The 20th century author was also a formidable science fiction critic.
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Saturday, February 29, 2020
Shaquille O’Neal and His Mother Lucille Featured In Ad Campaign Together
If you think former basketball player Shaquille O’Neal is going away anytime soon… Think again! The basketball analyst, business man and TV commentator is featured in another commercial that pairs him up with his mother, Lucille O’Neal.
A family’s legacy is important and is at the core of a new campaign by printing company Epson. The global technology leader has launched an ad campaign that features Lucille and Shaquille, which shows and highlights the bond between a mother and her son as they reminisce childhood memories through their old photos.
“Our family enjoys so many great experiences together. My mom has always offered endless love and has made sure to regularly collect our childhood photos,” said Shaquille O’Neal in a press release. “But even the most organized mother needs a little help saving the most important memories. The Epson FastFoto makes it easy to capture and share these memories.”
The new “Preserve What’s Priceless” campaign will be shown and featured across a variety of digital and social media platforms. Even making Lucille O’Neal an Honorary “Chief Memory Officer” and ambassador for Epson’s line of FastFoto products.
“Family has always come first for me and I will forever cherish the memories we have together,” said Lucille O’Neal. “When Shaquille first mentioned the Epson FastFoto, I knew right away that this was a product that I could stand behind. Partnering with Epson allows me to show others how easy it is to preserve their memories.”
The campaign showcases the ease and benefits of preserving, enhancing, organizing, and sharing irreplaceable family memories using Epson’s FastFoto® FF-680W High-Speed Photo and Document Scanning System.
“The bond between Shaquille and Lucille echoes the closeness shared by so many families and friends, making them both ideal ambassadors for Epson’s ‘Preserve What’s Priceless’ campaign,” said Dan Murphy, head of international marketing communications, Epson America, Inc. “Special moments occur every day and grow over time to create a family’s legacy. Moreover, reliving the special moments through an old photo is something we can all relate to, and we hope the campaign encourages everyone to preserve their own memories. As Lucille shares in our new campaign, easily and quickly converting your most-prized photographs to digital with FastFoto truly ‘Preserves What’s Priceless’.”
Check this link to find out more about the Epson FastFoto Scanning solutions.
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Trump Campaign To Open Offices In 15 Black Communities
Despite the lack of concern for the Black community, we have to give the Trump campaign credit for trying to gain support from us. President Donald Trump is planning on opening offices in 15 Black communities according to National Public Radio.
President Trump’s re-election campaign has announced this week that it plans on opening 15 community centers in critical battleground states next month to gain support among Black people heading into the 2020 election. “We see the numbers coming up in the polls and the demand on the ground when we do these types of events, so it’s really important that we take this next step and really bring those voters into the party,” Katrina Pierson, a senior Trump campaign adviser tells NPR.
The Trump campaign sees an opportunity to show Black voters that Democrats have taken black voters for granted. According to The Hill, a Trump campaign official said their internal polling sees a rise in the support of President Trump, particularly in the cities where they plan on placing the first wave of community centers. The official states that Trump’s black support in those cities range between 15 to 30 percent.
“The Democratic Party has taken advantage of the black vote for a long time,” the campaign official told The Hill. “They’ve been able to get a high percentage of the vote. We’re able to communicate directly with a lot of these voters and they’re seeing the promises made in the past have not come true. A lot of the people who have promised them things have failed to live up to those promises.”
The plan is to gear the conversation towards criminal justice reform, investments in urban opportunity zones and historically black colleges and also the low unemployment rate for black people as evidence of Trump’s commitment to policies that benefit Black people.
“Last time it was ‘What the hell do you have to lose?’” said Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, who is married to the president’s daughter Ivanka and acts as an advisor. “Now you show them what they’ve gained from President Trump and what more they can gain if they get four more years of President Trump.”
“Republicans haven’t even gone in to deliver their message. Now we have a Republican who is actually going to the community to deliver the message and ask for the vote,” said senior campaign adviser Katrina Pierson tells NBC News. “It’s the same concept as being asleep for so long to the truth and now you are awake.”
