Direct General Hires Cramer-Krasselt as Agency of Record

Just found this on PR Week's website.

NASHVILLE, TN: Auto insurance provider Direct General has selected Cramer-Krasselt as its AOR. The firm will work on brand planning and positioning, PR, and advertising for the company in an account worth about $20 million in annual billings.


Craig Hamway, EVP of marketing and business development at Direct General, said it had not previously focused on PR.

FULL STORY

Charlotte: Boom or Bust?

So PBS Producers from the show Frontline are working on a show about the city I now call home: Charlotte, NC.
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By MICHELLE BOUDIN / NewsChannel 36

March 14th, 2009Charlotte: Boom or Bust? More News video View larger E-mail clip

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte used to be called a boom town, with more people flocking here for jobs and real estate.

But has that boom turned into a bust?

A PBS Frontline crew is trying to figure that out, researching an hour long show. For so long now the queen city has been king.

"Charlotte is a city that people want to be in," said Moira Quinn. Or used to want to be in, if you believe the PBS crew.

"Our future as a boomtown is over."

That's reportedly the gist of the show the producers are working on.

FULL STORY

Rapping Flight Attendant

I just saw this video on CNN, and thought I'd share it with the blogosphere. I fly all the time and never get flight attendants like this guy! I guess I need to stop flying AirTran and start flying Southwest! LOL

Diddy Sent this out on Twitter

Looks like a new campaign from Mac called "Think Different." I'm sure Diddy's got some cross promotional deal with them that he's using his Twitter page for. LOL Anyway, check out the video here.

New Dream Car: All New BMW Z4 is HOT!

It's not practical for my lifestyle, but a girl's gotta dream....

Speaking of Throwback Videos: Enjoy this Clip from Coming to America

"Sexual Chocolate!"

THROWBACK VIDEO OF THE WEEK

I don't know what made me think about this video, but do you guys remember when Michelle from Destiny's Child fell while performing on 106&Park? It was a classic BET moment and I suddenly felt compelled to post it today. Kudos to Michelle for getting up, dusting herself off and finishing the performance with no shoes on. I still love how Beyonce & Kelly look down at her like she's roadkill. LMAO!

Lil Kim Owes $979,090 in Back Taxes

I have always loved this mugshot of Kim. She was so much cuter back then. *sigh* But i digress.
Poor Kim. I'm still hoping she can revive her career by winning Dancing with the Stars, releasing a huge comeback album, going on an international tour and making billions of dollars. Anyway, according to the Detroit News, Kim owes almost one million dollars in back taxes. The story is below.
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Posted by Robert Snell (The Detroit News) on Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 8:36 AM

Tax man trips up dancing diva Lil' Kim
Rapper Lil' Kim, a contestant on this season's "Dancing With the Stars," owes $979,090 in delinquent state and federal taxes, records show.

Pop culture fans might remember Kim has a special connection to Motown royalty. Supremes singer Diana Ross and Kim, who was wearing a skin-baring outfit, were co-presenters at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards. At one point, Ross leaned over and playfully fondled the rap diva's exposed breast.

The 34-year-old rapper, whose real name is Kimberly Jones, has had trouble paying on time before. Last year, the repo man seized her Bentley after she missed four payments.

What's owed:

The state of New York filed a $12,599 tax warrant on April 26, 2008, in the New York County Clerk's office. The IRS filed a $50,464 lien on Sept. 5, 2007, in the Bergen (N.J.) County Clerk's office. The IRS filed a $67,509 lien on May 14, 2007, in Bergen County. The state of California filed a $4,089 lien on Sept. 16, 2005, in Sacramento County Court. The IRS filed a $232,348 lien on Aug. 16, 2005, in New Jersey. The state of New Jersey filed a $51,471 lien on Aug. 11, 2005, in New Jersey State Superior Court. The state of New Jersey filed a $77,939 lien on Dec. 9, 2004, in New Jersey Superior Court. The IRS filed a $482

SOURCE

The Best Mardi Gras Costume EVER!!!

Happy Friday!!! *Thanks Kenya*

Bristol Palin Breaks Up with Her Baby's Daddy

I'm certain not even Republicans are surprised by this news! LOL

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Alaska Gov. Palin's daughter, fiance break up

By RACHEL D'ORO
Associated Press Writer
Posted: Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2009

WASILLA, Alaska Levi Johnston and Bristol Palin, the teenage daughter of Gov. Sarah Palin, have broken off their engagement, he said Wednesday, about 2 1/2 months after the couple had a baby.

