Sports journalist Rob Parker was suspended indefinitely by ESPN on Friday after his controversial remarks about Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III.

“Following yesterday’s comments Rob Parker has been suspended until further notice,” said Mike Soltys, the network’s spokesman. “We are conducting a full review.”

Parker’s comments were in reference to Griffin’s recent interview with USA Today where the NFL rookie stated he didn’t want to be defined by the color of his skin.

“You want to be defined by your work ethic, the person that you are, your character, your personality,” Griffin continued. “That’s what I’ve tried to go out and do. I am an African-American in America. That will never change. But I don’t have to be defined by that.”

On Thursday, Parker addressed Griffin’s comments on ESPN’s First Take, asking is RGIII “a brother, or is he a cornball brother?”

“He’s not real. Okay, he’s black, he kind of does the thing, but he’s not really down with the cause,” Parker said. ”He’s not one of us. He’s kind of black, but he’s not really, like, the guy you want to hang out with because he’s off to something else.”

While Parker spent most of Thursday blasting his critics via Twitter, he has been rather quiet following the news of his suspension.

The post ESPN Host Rob Parker Suspended After Robert Griffin III Comments appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Courtesy of the Associated Press

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — A gunman opened fire inside a Connecticut elementary school Friday, killing 26 people, including 18 children, and forcing students to cower in classrooms and then flee with the help of teachers and police.

The death toll was given to The Associated Press by an official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was still under way.

The shooting appeared to be the nation’s second-deadliest school shooting, exceeded only by the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007.

Parents flooded to Sandy Hook Elementary School, about 60 miles northeast of New York City, looking for their children in the wake of the shooting. Students were told to close their eyes by police as they were led from the building.

A photo taken by The Newtown Bee newspaper showed a group of young students – some crying, others looking visibly frightened – being escorted by adults through a parking lot in a line, hands on each other’s shoulders.

Students and staff were among the victims, state police Lt. Paul Vance said a brief news conference. He also said the gunman was dead inside the school, but he refused to say how people were killed.

Another official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation was still under way, said the gunman apparently had two guns.

A law enforcement official in Washington said the attacker was a 20-year-old man with ties to the school and that one of the guns was a .223-caliber rifle. The official also said that police were searching a location in New Jersey in connection with the shootings. That official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the source was not authorized to speak on the record about the developing criminal investigation.

Robert Licata said his 6-year-old son was in class when the gunman burst in and shot the teacher.

“That’s when my son grabbed a bunch of his friends and ran out the door,” he said. “He was very brave. He waited for his friends.”

He said the shooter didn’t say a word.

Stephen Delgiadice said his 8-year-old daughter heard two big bangs and teachers told her to get in a corner. His daughter was fine.

“It’s alarming, especially in Newtown, Connecticut, which we always thought was the safest place in America,” he said.

A dispatcher at the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps said a teacher had been shot in the foot and taken to Danbury Hospital. Andrea Rynn, a spokeswoman at the hospital, said it had three patients from the school but she did not have information on the extent or nature of their injuries.

Mergim Bajraliu, 17, heard the gunshots echo from his home and raced to check on his 9-year-old sister at the school. He said his sister, who was fine, heard a scream come over the intercom at one point. He said teachers were shaking and crying as they came out of the building.

“Everyone was just traumatized,” he said.

Richard Wilford’s 7-year-old son, Richie, is in the second grade at the school. His son told him that he heard a noise that “sounded like what he described as cans falling.”

The boy told him a teacher went out to check on the noise, came back in, locked the door and had the kids huddle up in the corner until police arrived.

“There’s no words,” Wilford said. “It’s sheer terror, a sense of imminent danger, to get to your child and be there to protect him.”

Melissa Makris, 43, said her 10-year-old son, Philip, was in the school gym.

“He said he heard a lot of loud noises and then screaming. Then the gym teachers immediately gathered the children in a corner and kept them safe in a corner,” Makris said.

The fourth-grader told his mother that the students stayed huddled until police came in the gym. He also told her that he saw what looked like a body under a blanket as he fled the school.

“He said the policeman came in and helped them get out of the building and told them to run,” Makris said. “And they ran to the firehouse.”

The White House said Barack Obama was notified of the shooting and his spokesman Jay Carney said the president had “enormous sympathy for families that are affected.”

