars.

(Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon, Alberto Fajardo and Daniel Becerril in Ciudad Acuña; Alexandra Ulmer in Del Rio. Editing by Donna Bryson and Diane Craft)

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