The first wave of offices will be opened in Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and Miami, Fla.; Atlanta; Detroit; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greensboro, N.C.; and Milwaukee.
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Is Debra Lee Considering Launching A Tech Fund to Back Women of Color?
Debra Lee, the former CEO of BET, recently hinted at the idea of starting a black women tech fund at the Upfront Summit in Pasadena, CA, according to Yahoo! Finance.
Lee was first asked by reporter Julia Boorstin about California’s mandate that boards of directors overseeing public companies include women; a law that passed in late 2018 that is being considered in numerous other states. Boorstin then asked about Goldman Sachs’s announcement from Davos that beginning in July, it won’t take public any company that doesn’t have at least one “diverse” board member, with a particular focus on women.
The initiative would have cost Goldman up to $101 million in underwriting fees from as many as 18 U.S. IPOs had the policy been effective in 2019, according to a new analysis by Bloomberg Law. That’s an estimated one-third of the $318.68 million that Goldman earned in advisory fees from the 59 U.S. IPOs it underwrote last year.
“I mean, we’ve been talking about this for so long that I understand why they did it,” Lee answered. “I think both initiatives are a good thing, because the companies aren’t going to do it. We’ve been talking about it for 30 years, and for a company to have a board now with no women or no people of color, they should be truly embarrassed. But there’s still a lot out there . . . it’s sad to see that we have to implement either, you know–California, Goldman–but we really have to hold these companies’ feet to the fire.”
The former BET chairman also hinted that she and others of her powerful friends are talking about creating a fund that would support women of color in tech. Boorstin then took the opportunity to joke around with Lee. “So if you do create a fund, perhaps there’s some potential LPs [you could talk with here].”
“I would love that,” said Lee. “If you all know of anyone…”
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Friday, February 28, 2020
Changes To Medicare Premiums In 2020
Medicare Premium Differences in 2020
Medicare premiums are on the rise. For seniors living on a retirement income, it’s important to know where the increase in cost is coming from. More importantly, it’s essential to learn how you can keep your monthly premiums as low as possible without sacrificing quality healthcare coverage. We will provide a cost breakdown for 2020 and will help you determine how you can save while still ensuring maximum coverage.
Medicare Deductibles 2020
Original Medicare comes in four parts – Part A, B, C, and D.
Part A: Covers hospital stays and expenses. Part A is automatically applied to anyone with Medicare.
Part B: Covers doctor expenses. Part B is optional but highly recommended.
Part C: Covers hospital, doctor, and often prescription drugs. Part C is optional, known as Medicare Advantage, and may help reduce overall healthcare costs.
Part D: Covers prescription drugs. Part D is optional but highly recommended.
Part B, C, and D all have deductibles.
Part A is usually free unless the person applying has worked less than 30 quarters and did not contribute to social security payments.
All premiums are adjusted based on income and change yearly. For 2020, all premiums will increase regardless of your income bracket.
Cost Adjustments
Here is a brief look at changes from 2019 to 2020 Medicare costs.
| Part | 2019 Cost | 2020 Cost |
| Part A Premium | Usually free* | Usually free* |
| Part A Deductible | $1,364 deductible per benefit period | $1,408 deductible per benefit period |
| Part A Coinsurance per benefit period | Days 1-60: $0 per day | Days 1-60: $0 per day |
| Days 61-90: $341 per day | Days 61-90: $352 per day | |
| Days 91+: $682 per “lifetime reserve” day up to 60 days | Days 91+: $704 per “lifetime reserve” day up to 60 days | |
| After lifetime reserve: All costs | After lifetime reserve: All costs | |
| Part B Premium | $135.50+ | $144.60+ |
| Part B Deductible | $185 | $198 |
| Part B Coinsurance per benefit period | 20% after deductible is met | 20% after deductible is met |
| Part C Premium | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Part D Premium | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
*To qualify for free Part A Medicare coverage, an individual must have worked and contributed payment toward social security benefits for a minimum of 30 quarters or 7.5 years.