By Charles D. Ellison

One of the most entertaining conversations you can ever have about governance in America is the difference between politics and policy. Many folks have trouble separating the two; most will just lump them together. And it’s comical to watch the stares of disbelief after explaining that while policy is what shapes our lives, politics are the games you play to get us there.

Susan Rice offers a solid example of how political deals are cut. Her recent self-withdrawal from consideration as the next Secretary of State carries with it the scent of shit so atrocious that one’s gut figures this was the end game all along.

Ultimately, all parties involved get what they want. The right gets to spill a little blood after getting mouth-fisted from behind like a b-rated Freddy Krueger flick. The left can orchestrate a fake chorus denouncing the toxic state of Washington. Keeping it one hundred, though, everyone in Washington is swimming in the aftertaste of a grand deal, even Rice herself.

While the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and one of the most influential Black women in the world is under fire for some manufactured Toy Story narrative about misleading a war-weary public about what happened in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012, her reason to bow out is probably what’s misleading. Obviously, the decision wasn’t sudden. But, her reference to being a “distraction” from the president’s second-term agenda offers tasty political nuggets and clues. It’s naïve to think Rice didn’t factor into those suddenly quiet, one-on-one fiscal cliff discussions between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner.

Unfortunately, we’ve ended up with yet another nasty and very public beating of a Black woman in the zeitgeist. If it’s not Rice, it was Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) battling a cloud of ethics charges (which she eventually beat); or it’s Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA) getting pummeled into the political graveyard by ethics probes and financial ruin; or, it’s the sad story of Shirley Sherrod, who only got a phone call mea culpa from the president while Prof. Henry “Skip” Gates got a whole beer summit at the White House; or, there’s Soledad O’Brien possibly losing her coveted top-of-morn CNN slot to make room for mainstream cable’s newest favorite “girl next door”; and, more recently, local meteorologist Rhonda Lee gets instantly canned for responding to an offensive Facebook comment. The list keeps growing, Rice only the latest in an unending string of publicly bruised Black women.

While pundits will give you the softball analysis on how Rice got burned, here are 7 hard-to-swallow reasons why she ended up getting played:

1. A Black President and a Black Secretary of State Would Have Been Too Much Black.

This is where it all spins out like Public Enemy’s paraphrased Malcom X sample on “Bring the Noise.” Imagine: the top two global representatives for the most powerful nation on the planet being Black. Even after re-electing the Black President that would’ve been “too Black, too strong.”

2. Susan Rice and the Fiscal Cliff are not Mutually Exclusive.

In fact, they’re just as married as a Las Vegas shuttle wedding. Republican Congressional leaders are on the losing end of a lost fiscal cliff battle that will end up with higher taxes, some defense cuts and probably little done on entitlement reform. They know it; the entire conservative movement knows it. But, President Obama needs dealmakers like House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to stay put so he can get deals cut on a number of upcoming agenda items. To help them keep their jobs, and to manage potential GOP primary threats to other Members who like their Capitol Hill gigs, Rice is the sacrificial offering. Republicans can go back home to pitchfork mobs in their states and districts who want revenge for Obama’s win. They get the sister’s head on a stick.

3. Less Bullshit for the President to Deal With.

We all know that’s it’s the President’s job to deal with the bullshit we don’t want to deal with. But, that doesn’t prevent him from eliminating a little along the way. As much as President Obama dug Rice, he really wasn’t into her that much. Her nomination hearings would have been trench warfare: from constant questions about a small arms fight in Libya; to hearing subpoenas of administration officials; to a potential filibuster that would have locked up the Senate and kept Obama from passing needed legislation. Rice just ended up being a risk he wasn’t willing to take. And, it’s not like progressives will give him a hard time because they were already opening up on her about everything from her hands-off approach on Rwanda genocide in 1994 to personal financial stakes in a U.S./Canadian oil pipeline that she would have had to authorize as SecState.

4. John Kerry Worked Some Quiet Magic.

Come on: you can’t tell me the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), who is also on the short list to become Secretary of State, didn’t – at the very least – give a head nod to the hit. Kerry’s handlers bristle and fume at the thought their boss helped Senate Republicans like John McCain (R-AZ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and others. But, the Senate is a chummy place where its Members get to know each other on a first name basis. Kerry has been hungrily eyeing the SecState gig since 2008, burning at the fact Hillary Clinton beat him to it. He was already strangely quiet as Rice was getting clocked from all sides. Yet, he’s the Chair of the Committee that would’ve held the nomination hearings. Now, Senate Republicans are promising he’ll sail through the nomination process.