Johnston, 19, told The Associated Press that he and 18-year-old Bristol Palin mutually decided "a while ago" to end their relationship. He declined to elaborate as he stood outside his family's home in Wasilla, about 40 miles north of Anchorage.

He also said some details of the breakup, rumors of which had been swirling on the Internet, were inaccurate.

Bristol Palin said in a statement that she was devastated about a report on Star magazine's Web site that quoted Levi's sister, Mercede, as saying Bristol "makes it nearly impossible" to visit the teenagers' infant son, Tripp. The baby was born Dec. 27.
READ FULL STORY

Speaking of Diddy, Check out his New Twitter Page

Diddy has taken over Twitterville. LOL Check him out here: http://twitter.com/iamdiddy

Diddy Does Ellen: Talks about Chris and Rihanna

Diddy recently did a little shucking and jiving on the Ellen Show. I loved his response about the Chris and Rihanna situation. Diddy is a PR pro, he can spin anything. Gotta love him for that. Don't take my word for it, check out the video for yourself. Spotted at TheYBF.com

Cocktail from For the Luv of Ray J was on Bad Girls Club Season 1

I missed Monday's episode of I love Ray J thanks to a missed connection at the Atlanta airport, but it sounds like Cocktail has been exposed. Is anyone surprised? These shows always have one girl that's been on like 17 reality shows before! LOL Think Pumpkin from Flavor of Love. Here's what I found online:

Biography
Joanna appears as a member of the cast in the Oxygen network reality television series The Bad Girls Club. She is 25 years old and a native of Sacramento, California, and grew up in a family of Hispanic descent. Though she makes a living as a go-go dancer, her parents remain supposedly unaware of the job she’s chosen. She has also had breast enhancement surgery, receiving implants in order to further enhance her slim physique.

She says that she cheats on her boyfriend, and seeks out sugar daddies to pay her way and get her everything she wants. She refers to herself as a “gold digger,” and says that her mom taught her this attitude, that she should seek out and exploit men who would be willing to provide for her every wish.

Chris & Rihanna Record New Love Song

According to TMZ, Producer Polow Da Don convinced the two love birds to record a new song together asap. And they've already been in the studio together. The saga continues...Read the full story HERE

Beyonce the Full-Figured Barbie?

I found this over at one of my favorite blogs If you don't think this photo is funny, something is seriously wrong with you. LOL

Black Journalists to Host Conference for Public Relations Professionals

I'm thinking about attending this since I'm a member! They've got a great line up!


Conference Commits to Assess the Direction of the Public Relations Sector and Trends in the Industry for PR Practitioners of Color

For More Informaiton visit www.nabj.com


WASHINGTON, March 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) will present its Conference for Media Related Professionals on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at the Associated Press Headquarters in New York City.


The day-long conference organized by NABJ's Associate Members delegation begins with an insightful dialogue with Terrie Williams, a critically acclaimed public relations guru and author who will deliver the keynote address. Other attendees include: Wynona Redmond, President of the National Black Public Relations Society; Marvet Britto, celebrity publicist and frequent CNN contributor; PR Expert Karen Taylor Bass; Crystal Howard, Director of Public Relations for ESPN; Myorr Janha, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for Russell Simmons Design Group/Rush Communications; Malcolm Berkley, Public Relations Manager for UPS; Mario Armstrong, on-air tech expert for NPR's Morning Edition; and Errol Cockfield, Press Secretary for Gov. David Patterson (NY-D).


Conference workshop topics include: The Changing Face of Public Relations: What is Next on the Horizon?; Using PR to Give Back to Our Communities: Where Corporate Responsibility and PR Meet; PR in the Matrix: How Advances in Social Media Can Catapult Your PR Efforts to New Heights; Corporate vs. Agency vs. Entrepreneurship - Which is Best for Media Professionals of Color?; and Moving on Up - Getting to the C-Suite.


"We are gathering the best and brightest public relations professionals in the country to discuss how we all can enhance our crafts," said NABJ Associate Representative Aprill O. Turner. "At a changing time in the media landscape, creating the opportunity to engage in dialogue on our experiences in this sector is more important now than ever before. "


This conference is hosted by NABJ's Media Institute. The Institute seeks to teach, compile, disseminate and chronicle information about African Americans in the field of journalism and news media, and acts as a clearinghouse for information to entities interested in the media and establishing a connection with black journalists. The NABJ Media Institute offers professional development opportunities, technical training, historical documentation, educational programs, conferences, workshops, entrepreneurial guidance, as well as web seminars, which consist of quality content and provides resources for students, journalists, and public relations practitioners of color, relating to the media industry.

Selita Eubanks' New Hairdo

Thumbs up!