Medicare Part B Premiums 2020
Knowing how much you’ll be expected to pay for healthcare premiums is important when living on a fixed income. To determine the cost of your Part B premium you’ll need to check your 2018 tax information, as your income from two years prior determines 2020 premium costs.
| If your yearly income for 2018 was: | Your 2020 premium will be: | ||
| Individual filing | Married filing jointly | Married filing separately | |
| $87,000 or less | $174,000 or less | $87,000 or less | $144.60 |
| $87,001 to $109,000 | $174,001 to $218,000 | N/A | $202.40 |
| $109,001 to $136,000 | $218,001 to $272,000 | N/A | $289.20 |
| $136,001 to $163,000 | $272,001 to $326,000 | N/A | $376.00 |
| $163,001 to $499,999 | $326,001 to $649,999 | $87,001 to $412,999 | $426.70 |
| $500,000 + | $750,000 + | $413,000 + | $491.60 |
Part D Premium 2020
The same rules apply for your Part D coverage. Premium costs are associated with your 2018 tax return and vary by plan. The change for 2020 is that, depending on your income level, you will cover the cost of your Part D premium in addition to a surcharge. A higher income results in a greater surcharge. Here is a general estimate:
| If your yearly income for 2018 was: | Your 2020 Premium will be: | ||
| Individual filing | Married filing jointly | Married filing separately | |
| $87,000 or less | $174,000 or less | $87,000 or less | Plan premium only |
| $87,001 to $109,000 | $174,001 to $218,000 | N/A | Plan premium + $12.20 |
| $109,001 to $136,000 | $218,001 to $272,000 | N/A | Plan premium + $31.50 |
| $136,001 to $163,000 | $272,001 to $326,000 | N/A | Plan premium + $50.70 |
| $163,001 to $499,999 | $326,001 to $649,999 | $87,001 to $412,999 | Plan premium + $70.00 |
| $500,000 + | $750,000 + | $413,000 + | Plan premium + $76.40 |
Income Changes
If changes in your income have occurred, call the Social Security office and submit proper documentation so you won’t have to pay more than necessary. Applicable changes include:
- Marriage, divorce, or widowhood.
- One or both parties stop working or reduce working hours.
- Loss of income-producing property due to natural disaster or another uncontrolled event.
- One or both parties experience ceasing, termination, or reorganization of an employer’s pension plan.
- One or both parties receive a settlement from an employer or former employer due to an employer’s business closing, bankruptcy, or reorganization.
Ways To Save On Medicare Costs
If you’re one of the 7.5 million seniors struggling to afford healthcare necessities like prescription drug coverage, there are savvy ways to save.
Medicare Advantage or Part C
Original Medicare Parts A and B only cover hospital and doctor fees, as seen in the first chart in this article. Unfortunately, this means necessities such as vision, dental, and hearing coverage are not included. If you want a prescription drug plan, you’ll need to purchase a separate plan, either Part D or a Medicare Advantage plan.
With a Medicare Advantage plan, you apply for Part A and B coverage, pay for it together and often receive extras such as vision, dental, and drug coverage. Here’s a snapshot of plan differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage in 2020.
| ORIGINAL MEDICARE | MEDICARE ADVANTAGE | |
| Coverage | Part A and B | Part A, B, D + vision, dental, and hearing* |
| Maximum Out-of-Pocket Costs | No Maximum on OOP costs | Yearly limit on OOP costs. After OOP limit, members pay nothing. |
| Doctors and Hospitals | Any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare | Doctors and hospitals in your plan’s network. Out-of-network doctors and hospitals may incur higher costs. |
| Premiums | Part A – No premium
Part B – Around $144.60+/mo. |
Part B – Around $144.60+/mo. + plans start as low as $0/mo. |
| Deductibles | Part A – Around $1,408
Part B – Around $198 |
Deductibles and copays vary |
| Prescription Drug Coverage | Must purchase Part D or standalone drug coverage | Varies by plan |
*Not all Medicare Advantage plans cover vision, dental, and hearing.
