The Cash Fever!

The Powerball is up again. The junk food media is going to drive the poor out to play!

Update: The estimated jackpot was $567 million and the winning tickets were sold in Texas, North Carolina and Puerto Rico. This is a first for the U.S. autonomous territory since joining Powerball in October 2014.

You got the fever?

What type of fever you might ask? 

It's lottery fever! 

The Powerball is up again, ahem! I mean its passed over a half a billion dollars and it can go up without notice. So are you game?

I stated this back in 2013. That the chances are 1:176 by odds. That means you are playing nearly a half of the U.S. population. You are one of 176 million others who are willing to shelve out.

With the huge jackpot such as this Powerball drawing, many Americans are dreaming of a life away from the job. A dream to take a vacation to a place they've always wanted to go.

The impact of being a millionaire comes with a price. You could blow money fast in a few years. Believe me there have been many Americans who lavish in luxury only to be broke in less than 10 years.

Of course, if you're the lucky one. You already know that many friends and family members will be on your case. You will be bothered by almost everyone in the junk food media.

Believe me I am a single man and I bet you my former friends, former girlfriends and family members I don't speak to will come out of the woodwork. They'll act like everything is cool and I am all giving!

Say if you're in the group pool. If you're in the pool and your group won, that one person who didn't play will try to sue the group for a portion of the earnings.

Hey, if you're a single person (not married), you'll be getting requests from suitors. Of course, if you're separated from your spouse or have children, expect the domestic family courts to take a lump out of your winnings.

The IRS and state taxes will be paid immediately upon the victory.

It may take up to a year before you collect the first lump sum of payment. Each winning Mega Millions and Powerball ticket carries a lump sum cash payment option.

The Powerball ticket cost $2 per unit. The Powerball ticket may include a PowerPlay multiplier and each unit cost $3 per unit. You can play up to 10 "lines", for up to 10 "draws" and up to 10 tickets. 

In each game, players select five numbers from a set of 59 white balls and one number from 35 red Powerballs. The number chosen from the red Powerballs may be the same as one of the numbers chosen from the white balls. Players can select their own numbers and/or have the terminal randomly select the numbers (called "quick pick" or "easy pick" among other names, depending on the state). In each drawing, winning numbers are selected using two ball machines, one containing the white balls and the other containing the red Powerballs. 

For the winning numbers, five balls (the white ball numbers) are drawn from the first machine and one (the Powerball number) from the second machine. Games matching at least three white balls and/or the red Powerball win.

Powerball is played in 44 states including the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Like always, you're expected to hear the junk food media talk about the "jackpot" being at record amounts and how they aim the cameras at shoppers purchasing. Each customer saying that if they win....they would change their lives.

Be careful what you play. You are responsible for whatever unit comes out! Be clear in explaining what type of unit you requesting. 

Powerball and Mega Millions are tickets that can not be canceled. You are responsible for whatever unit comes out. Your state lottery commission and the licensed retailer are not responsible for lost, stolen, damaged or altered tickets.

You have to be at least 18 years old to play these games.

Get your tickets.

Best advice for all who win the lottery, is keep a cool head.

The first thing you do is write your name down on the back of the winning ticket. Say if you lose the jackpot ticket! If you have forgotten to sign the ticket and it gets lost, then it's your word against the winner's.

Second, make sure you cancel out your Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or any other social networking website your on. That's the next thing that happens when you're a winner.

Third, you cancel your phone numbers and limit your email intake. Obviously you'll be swamped with phone numbers and well wishers asking if you're willing to shelve out a little cash. Trial lawyers, charity groups, the junk food media and scammers will take advantage of you. Some charity groups will not often bother you, but there are some that pose as legitimate but in reality a scam. 

Fourth, hire a qualified lottery attorney. Make sure you have a qualified attorney who specializes in handling large sums of money. Don't assume every attorney is well respected in handling your financial earnings.

Fifth, don't quit a job until you are sure you've won the lottery. Don't rush to judgment about being a lottery winner. Sometimes a person who wins the lottery never expects it to happen so don't sit around the house hoping the day will come you'll be the millionaire. Don't burn bridges with your job. You may end up back at it if you decide to go back into the workforce.

Sixth, pay off debts to college loans, house, billings, and credit cards. Don't let these issues ruin your credit score or chances at buying better things.

Seventh, invest your money in a trust fund if you have children or family members you can trust if you should die. Make a will or entrust. Make sure you know that you have a family member or a trusted friend who will take care of the winnings once you pass away.

Eighth, have fun with your earnings. Don't blow it on things that obviously will attract negative attention. Yeah, this is a gateway to putting in other venues. Some may blow their money at casinos, horsetracks, fantasy football and online poker. Granted that you are given the right to do whatever you want with your earnings, but seriously are going to get a gold stature of your image? Are willing to have five chefs, a butler, housekeeper, nanny, and chauffeur on the payroll? You going to buy a $100,000 vehicle! 

