Jay Z: Is Shawn Carter Being Unfairly Demonized?

Over the years I have notice a trend where certain celebrities are demonized by haters. In some cases they are accused of belonging to elite devil worshipping secret societies that are said to include rituals of a bisexual and homosexual nature.
Basically what I see is a bunch of have nots hating on the haves by stating that the only way they have been economically successful is by selling their souls to the devil. This sad and serves to further divide us and keep a segment of our people from making any real progress. They refuse to become anything because they feel they cannot make it without selling their souls or doing immoral acts to get anywhere in life. It's just another excuse for failure before they even attempt to become something in life but a hater.
Please read the following article.

Jay Z: I'm being 'demonized' over Barneys deal

Nekesa Mumbi Moody and Karen Matthews, Associated Press9:52 a.m. EDT October 27, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) — Jay Z — under increasing pressure to back out of a collaboration with the luxury store Barneys New York after it was accused of racially profiling two black customers — said Saturday he's being unfairly "demonized" for just waiting to hear all of the facts.

The rap mogul made his first statement about the controversy in a posting on his website. He has come under fire for remaining silent as news surfaced this week that two young black people said they were profiled by Barneys after they purchased expensive items from their Manhattan store.

An online petition and Twitter messages from fans have been circulating this week, calling on the star to bow out of his upcoming partnership with Barneys for the holiday season, which will have the store selling items by top designers, inspired by Jay Z, with some of the proceeds going to his charity. He is also working with the store to create its artistic holiday window display.

MORE: Sharpton threatens NYC store boycott over profiling claims

But Jay Z — whose real name is Shawn Carter — defended himself, saying that he hasn't spoken about it because he's still trying to figure out exactly what happened.

"I move and speak based on facts and not emotion," the statement said. "I haven't made any comments because I am waiting on facts and the outcome of a meeting between community leaders and Barneys. Why am I being demonized, denounced and thrown on the cover of a newspaper for not speaking immediately?" he said, referring to local newspaper headlines.

Jay Z — who rose from a life of crime in Brooklyn to become one of the most heralded rappers and one of entertainment's biggest superstars — has in the past called for a boycott of labels perceived to be racist, and has become more political in recent years, from speaking out about the killing of black teenager Trayvon Martin to campaigning for President Obama.

Jay Z said in this case, he's still trying to find out what happened —which is why he was silent.

"The negligent, erroneous reports and attacks on my character, intentions and the spirit of this collaboration have forced me into a statement I didn't want to make without the full facts," he added.

He also dismissed reports that he would profit from the collaboration. He said he's "not making a dime" from working with Barneys. Instead, his Shawn Carter Foundation, which provides college scholarships to economically challenged students, will get 25 percent of all sales from the collaboration.

"This money is going to help individuals facing socio-economic hardships to help further their education at institutions of higher learning," he said. "My idea was born out of creativity and charity… not profit."

He also said that "making a decision prematurely to pull out of this project wouldn't hurt Barneys or Shawn Carter but all the people that stand a chance at higher education," he said. "I have been working with my team ever since the situation was brought to my attention to get to the bottom of these incidents and at the same time find a solution that doesn't harm all those that stand to benefit from this collaboration."

Jay Z said he understood what it felt like to be racially profiled — but also didn't want to jump to unfair conclusions.

"I am against discrimination of any kind but if I make snap judgments, no matter who it's towards, aren't I committing the same sin as someone who profiles?" he asked. "I am no stranger to being profiled and I truly empathize with anyone that has been put in that position. Hopefully this brings forth a dialogue to effect real change."

Depression and Sleep

Depression and Sleep: Getting the Right Amount

Lack of sleep can upset your biologic clock and make your depression worse. At the same time, depression can influence your sleeping habits.

By Chris Iliades, MD
Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

A change in your sleep habits is one of the most common effects of depression. Lack of sleep can start before depression, be a symptom of depression, and make depression worse.