5. Susan Rice: Fall Girl for Hillary Clinton 2016.

Rice just took it on the chin and in the stomach for the wife of her former boss Bill Clinton (remember: she was Undersecretary of State for African Affairs back in the ‘90s). Which is a big signal that folks are paving Hillary’s pathway to the White House should she decide to run for president in 2016. The funny thing about the Benghazi issue is that we spent more time talking about mangled talking points during a Rice talk show run than we did about the actual tragic event itself. Briefly, Clinton offered to take responsibility – since, well, she is the Cabinet member who, quoting from the State Department website “ … develop[s] and implement[s] security policies and programs that provide for the protection of all U.S. Government personnel (including accompanying dependents) on official duty abroad.” But, after all this noise, the public incorrectly assumes Rice – who’s simply a United Nation’s rep for the U.S. – has jurisdiction. By 2016, candidate Clinton won’t have to deal with Benghazi since the White House let the school bus roll over Rice on that.

6. John McCain goes to Foreign Relations.

Did you notice how the former geriatric Republican presidential candidate snaked his way over to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with little fanfare? McCain is like the prison snitch who wants a reduced sentence. Leading the full Monty charge against Rice, the AARP cover model really wanted Foreign Relations all along, perhaps needing a new platform to spout grumpy, nonsensical platitudes from. Of course, this would have made a Rice nomination hearing extremely entertaining and downright annoying. But, his old seat on Senate Armed Services was getting a bit weathered – plus, still wanting to stay in the Senate, McCain didn’t feel like dealing with the political heat of overseeing defense budget cuts while living in a state that relies heavily on military spending and open bases. With the military about to draw down, McCain wants to get in on the real action: world affairs.

7. Republicans really want Kerry’s Senate seat.

Here’s the deal: Kerry gets the SecState gig, and he’s all good with his GOP Senate buddies flipping his open Senate seat. The Benghazi/Rice episode was one of the wackest, weakest, most wag-the-dog faux scandals in recent political memory. But, Rice stood between that seat and an added Republican in the Senate. She was in the way. With Kerry bound to leave, the GOP can up its numbers on the Senate side since conventional wisdom predicts that outgoing Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA), who just got whipped by Sen.-elect Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), will be the most favored contender for a special election. It all works out, everybody gets a taste.

CHARLES D. ELLISON is a political strategist, insider and analyst with over two decades of expertise. He’s Washington Correspondent for the Philadelphia Tribune and host of “Showdown” on SiriusXM 124, Thursdays 7-9pm ET. He can be reached via Twitter @charlesdellison. (Warning: the views expressed don’t reflect conventional wisdom).

President Obama gets emotional during his statement on the elementary school shooting in Newtown:

Christmas is just a few days away, and as always you’ve waited until the very last minute. The stores are overcrowded, filled with rude last-minute shoppers, and everything left has pretty much been rummaged through—shopping at this point is not an option. So what are you going to do? The answer is simple. Give gift cards.

Yes, gift cards can be a little impersonal and they don’t require much thought. But consider this, who doesn’t enjoy a little shopping of their own? Everyone does! Take a few minutes to consider who’s on your list and give gift cards according to personality. Your friends and family will love shopping and buying what they want at their leisure.  So don’t let the hustle and bustle of last-minute shopping deter you from giving a cool gift. These gift card ideas will more than make up for your tardy shopping.

Starbucks

As the largest coffeehouse in the world, its booming success must mean that a majority of the country not only drinks coffee, but also loves the Starbucks brand. And with the vast variety of drink and food options available at this boutique-like coffeehouse, a Starbucks gift card would make the average coffee lover jittery with excitement.

Target

Although considered a discount retailer, the latest Neiman Marcus designer collaboration contains prices that’ll have you thinking twice, whether or not you’re really in Target. But needless to say, Tar-Jay as many of us like to call it, is a great affordable one-stop shop for all things home and fashion–making a gift-card the perfect gift for those who love to be under the shopping trance of the bullseye.