The biggest savings when choosing a Medicare Advantage plan is the included extras such as vision, dental, hearing, and drug coverage. Often, your Medicare Advantage premium will cost less than if you purchased Part A, B, D, and a hearing or vision plan individually.
Choose Medicare Plans 2020
Choosing the right Medicare plan for your health care is an important step to ensure a healthy and fulfilling future. Making a choice doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complicated. Talk with a Medicare advisor to determine which plan and cost are right for you.
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Jay-Z and Yo Gotti file second lawsuit against Mississippi prisons
Jay-Z and Yo Gotti, acting on behalf of more than 150 inmates, have filed a second lawsuit this week against the Mississippi Department of Corrections’ Parchman prison.
The inmates have long complained about inhumane living conditions at Parchman – from no running water and food contaminated with rat feces, to overflowing raw sewage on their cell floors. Since last month, at least 12 inmates have died at the prison.
READ MORE: Yo Gotti Speaks out Against the Inhumane Treatment in Mississippi Prisons
Lawyers with the rappers gave the Mississippi Department of Corrections 90 days to address the conditions before filing the lawsuit. They attached a video taken by inmates which documents the unsafe living conditions inside Parchman and also included remarks from the relatives of the deceased inmates, according to CNN.
The most recent lawsuit, just like the first one, claims the prison is understaffed, which makes it hard to control violent gang activity. Further, inmates suffer from a lack of medical care.
The lawsuit alleges that the living conditions are worse than an animal shelter.
“…words cannot adequately describe the degree of filth and dilapidation the men at Parchman live in, and lie in, every day,” according to the lawsuit. “Were these conditions in existence at an animal shelter, media would swarm, arrests would be made, and those in charge would be on their way to jail as a result of public outrage over this criminal conduct.”
“The game plan is to get change,” Yo Gotti told CNN. “To make sure the Mississippi prison be held accountable to treat the prisoners like humans and not have them living in inhumane conditions.”
In the earlier class-action lawsuit, the rappers blamed the inmate deaths on a “culmination of years of severe understaffing and neglect.”
Further, it states, “the inmates receive meals that are undercooked and served at unsafe temperatures. Many times, the food is adulterated with rat feces, cockroaches, rocks, bird droppings, and other foreign matter.”
According to CNN, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said he plans to shut down Unit 29 at Parchman, where most of the concerns come from. In his state of the state address last month, Reeves said a visit to the jail left him “infuriating.”
“We can do better,” Reeves said.
The post Jay-Z and Yo Gotti file second lawsuit against Mississippi prisons appeared first on TheGrio.
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McDonald’s Surprises Teen Entrepreneur with $25,000 on the “Tamron Hall Show”
Last spring, we originally broke the news that Nia Phillips-Harper became an entrepreneur at her Sweet 16 birthday party. Her mother Dedra—an author and professor, gave her the gift of entrepreneurship in the form of a beauty brand: Ni’Abri Beauty, a lip gloss collection and other beauty essentials now available online.
Earlier this week, Phillips and her mother appeared on the Tamron Hall Show to discuss the importance and benefits of engaging children in business and investing in the next generation with Tamron and McDonald’s owner/operators and mother-daughter franchisee duo Marissa Fisher and Marla Thrower.
During the segment, Nia was surprised with $25,000 from McDonald’s as a part of its Black & Positively Golden movement which seeks to uplift communities and shine a light on black excellence through empowerment, education, and entrepreneurship.
The $25,000 donation is part of McDonald’s continued commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and encouraging generational wealth building. The brand is empowering rising businesswomen nationwide through its partnership with the YWCA Women’s Empowerment 360o program, which provides a free six-week business course to help close the entrepreneurship knowledge gap for women of color.