Ninth, be humble. Cause money will change a person when they're rich. Don't expect your life to be "normal" when you win the lottery. Cause it's not going to be normal. It could a great experience or the worst thing.

Lastly, The Have-Nots Will Always Try To Make You Feel Guilty About Winning. Ignore Them And Be Happy About Your Success.

Okay, let's go back to John Oliver and his take on the lottery.

Empire Rises!

Empire is a hit.

The Lee Daniels drama is a hit among the Black audiences. The hip-hop based drama featuring Terrance Howard and Taraj P Henson has pulled some of the highest ratings yet for the struggling network.

This sleeper may survive the Spring. So far it will finish up its eight episodes. Fox may add more.

The freshman minority based programs that air on the networks includes black-ish (ABC), Fresh off The Boat (ABC), Jane The Virgin (CW), Cristela (ABC).

Fox green lights Empire for a second season.

Are you watching the hit drama?

Broken Hearts!

The Republicans spent their first month as a majority in Congress trying to stop the president's first term achievements.

First month since Republicans took control of Congress, I was expecting this to happen. With the Republicans wasting their time on passing bills such as the Keystone XL pipeline, the ban on taxpayer abortion, halting the president's executive order on immigration reform and the 59th repeal of Obamacare, a jobs bill is not likely going to pass.

With that being said, it's been reported that 257,000 jobs were added for the month of January and the unemployment rate ticked up to 5.7%.

Of course, this is going to be challenged by the ney sayers who actually believe unemployment is 23% and 92 million are out of work. And gas prices are down because of fracking.

It's going to be a rough two years.

Non-farm payrolls grew and the government upped the totals by a 100,000. The worker seen a .12 cent increase in their paycheck.

CNBC reports that full-time workers surged, gaining 777,000 and numbering more than 120 million for the first time since July 2008. Their wages grew as well, with hourly earnings up 12 cents an hour, representing an annualized gain of 2.2 percent and the largest monthly gain in the economic recovery.

It was only the second time in the last 11 years that January's numbers beat Wall Street expectations and came amid a powerful run for nonfarm payrolls. Over the past three months, job creation has averaged 336,000, with upward revisions for both November and December, good for a total of just over one million during the span.

Gains came across the board, with retail leading the way in January with 46,000 new positions. Construction added 39,000, while health care grew 38,000.

The report could help ease some anxiety about the pace of growth, particularly in the wake of some mediocre economic reports to start the year.

The Family Preparing For Bobbi Kristina Brown's Departure!

The family is preparing for the inevitable.

It seems like the worse. The Houston and Brown family are going through a wake. It seems like nothing can be done to save the life of Bobbi Kristina Brown.

The controversy began on Saturday when it was reported that the celebrity agitator was found unconscious in a bathtub in her suburban Atlanta home.

According to sources, her husband is banned from seeing her. The family is preparing for the end.

A family member tells People that the family has been told by doctors that nothing more can be done for the 21-year-old, who was found unresponsive in a bathtub Saturday. "Everyone is coming to the hospital to say goodbye," the source said yesterday, adding that father Bobby Brown "has been crying nonstop since yesterday. We are grieving." A second family member confirms that it doesn't look good, but says, "It's sinking in that this is it, but we're all still praying that God will intervene and heal her body."

Other outlets have reported a similarly bleak prognosis: A source told Fox News yesterday that "it’s now a matter of when the family wants to let go and accept that she’s pretty much not going to make it. They've left it up to the family as to how long they want to keep her alive." And TMZ also says this situation looks "perilous," but adds that Bobby Brown is reportedly expecting a daughter with his wife.

The Batteries Are Out Over At Radio Shack!

This Radio Shack located in Dayton will likely close. The Montgomery County Sheriff has taken calls over at this location numerous times after reports of burglaries and robberies.

As predicted, the country's most convenient electronics store has officially filed for bankruptcy. The Fort Worth based company is on a downward spiral.

 I am really sadden by this news. Like the demise of Radio Shack is huge. It hits like a cannon.

I am preparing for the news that Kmart is going down hard too. It's one of the many things that happened during the economic recession of 2007.

They couldn't survive the wave....!

On January 15, 2015, the Wall Street Journal reported RadioShack was preparing a bankruptcy filing that could come as early as February. Officials of the company declined to comment on the report.

A separate report by Bloomberg claimed the company might sell leases to as many as half its stores to Sprint.

Later in January 2015, the New York Stock Exchange issued RadioShack a warning stating it would be delisted if its average market capitalization remained below $50 million for longer than thirty consecutive days. RadioShack had received a similar warning in July of the previous year.

The New York Stock Exchange announced that shares of RadioShack were suspended and delisting procedures would commence.