Barnes & Noble

Selling a variety of reading, writing, and entertainment products, Barnes & Noble is bound to have something your recipient will love. A gift card allows him/her to buy a few must-read books, decorate their home with large picturesque coffee table books, or catch up on the latest movies and music with newly released DVDs and CDs.

ZARA

The UPTOWN lady and gentleman are both stylish people, so they deserve an equally stylish gift. Considering most fashion lovers love the designer-like styles created by the uber-successful fashion retailer, ZARA, a gift card from there would be perfect! Selling high style for affordable prices, this gift-card will make the style obsessed man or woman in your life ready to just throw it in the bag.

Five Guys

Made fresh to order, Five Guys has dominated the burger industry. And the fact that everyone seems to love a Five Guys burger, (don’t forget the Cajun fries, they are super yummy!) a gift card from this burger joint makes for a great gift idea for that meat lover in your life. Hey, looks like lunch will be on you for a few days.

Sephora

Perfect for the individual who loves to pamper themselves, a Sephora gift card will be splendid. The lady on your list will be able to stock up on all her favorite beauty and skin care must-haves, while the guy will be able to try out that new fragrance he’s been wanting to get his hands on.

Courtesy of Hello Beautiful

Dawn Richard lives in a land “where queens are knights.” She’s been welcoming us into that very world with her through her outside-of-the-box music. With the recent release of her Whiteout EP, Dawn’s teasing us.

Only a small taste of what she has to offer to the music industry post Danity Kane, we’re already craving more! And in typical Dawn fashion, she will deliver. The new full length album, Goldenheart is set to be released on January 15th and has gone on presale today!

Ok, business aside; now it’s time for pleasure! #TeamBeautiful’s favorite duo, 2 Chicks, sat down with Dawn to play a little game called “Marry, Smash or Friend.”

Continue reading at Hello Beautiful

It’s gotten rather steamy over at Tyler Perry Studios.

The official trailer for the director’s upcoming drama Tyler Perry’s Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor hit the web on Thursday, unfolding a tantalizing story of sex, lies and seduction.

Related: OWN Reveals Two Brand New Tyler Perry Series

Leading lady Jurnee Smollett plays Judith, an Ivy league-educated married woman who dreams of becoming a marriage counselor but is stuck working at a matchmaking agency for high-powered men run by Janice (Vanessa Williams). A chance meeting with Harley (Robbie Jones), the company’s successful and handsome new client, forces Janice to question her marriage with her husband Brice (Lance Gross).

Tyler Perry’s Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor, also starring Kim Kardashian and Brandy, will hit theaters March 29.

The post First Look: ‘Tyler Perry’s Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor’ [TRAILER] appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Mourners across the nation observed a moment of silence on Friday, just one week after the fatal shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. that claimed the lives of 20 children and six educators. Gov. Dannel P. Mallory and other state officials gathered at the community’s Edmond Town Hall as a bell rang 26 times in memory of the innocent victims.

The White House said President Obama also privately observed the moment of silence at 9:30 a.m. ET, tweeting the following message just moments before:

“20 beautiful children & 6 remarkable adults. Together, we will carry on & make our country worthy of their memory. -bo #MomentForSandyHook”

On Thursday, the Hartford Courant published a heartfelt open letter penned by First Lady Michelle Obama for the residents of Newtown. She wrote:

“Over the past week, we as Americans have been united in our grief as Newtown has laid to rest so many beautiful, innocent children, along with the heroic educators who worked every day to help them achieve their dreams.

As a mother of two young daughters, my heart aches for you and your families. Like so many Americans, I wish there were something — anything — I could do or say to ease your anguish.

But I know that I cannot begin to imagine the depths of your grief. I know that for many of you, the pain you are enduring right now seems unbearable; and many of you may be asking yourselves, how can we go on — as families and as a community?

Over the past week, I have been awed and inspired by Newtown’s heroes: the first responders who risked their lives at a moment’s notice; the educators whose devotion to their students shone brightest in one of our nation’s darkest hours; the children who comforted each other despite their fear; the families coming together to support each other as they grieve.

And I am so proud of the outpouring of love and support that has come from every corner of America: from first responders from neighboring cities rushing to help however they could; from people in Cleveland and Charlotte and Juneau and so many other communities joining together to honor Newtown with their thoughts and prayers; and in living rooms and houses of worship and the halls of our government, where we are beginning to have those difficult conversations about how we can build a safer, more peaceful tomorrow for all our children.