In true Black Girl Magic fashion, Hall surprised her guest audience with a free product from Ni’Abri Beauty!
Last year, Phillips-Harper shared that through the Ni’Abri brand, she hopes to help young women build their self-confidence and shine from within. “I want to inspire people to embrace positive things about themselves,” she said. “The world is full of negative messages. When someone purchases a lip gloss from my company, it comes with a card that describes the character trait of the product purchased, along with a special inspirational message from me.”
It’s fair to say that she is doing the work.
After appearing on the show, Phillips-Harper’s products flew off the shelves!
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Like always, we are rooting for Nia!
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California Court grants Skai Jackson a temporary restraining order against Bhad Bhabie
Skai Jackson of Disney Channel fame was granted a temporary restraining order against Danielle “Bhad Bhabie” Bregoli, over death threats the white rapper made against Jackson on social media.
Read More: Bhad Bhabie threatens to kill Skai Jackson, mothers step in
Jackson, 17, yesterday was granted the order in Los Angeles Superior Court that requires Bhad Bhabie, 16, stay at least 100 feet away from the actress, according to a PEOPLE, who obtained a copy of the order. Bregoli is also forbidden to contact Jackson on social media or in any other way.
The court set a March 20 hearing on the matter.
Bhad Bhabie reportedly has had problems with the Jesse actress for a minute, even accusing Jackson of getting friendly with guys that she likes, according to Yahoo. This week, the rapper went on Instagram live to air her issues with Jackson before she outright threatened the teen star.
“I wanna know why every time I’m seen with a dude, b**ches wanna get all up on they page?” Brigoli said on Instagram Live. “The b**ch is a huge fan! You’re a whole fan! She’s moving sneaky bro! Don’t go post about me on your fake page, b**ch. If you got something to say about me, post it on your page. Show me you f**king bold!”
Then the rapper made threats against Jackson’s life.
“I’m finna go to jail behind a Disney thot,” she warned. “B**ch, what are you even doing in these men’s DMs? … Like you just trying to get me mad at this point. I see what you’re doing, and it’s going to get you killed. Like, that’s the thing: I’m gonna f**kin’ kill you. Don’t post your location…because I’m coming.”
After Jackson received the temporary restraining order, Bregoli went on Instagram to rant about “fake hollywood” and said she doesn’t apologize for keeping it real.
“you can try to hate me for responding to bulls- with more bulls- but that’s just who I am and I don’t apologize for none of it,” Bregoli wrote.
“I been in this fake a—hollywood world for 3 ½ years now and I’ve done A LOT when the whole world said I couldn’t, but I refuse to become as fake as hollywood is,” she continued, sharing a photo of her records. “Y’all can play around on your finstas but I’ll always say what’s on my mind as cuz that’s who I am. Go get your restraining order, Imma go get checks.”
Jackson told the court yesterday that she and Bregoli were once friends, but that the rapper had started harassing her and has made her “fearful” and to lose sleep, PEOPLE reported.
Jackson brought along Instagram messages to support her request for a restraining order. In direct messages, Bregoli tells Jackson that she better hide because she’s coming after her. “You funny imma get to you don’t worry,” Bregoli reportedly said in the conversation, according to PEOPLE. “Oh god you better hide I find everyone Yk me I pull up to studios houses all that s—.”
“You really tripping about something I didn’t do… you know people stay starting stuff when it’s not even true right?” Jackson countered. “I’m good over here, and worried about my own self… no one said anything about you. I would love to see the DMs they said I posted. That’s false.”
“Shut your scary a— up,” Bregoli responded. “Imma get to you. Hide that’s all imma tell you HIDE.”
READ MORE: 14-year-old Disney star Skai Jackson shuts down Azealia Banks
Another message from Bregoli to Jackson read: “I’mma beat you like a dude when I see you.”
The post California Court grants Skai Jackson a temporary restraining order against Bhad Bhabie appeared first on TheGrio.
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