RadioShack died years ago; we're only now holding the funeral. Good active managers have avoided RadioShack for a long time.—Gershon Distenfeld, Director, AllianceBernstein, CBS News.

On February 2, 2015, Bloomberg reported RadioShack was in talks to sell half of its stores to Sprint Corporation and close the rest, effectively rendering RadioShack no longer a stand-alone retailer.

Later the same day, it was reported that Amazon.com and Brookstone were also listed among potential bidders for those same store locations.

The next day, CNN Money reported RadioShack to be in default of its loan from Salus Capital.

Following these reports, some employees were instructed to begin reducing prices and transferring inventory out of stores designated for closing to those that would remain open during the bankruptcy proceedings.

Most employees, however, remained "in the dark" as to the company's future.

Many stores had already closed abruptly on Sunday, February 1, 2015, with employees only having a few hours advance notice.

RadioShack announced that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Allegedly A Texas Man Found Out That His Business Didn't Fit The "White Man" Code Of Standards!

Only in America.

The Raw Story reports on a Texas man getting shafted out of business because of some rule that seems like it applies to a standard.

According to The Houston Press, James Mosbey had already been operating his “personal training and nutritional counseling” businesses out of his home for a decade when the Northwood Park Civic Association began trying to shut it down in January of 2013, saying that deed restrictions did not allow him to display signage.

But Mosbey insisted on keeping the businesses open, and the neighborhood group convinced Harris County to file a lawsuit against him. By August of 2013, Mosbey was forced to close his businesses.

Mosbey responded last year by filing a civil rights complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission.

In a lawsuit filed last week, the commission accused the Northwood Park Civic Association of racially discriminating against Mosbey because it had not enforced the same restrictions against white business owners.

“[T]hrough investigation, TCW-CRD learned that three white residents operate businesses within the Northwood Park subdivision, two of whom have yard signage, but the Northwood Park Civic Association has not sought to enforce restrictive covenants against them by causing them to be contacted regarding their signage or home businesses,” the lawsuit noted.

In addition to rules against operating businesses, Rule 21 of the “Article & Bylaws” of Northwood Park states that “[n]o lot in said Subdivision nor any interest therein shall ever be sold, leased or rented to, or occupied by any person other than the Caucasian race.”

Documents on the Northwood Park Civic Association website showed that the group made an effort to change the race-based restriction in 2004. But almost a decade later, the group explained in its newsletter than it was still collecting signatures for the effort.

“The 1957 deed restrictions protect the homeowners from those that would mutate a diverse residential neighborhood into a conglomeration of shops, non-residential storage and car lots, junk yards, trucking companies, trailers, and mobile homes that would ruin a residential neighborhood’s desirability and destroy the quality of life of the residents,” the newsletter said.

It went on to point out that the proposed amendments would “eliminate the discrimination clause #21 and preserve residential lots as single family dwellings not community property.”

“We continue to gather signatures of approval so the proposed changes can be finalized.”

An article in that same 2013 newsletter noted that the association was in the process of resolving allegations that it had violated the civil rights of two property owners.

Holder To Republicans: Confirm Loretta Lynch So I Can F**king Retire!

Holder makes it clear that he's no fan of Republicans and some agitators in the media. 

Before I get into this story. I want to let you know that the Republicans in the House passed a bill repealing the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). Making this an unprecedented 52nd time.

Attorney General Eric Holder is really getting tired of Republicans aiming at him. He's not going to take abuse from the likes of insurgent Louie Gohmert (R-TX). He's known to take it to the Republicans and conservative agitators. I am guessing that once he gets back into the private sector he may be hooking up on the cable news agitator shows. I hope he joins CNN so he can lay the hammer on them.

Gohmert and many other insurgent lawmakers in the House of Representatives have tried and failed at getting Holder removed from his post. They did a symbolic contempt of Congress vote against Holder back in 2012 over the ATF's handling of guns during a botched operation known as Fast and Furious.

Republicans in the senate are trying to delay confirmation of his successor Loretta Lynch, the first African American woman to be nominated for the position.

If Holder was politicizing the Justice Department he would have went after Mitch The Turtle (R-KY),  Hal Rogers (R-KY), Don Young (R-AK), and insurgent Scott DesJarlais (R-TN). These are some of the country's most corrupt lawmakers.

The DOJ could have went after Republican lawmakers, governors and conservative agitators.

Holder himself held a news conference in which he started out by saying, “For the record, I am Eric Holder.”

From there, the attorney general went after Republican critics in possibly one of the last (if not the last) press conferences of his tenure leading the DOJ. He said it’s “a little irresponsible for people on the hill to say that policy differences that we have with them… can be characterized as political.”

Holder insisted that “there’s been no politicization of this Justice Department” and said such an accusation is “totally inconsistent with the facts.” The Bush DOJ was politicized when he got in, Holder said, but he’s managed to change it.


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