Continue the letter here…

Courtesy of ABC News

The National Rifle Association stood its ground today in arguing that the answer to gun violence in schools is an armed security force that can protect students, while blaming the media and violent entertainment and video games for recent deadly shootings.

“The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre said in presenting the NRA’s first comments about the Connecticut school shooting since it occurred a week ago today.

LaPierre offered no olive branch to gun-control advocates who have called for tougher laws in the wake of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Instead, he called for schools across the country to recruit armed security professionals to protect their students.

“It’s not just our duty to protect [our children], it’s our right to protect them,” LaPierre said at a news conference. “The NRA knows there are millions of qualified active and reserved police, active and reserve military, security professionals, rescue personnel, an extraordinary corps of qualified trained citizens to join with local school officials and police in devising a protection plan for every single school.”

Continue at ABC News…

Courtesy of Ebony.com

Next month marks the 35th anniversary of Roots, the 1977 miniseries that brought the subject of slavery to the water cooler for Black and White discussion in a major way during the post-Civil Rights era. Starting Friday night, BET will air all six episodes of Roots over the entire weekend. Two days after Roots: Part 6 fades to black, director Quentin Tarantino’s hotly anticipated slavery-era action flick Django Unchainedopens nationwide Christmas Day. As these two competing slave narratives vie for attention (a White filmmaker’s romanticized version vs. an iconic Black writer’s ancestral history), now might be a good time to separate the wheat from the chaff.

First of all, Django Unchained could’ve gone horribly wrong. However brilliant a director, Quentin Tarantino is famous amongst people of color for fetishizing African-American culture, and his liberal use of the N-word in Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown still rankles folks 15 years after the fact. Tarantino injecting a Blaxploitation-style baadassss freed slave into his vision of the antebellum South could’ve been disastrous. Any crass, gratuitous depiction of Whites raping actress Kerry Washington in a popcorn movie, and Django Unchained would’ve been a wrap.

Continue reading at Ebony.com

Columbine. Virginia Tech. Tucson. Aurora. Fort Hood. Oak Creek. Newtown.

Celebrities from all around Hollywood have banned together with DemandAPlan.org to put an end to gun violence and the senseless killings of innocent Americans. Jamie Foxx, John Legend, Beyonce, Victor Cruz, Chris Rock and others beg the question, “How many more?”

Related: Michelle Obama Pens Open Letter To Newtown

“No more lists of names. It’s not too soon, it’s too late. Now is the time before we all know someone who loved someone on that list,” they urge.

Supporters can do their part by emailing or calling Congress to demand common sense legislation, with help from the campaign here.

The post Beyonce, Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx And More ‘Demand A Plan’ To End Gun Violence [VIDEO] appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Tis’ the season to be merry, and what better way to usher in the holidays and bring in the New Year than with sweet treats and high-spirited cocktails? However you’re planning to entertain this year—whether you’re hosting a lavish shindig or quaint gathering of family and friends—having a few festive treats will surely keep you and your guests in a joyful mood. So try taking that eggnog recipe up a notch with a few extra tasty ingredients, or adding a little powdered sweetness to your favorite confection for that added holiday kick. Enjoy the season with a few tasty holiday cocktail and dessert recipes.

Capital Eggnog

Adding a little something extra to this creamy holiday goodness will make your yuletide even merrier.

Ingredients:
6 cups milk
2 cups heavy cream
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
12 pasteurized egg yolks
2 cups sugar
Praline or bourbon liqueur (optional)
Freshly ground nutmeg

Directions:
Cook milk, heavy cream, and ground nutmeg in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes or until steaming (about 150°). Reduce heat to low. Whisk together egg yolks and sugar in a large saucepan until smooth. Cook over low heat, whisking constantly, until mixture reaches at least 160° (about 25 minutes). Whisk milk mixture into egg mixture. Cool 30 minutes; transfer to a pitcher. Cover and chill 3 to 24 hours. Pour desired amount of praline or bourbon liqueur into each glass, if desired. Top with eggnog. Sprinkle with freshly ground nutmeg.

Merry Cranberry Margaritas

Get the holiday season going strong with a festive cranberry-flavored margarita.

