Facebook plans to share your phone numbers and addresses

If you did not know, facebook says that it will continue to move forward with its plans to share your home addresses and phone numbers with 3^rd party sites.  According to an article  on huffington.post.com,  Facebook will be moving forward with a controversial plan to give third-party developers and external websites the ability to access users' home addresses and cellphone numbers in the face of criticism from privacy experts, users, and even congressmen.

Facebook quietly announced the new policy in a note posted to its Developer Blog in January. It suspended the feature just three days later following user outcry, while promising that it would be "re-enabling this improved feature in the next few weeks."

If you would like to read more on this article please click below:
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Will you continue to use facebook if your information is made available to 3^rd party sites although you (the user) will have the capability to authorize such applications?  I think it may be time for me to look for other social networking sites because facebook is soon going to become a part of the government's way of tracking individuals.

Why the Glorification of Thug life in Hip-hop music contributes to lack of respect in the Black Community?

-Romaro Spivey

After work the other day I was watching BET’s 106 and Park and the number 3 video came on which was Welcome to my hood by Dj Khaled. Normally, I would just turn but this time I decided to listen to the lyrics and watch the video. Although I found the beat to be catching I found the lyrics to be so negatively influential.  Here we have a song that is glorifying the “HOOD” as being something good because it is the hot spot, the place where N*ggas rob, cable is stole, and half of the people on papers (probation for some criminal activity).  Here are few lyrics from the song:

(part of Plies’ verse): If you aint from the hood, bitch, than stop impersonating us
And tell congress when you see 'em I'm stealin' cable
And leave the D-Boys alone 'cause they motivate us
And why is the half of my whole hood on papers
Some are on house arrest, some are on child support
Some of 'em did they bit, the other half waiting to go to court
Mr Landlord we gon bust your ass with an eviction note
Better have the police with you dog, if you came to repo

(part of Ric Ross’ verse) I got possession of a federal offence
I'm talking pressure in my criminal intent
So wear ya vest's and I'm still gon' stunt
Like it aint no tomorrow, f-ck ya house note n-gga
Blow that bitch on a bottle

I understand that this is America and we are entitled to freedom of speech; however, in a day and time when so many of our young Black men are being raised without fathers and more by the music and the streets, words like these become implanted in their heads as the “Thing to do” and so the cycle continues.  My question is, why do we glorify thug behavior? Why is it viewed as a norm to go against the law rather than respect it? Where is the respect for culture and self in the Black community as far as hip-hop today goes? Share your thoughts.

Romaro Spivey

Lyrics courtesy: http://www.metrolyrics.com/welcome-to-my-hood-lyrics-dj-khaled.html

Image: tulsapolice.org

Grizzlies Playoff run hopeful with Veterans

Just how much are the Grizzlies all in on making a strong playoff push?
All one needs to look at is management's move to multiply the team's experience in a major way.
A year ago today, the Grizzlies took the court with two players having appeared in a grand total of 20 playoff games. The roster suddenly is more robust with postseason familiarity as the Griz prepare to face the San Antonio Spurs -- a possible first-round opponent -- tonight in FedExForum.
While it might not seem significant in comparison to their direct Western Conference opponents, the otherwise youthful Griz now have four players with a combined 169 games of playoff experience playing significant minutes.
The Griz went to battle with Zach Randolph and Marcus Williams as the only playoff-tested players during the latter stages of the regular season last year. Randolph (eight playoff games) is now aided by Shane Battier (38), Tony Allen (56) and Jason Williams (67) as the Griz attempt to earn a postseason berth for the first time since 2006.
"That's extremely important," Griz general manager Chris Wallace said. "Not only are there more options, but there's experience that's been around winning. Those guys have been there. They've seen everything. They are not going to get rattled. And your younger players understand they've been there as well. It's something they know and respect. We've got a good group of young players, but at some point in time we had to get older."
If the Griz add forward Leon Powe, that would give them 28 more games of playoff experience. Powe is expected to clear waivers today after Cleveland released him last week, and Memphis is one of the teams he's seriously considering.
The Griz are interested in Powe as well as a few other buyout candidates. Wallace said the Griz intend to add another veteran power forward who can also play center if they can find the right fit.
"If you're going to be a good team," Wallace said, "you've got to have various weapons."
Either way, the Griz are markedly more equipped to take a giant step toward satisfying team owner Michael Heisley's playoff guarantee.
"We are getting better," Griz coach Lionel Hollins said. "When you add veteran players that have been on a championship level, the communication is better. They help people that don't communicate, and they are in the rotation. Adding Tony Allen, adding Shane and J-Will was needed for our young players in order to really go forward."
Grizzlies vs. Spurs
When, where: 7 p.m. today at FedExForum
TV, radio: SportSouth, WRBO-FM 103.5

Image: Darren Abate, Associated Press
Source: www.commercialappeal.com