"Depression and sleep are closely related," says Prashant Gajwani, MD, associate professor and vice chairman of clinical affairs in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston. "Depression is a brain illness, and it affects many types of brain functions, including the sleep-wake cycle. Once this biologic clock has been disturbed, it can make sleep even more irregular and that adds to the depression. It can become a vicious cycle for many people."

Effects of Depression on Sleep

People with depression commonly experience disturbed sleep patterns, but the way depression affects sleep varies widely.

"Difficulty getting enough sleep is a major symptom for most people with depression, but for about 10 to 20 percent of people, the effects of depression result in sleeping too much," says Dr. Gajwani. Depression commonly causes:

Difficulty falling asleep
Difficulty staying asleep
Waking up early in the morning
Oversleeping
Sleeping during the day
Poor quality of sleep
Waking up feeling tired

Effects of Sleep on Depression

The amount of restful sleep you are getting can affect your emotional health. "Lack of sleep for a long enough time can cause depression," says Gajwani. Although it is unlikely that lack of sleep alone is responsible for most cases of depression, it may contribute to depression in some people. The fact that many people who have sleep problems develop depression may indicate that sleep disorders and depression have similar causes or risk factors. Links between depression and sleep have been found in many studies, for example:

Research shows that people with insomnia have a 10-fold higher risk of developing depression.
Other types of sleep-related disorders, like obstructive sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome, are associated with high rates of depression. For people with obstructive sleep apnea, depression often improves with apnea treatment.
Research shows that children with depression who experience a lack of sleep or who sleep too much are more likely to have longer and more severe episodes of depression.
Experts suspect that chronic lack of sleep caused by physical illness is one reason older people have higher rates of depression.

Tips for a Good Night's Sleep

If you’re having a hard time sleeping at night or you are sleeping away too much of the day, following some healthy sleep habits may help. To start, set a bedtime schedule. "It is very important for people with a history of depression to keep regular hours of sleep,” says Gajwani. “You should go to bed about the same time and get up about the same time, and use your bedroom only for sleep or sex." Here are some other tips to sleep by:

Exercise. "Make sure to get regular exercise and spend some time outdoors in the sunlight every day. This is a good way to set your biologic clock, and it helps maintain a regular sleep-wake cycle," says Gajwani.
Skip the nap. Avoid afternoon naps, which can lead to nighttime insomnia.
Limit caffeine and alcohol, especially later in the day. Caffeine is a stimulant and can keep you wide awake, while alcohol can disrupt sleep quality. "Alcohol before bedtime will interfere with sleep,” warns Gajwani. “It may help you fall asleep, but you are less likely to sleep through the night."
Get up if you can’t sleep. "Don't waste time lying in bed looking at your clock," says Gajwani. If you find yourself lying awake, the best thing is to get up and do something relaxing until you feel tired.
Shut off the TV. "Avoid watching television late at night. Most shows in the evening are too stimulating and do not promote good sleep,” says Gajwani. “It's better to read a book or do a relaxing activity in the hours before bed."
Practice good sleep hygiene. This includes using your bedroom primarily for sleeping and sticking to a regular sleep schedule. Avoid distractions in your bedroom, like phones, computers, too much light, and too much noise. Make sure your bed is comfortable and that the room temperature is comfortable for sleeping.

Changes in sleep patterns can be an effect of depression or an early warning sign of it. Let your doctor know if you are not able to sleep or if you are sleeping too much. "Over-the-counter sleep aids are not a good solution for people with depression and sleep problems,” says Gajwani. “Practice good sleep hygiene, get regular exercise, and work with your doctor or therapist to get your depression under control." Taking care of yourself, including getting the right amount of restful sleep, can help you manage your depression.

Last Updated: 09/14/2012
This section created and produced exclusively by the editorial staff of EverydayHealth.com. © 2013 EverydayHealth.com; all rights reserved.