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups cranberry juice cocktail, divided
1/2 cup sugar, divided
1 1/2 cups (6 oz.) fresh or frozen cranberries, rinsed
3/4 cup fresh lime juice
3/4 cup tequila
1/2 cup orange-flavored liqueur, such as Cointreau
3 cups coarsely crushed ice

Directions:
Pour 1/4 cup cranberry juice into a shallow bowl. Pour 3 tbsp. sugar onto a plate. Dip rims of 4 to 6 wide-mouthed glasses (6 to 8 oz., suitable for margaritas) into juice, then sugar. Set glasses aside. Reserve 12 cranberries. In a blender, whirl the remaining cranberries, cranberry juice, and sugar, the lime juice, tequila, orange liqueur, and ice until smooth and slushy. If necessary, blend in 2 batches, then mix together. Divide among glasses and garnish with reserved berries, skewered on toothpicks.

Mint and Chip Cocktail

Evoke the coolness of peppermint candy canes with this refreshing minty beverage.

Ingredients:
3/4 ounce(s) Mount Gay Eclipse Rum
3/4 ounce(s) Marie Brizard White Crème de Cacao
3/4 ounce(s) Marie Brizard Green Crème de Menthe
3/4 ounce(s) Half-n-Half cream
Fresh mint crown, for garnish
Shaved chocolate flakes, for garnish

Directions:
In an ice filled mixing glass, add above ingredients, Shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with fresh mint crown & shaved chocolate flakes.

Cranberry Meringue Pie

Everyone loves a tasty pie. Give the classic lemony version a holiday twist boasting with cranberry flavor.

Ingredients:
(Crust)
3/4 cup white whole-wheat flour (see Tip) or all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons butter, softened
(Filling)
1 12-ounce bag cranberries, fresh or frozen, thawed
1 cup orange juice
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
3 large eggs, separated

(Meringue Topping)
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Pinch of salt
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9-inch pie pan with cooking spray.
To prepare crust: Stir flour, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Stir in oil and butter with a fork until well blended and crumbly (it should look like wet sand). Using the back of a spoon, firmly press the dough into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared pan. Bake the crust until it just begins to brown, about 20 minutes.

To prepare filling: Meanwhile, combine cranberries and orange juice in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until all the cranberries are beginning to break down, 5 to 6 minutes. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl, pressing on the solids to extract all the juice. Whisk 3/4 cup sugar into the juice until combined. Whisk in whole egg and 3 egg yolks. Return the cranberry mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly and vigorously, until it thickens and just starts to bubble as you are stirring, 4 to 5 minutes. Pour the warm filling into the warm crust. Set aside while you prepare the meringue topping.

To prepare topping: Beat the 3 egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until frothy. Add cream of tartar and pinch of salt and beat at high-speed until soft peaks form. Very slowly add 1/3 cup sugar, beating constantly, until the mixture holds stiff, shiny peaks. Beat in vanilla. Spoon the meringue over the filling, then gently spread to the edges of the crust. Make peaks in the meringue with the back of a spoon or a small off-set spatula. Bake until the top is lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Cool the pie on a wire rack to room temperature, at least 3 hours, before serving.

Nutcracker Brownies

In the mood for chocolate? This nutty mocha goodness will be the perfect treat, while exchanging gifts with your loved ones.

Ingredients
:
8 oz. unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
8 eggs, room temperature
2 cups chocolate syrup (like Hershey’s)
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups Heath almond toffee pieces (or something similar)
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325° F. Grease a 9X13 pan. In an electric mixer, using the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, scraping down the bowl periodically. Pour in syrup. Add flour and mix until incorporated. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Sprinkle immediately with the topping. Cool completely before cutting. Yields about 32 brownies.

Caramel Cream Cake

Slice into this sweet treat after Christmas dinner, and worry about the calories after New Year’s Day.

Ingredients:
1 cup finely chopped sweetened flaked coconut
Pecan Pie Cake Batter
Pecan Pie Filling
Cream Cheese Frosting
1 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut, toasted
Garnishes: raspberries, fresh mint sprig

Directions:
Stir 1 cup finely chopped coconut into Pecan Pie Cake Batter; spoon batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch cake pans. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks. Spread Pecan Pie Filling between layers. Spread Cream Cheese Frosting on top and sides of cake. Sprinkle top and sides with toasted pecans and toasted coconut. Garnish, if desired.