Soy: The Pros and Cons

The Truth About Soy

Is soy a disease-preventing miracle food or a dangerous health threat disguised as diet-friendly protein? Here are both sides of the story, and why there's no clear picture of soy's health pros and cons.

By Annie Hauser, Senior Editor

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced in 1999 that diets including daily soy resulted in a significantly reduced risk of heart disease, the No. 1 cause of death in the United States, then and now.

With the announcement, soy officially became a darling of the health-food world and a cornerstone of American diets.

Fast-forward 13 years, and soy products are still widely seen as healthy alternatives to their animal counterparts. Soy protein saturates supermarket shelves — sneaking into everything from cereal to protein bars to crackers to frozen meals and even surprising places like some brands of canned tuna — not to mention the more recognizable forms of soy, including edamame, tofu, soy milk, soy cheeses, and soy meats.

But as soy's popularity wages on, some notable nutritionists and doctors now warn against consuming soy in any form, including the processed and packaged foods that contain types of soy protein.

Isoflavones: Soy's Potentially Dangerous Compound

The reason is soy's isoflavones, a naturally occurring plant compound that is present is all forms of soy, including organic soy, which is a type of phytoestrogen. Phytoestrogen is produced by plants and is slightly different from the estrogen hormone produced by the human body. But in excess, it can create some of the devastating effects of estrogen overload in both men and women. Although soy isn't the only source of isoflavones in the modern diet (all legumes have them), soy is the most concentrated, says Amy Gross MPH, RD, CDN of the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. To make things more confusing, while isoflavones harm some people, they have been found to be beneficial in others. 

"There are different theories as to why these things may affect us differently, or exacerbate one thing and improve another in our bodies," Gross says. "It could potentially bind to estrogen receptors in different cells in our body. It could act similarly to estrogen or take over where estrogen would usually take over when looking at that receptor itself that would be on that individual cell. There is a lot of research that tells different stories."

Soy's Health Benefits and Risks: Why the Jury Is Out

"Soy is very heavily marketed as a healthy food," says Kaayla Daniel, PhD, a nutritionist and author of the book The Dark Side of Soy, "but the fact is, we've got hundreds of studies that link soy consumption to malnutrition, ADHD, immune system, reproductive health problems, digestive disorders, certain types of cancers, and more." It is also important to note that non-genetically modified soy and organic soy has been linked to these health conditions as well, Daniel says. Israel and Germany have issued warnings against the consumption of soy foods for young children and infants. New Zealand also warns that soy formula for infants should only be used as a last resort. To date, these three countries are the only ones to come out forcefully against soy consumption.

Still, some studies indicates that soy in moderation, particularly tempeh, miso, and other soy sources with relatively low levels of isoflavones, can be beneficial — though many of these pro-soy studies have been funded by soy lobbying groups, such as the Soybean Board.

Here's a look at some of the conditions soy can affect. 

• Thyroid function. Hypothyroidism is often cited as the greatest risk of soy consumption: Just 30 grams of soybeans a day for 30 days produced thyroid issues in healthy adult men and women, a landmark study at Aichi Medical University in Japan found. "Soy is one of the many factors that puts the thyroid at risk," Daniel says, "and we know from many studies that just one glass of soy milk per day is sufficient to cause thyroid problems." 

• Allergies. The cause of itching, inflammation, hives, and even deadly anaphylaxis, soy is one of the top eight allergens in the food supply, the FDA reports. Because of these concerns and rising rates of soy allergies, the FDA began requiring food producers to print a "Contains: Soy" label on any food with any type of soy. "Because there's soy in just about everything that’s processed, people with soy allergies are really going to have to prepare foods from scratch — a blessing in disguise for overall health," Daniel says.

• Reproductive risks. Several studies, including one recently conducted at the University of Geneva Medical School, have linked the isoflavones in soy to a decreased sperm count and sexual side effects in mice. Soy-and-mice studies are numerous and controversial because critics argue that mice studies do not have a direct human application and that the mice studied are given much more concentrated doses of soy than any human would eat. "It’s true that mice and humans are different, but if soy adversely affect animals, it’s obvious that there’s going to be some effect on humans as well," Daniel counters.