Robin Roberts, host of ABC News’ “Good Morning America,” beamed on Friday, as she posed for photos with a shaved head at a private wedding ceremony for weatherman Sam Champion and his partner.

The appearance occurred just two months after being released from the hospital, where Roberts received a blood-marrow transplant. The popular anchorwoman has openly shared her battle with cancer, and related illness, over the years. In 2007, Roberts shaved her head on television but wore a wig in public shortly afterward.

The ceremony took place at Champion’s New York City apartment. Wearing an elegant red dress,  Roberts read a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning for the couple.

The 52-year-old has been out on medical leave since early September while receiving treatment for a rare blood and bone marrow disorder, MDS. But she keeps viewers up-to-date on her condition through video messages on ABC News and Twitter. ABC News has also documented her recovery.

Ashton Kutcher finally did it. A little over one year after breaking up with Demi Moore, he officially filed for a divorce. The “Two And A Half Men” star allegedly wanted to give Moore the opportunity to start the divorce proceedings, but wound up taking the reins himself.

After rumors of infidelity rocked their marriage, Moore says she is “genuinely happy” and ready to move on, according to TMZ.

Kutcher and Moore announced their split in November 2011 after six years of marriage.  The two actors were married in 2005 and do not have any children together. According to TMZ, “Kutcher hired celebrity attorney Laura Wasser and on Friday filed papers in Los Angeles Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences.”

People.com reports, Kutcher is not requesting alimony and has asked the judge to deny Moore financial aid if she requests it. 
 
Kutcher, 34, is now dating his former “That ’70s Show” co-star Mila Kunis, while 50-year-old Moore was recently romantically linked to the 26-year-old art collector Vito Schnabel, son to director Julian Schnabel.

Nationally syndicated radio host Tom Joyner and ESPN sports commentator Donna Richardson  have allegedly split after 12 years of marriage.

Apparently, the couple finalized their clandestine divorce back in May of this year. The couple officially parted ways weeks ago in what the NY Daily News calls a “mutual but not exactly amicable situation involving other parties.”

Joyner and Richardson haven’t confirmed reports or disclosed details over the alleged separation. The couple wed in a newsworthy ceremony in Montego Bay, Jamaica in 1997. But according to reports, they haven’t been seen gracing red carpet events together in quite sometime.

Courtesy of Associated Press/The Washington Post

JOHANNESBURG — Former South African leader Nelson Mandela will probably spend Christmas Day in a hospital because his doctors want to be satisfied his health has improved satisfactorily before sending him home, a South African media outlet reported Sunday.

Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said the physicians caring for Mandela had given no indication of an “imminent discharge” from a hospital in Pretoria, the capital, according to IOL, a South African news website.

“At this stage there is no update on his condition and his doctors have given no indication” about when Mandela could be discharged, IOL quoted Maharaj as saying Saturday. IOL is owned by Independent Newspapers, a national group that publishes 15 newspapers.

Mandela was hospitalized on Dec. 8. He was diagnosed with a lung infection and also had gallstone surgery; officials have said his condition has improved and that he was responding to treatment. President Jacob Zuma acknowledged several days ago that Mandela’s condition had been serious.

Continue reading here.

by Derrick Hemphill

Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has done what no woman of the Caribbean has— won the Olympic 100 meter gold medal. Twice.

The girl from Waterhouse, one of Kingston’s most infamous and impoverished neighborhoods, has come a long way to her status as “the fastest woman in the world.” The 26-year-old Fraser-Pryce is quickly becoming as known for her philanthropy as she is for her lightening-fast speed. She has been a UNICEF ambassador since 2010, and has also set up her own foundation in support of inner-city Jamaican youths. “I grew up poor, and I saw how children didn’t have that person to stand up for them,” she says. “I feel like it’s my duty to give back to my community and to society in general.”

Now, Fraser-Pryce has set her focus on Brazil 2016 for a shot at an unprecedented three 100 meter Olympic gold medals, a feat accomplished by no man or woman in history. Here, she runs it down on steroids, besting Usain Bolt, and why Jamaicans run the (track) world.

I BECAME… the fastest woman in the world with a lot of hard work, determination, and giving it my all.

JAMAICAN SPRINTERS… are so fast because of our heritage, our development, and our program. I think we’re just talented. Some people say it’s our yams, but I don’t eat yams!

I HYPHENATED MY NAME… because everyone would wonder who is Shelly-Ann Pryce? But eventually, I will definitely drop the Fraser.

I WOULD SAY TO CARL LEWIS… that if he wants to take on the [drug testing] program in Jamaica, then he can. To actually have a person saying [that we are doping] is insulting us, and it’s trying to make reference to something that’s not there.

I WAS WEARING… men’s boxers when I first met my husband, Jason. He asked why I was wearing them. And I said, because I want to.

THE AMERICAN WOMEN’S 4×4 RELAY TEAM… has been more successful than us because they get more practices in. Three of the ladies—Carmelita [Jeter], Allyson [Felix], and Bianca [Knight]— have run together for many years. And America spends money to get them in one place more often. Kudos on their world record!

USAIN BOLT… is more popular, of course! But I get a lot of attention as well.

I ENJOY THE LIMELIGHT… because I understand the pleasure it gives the fans to actually see me. Going to the supermarket, I have to factor in an extra two hours for meet and greet.

KIDS… are playful with me because I’m like 5 feet and they think I’m a kid, too!

I LIVE BY THE WORDS… “to whom much is given, much is expected.”

In today’s link round-up: Serena Williams responds to “curvaceous” impersonation, Ne-Yo spreads holiday cheer with his annual toy giving tour and much more!

EURweb
Spike Lee Says ‘Django Unchained’ Is ‘Disrespectful To My Ancestors’
We know what Spike won’t be watching on Christmas Day.

VIBE.com
Rihanna Donates $1.75M To Barbados Hospital In Honor Of Late Grandmother
Good deed.

BlackVoices
Serena Williams Impression: Athlete Responds To Caroline Wozniacki’s Impersonation Of Her
And she’s not mad.

EBONY.com
Ne-Yo’s Compound Foundation Spreads Holiday Cheer
The Grammy Award-winning singer is hitting four cities in four days to bring joy to nearly 2,000 children.

The Frisky
Meeting The Family Dos & Don’ts From Movies
Don’t go overboard with the PDA (See: Father of the Bride).

Madame Noire
And This Christmaaaaas, Will Be…” 15 Holiday Songs We Can’t Live Without
Did your favorite tune make the cut?

The post LOTD: Spike Lee Says No To ‘Django’ + Rihanna Donates $1.75M To Barbados Hospital appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Two volunteer firefighters were fatally shot early Monday morning while responding to a blaze in Webster, N.Y., police say. The shootout resulted in two other firefighters being injured and listed as in critical condition at a nearby hospital.

Authorities say the firefighters were hit shortly after they rushed to the scene of a car and house fire at 5:30 a.m. in the quiet suburb just east of Rochester. The gunman is reportedly dead.

“When they got there, they stated to take on rounds and the initial responders were struck,” said Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn. It is believed that the gunman set a trap to harm the firefighters.

For hours, the gunfire stopped firefighters from extinguishing the flames and SWAT teams helped to evacuate homes in the area. Later in the morning, firefighters continued their work to battle the fire.

In all, four homes were destroyed and four damaged by the spreading flames.

Photo courtesy of Reuters

The post 2 Firefighters Fatally Shot While Responding To New York Blaze, Gunman Dead appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Courtesy of Madame Noire

Unsure of what the special toddler in your life wants most for Christmas? Chances it may be the Doc McStuffins “Time For Your Check Up” doll, which is a doll based off of the main character of Disney television show “Doc McStuffins”, a six-year-old African-American doctor who cares for her sick toys. According to the New York Daily News, the adorable toy is being sold at a “record pace” this holiday season and parents have been in a complete frenzy as they scour toy store shelves for one of this season’s most sought after items.

“You can’t find that anywhere… We were at Toys ‘R’ Us asking them to look in the back,” said Amber, wife of New York Yankee’s pitcher CC Sabathia.”

“McStuffins products are selling quickly,” says Toy ‘R’ Us spokeswoman Adrienne O’Hara. She also recommended that parents looking to snag one before December 25th should “visit stores early” in effort to catch incoming shipments.

Continue at Madame Noire…

The post The Holiday’s Most Wanted: Doc McStuffins Doll Is The Most Coveted Toy This Christmas appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.