• Cancer risk. Cancer and soy is one of the most hot-button health issues today. Some studies, including one that tracked almost 100,000 California women for eight years, have found that soy consumption decreases risk for ovarian or breast cancers. A second study that tracked 64,000 Japanese women for 15 years linked soybean curd, specifically tofu, consumption to a decreased mortality rate from ovarian cancer.
  
  On the flip side, multiple studies have linked soy consumption to breast cancer recurrence, meaning if a woman already has breast cancer, it's likely to come back if she eats a soy-heavy diet. Mark Messina, MD, who is an advisor to the U.S. Soybean Board, says studies have linked soy consumption to a decreased risk of prostate cancer, however a recent Swedish study concluded the opposite.

• Heart health and weight management. If there's one thing those on both sides of the soy debate can agree on, it's that soy products are an excellent source of lean protein. "If you’re choosing soy instead of a higher fat meat source as your protein, you will have less calories and less saturated fat, so it will be more of a heart-healthy choice," Gross says. "If you're doing it correctly, eating lower-calorie soy products instead of animal products could help with managing your weight." Studies have also found that regular soy consumption can lower bad LDL cholesterol.

• Menopause. In some women, soy's isoflavones improve symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes. In others, soy only exacerbates symptoms, Daniel says."That’s why we need to respect soy as actually being a powerful medicine that is sometimes appropriate and many times not appropriate," she explains. Unfortunately, the only real way to know how it will affect you is to try it, Daniel says, because there's no test to determine soy's affect on individuals.

Should You Eat Soy?

Soy, like all foods, has pros and cons, so like all foods, the take-home message is to consume it in moderation. Gross recommends eating one to two servings a day, max, as part of a balanced diet, which includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low- or nonfat dairy, and other sources of lean protein.  Because soy often hides in processed foods under aliases such as "textured vegetable protein," it's important to read nutrition labels on anything you buy to make sure it doesn't have hidden soy along with other ingredients.

"Soy is in so many things you might not expect," Daniel warns. "Just about everything that comes in a package. If you’re eating a lot of processed and packaged foods, you're also eating additives and flavorings, high-fructose corn syrup, and who knows what else, so it's not just the soy that's the problem in those products."

Instead, Daniel and Gross both recommend preparing whole foods at home that you can make from scratch, and avoiding processed foods whenever possible for overall health.

"I think that it’s entirely appropriate to include soy in your diet," Gross says. "But I wouldn’t have it be everything that you’re eating. We need a variety of foods, and if you're focusing on one food, you might be missing out."

Soy Milk vs. Regular Cow's Milk

TELL US: Are you for or against soy? Sound off in the comments.

For more nutrition news, follow @weightloss on Twitter from the editors of @EverydayHealth.

Biker arrested for accident that caused attack on SUV driver

Biker surrenders to New York cops after another arrested for accident that caused attack on SUV driver

Motorcyclist Christopher Cruz allegedly caused an accident with Alexian Lien when he cut off the SUV driver on Sunday. Lien, who was driving his wife and their 2-year-old, stopped but fled when a group of bikers began to damage his Range Rover — and Lien plowed into rider Edwin Mieses, who's been left paralyzed, his mother says.

BY BEVERLY FORD IN LAWRENCE, MASS. , JOE KEMP AND THOMAS TRACY / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

PUBLISHED: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013, 8:14 AM

UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013, 4:56 AM

Sources said Christopher Cruz, 28 (pictured) cut Alexian Lien off on the Henry Hudson Parkway and caused the accident that triggered a wild 4-mile chase through upper Manhattan.

Cops have arrested two of the bikers who they say sparked a hell-on-wheels ordeal in upper Manhattan that ended with a mob beating and slashing a man in front of his wife and 2-year-old.
As Christopher Cruz, 28, was awaiting arraignment on charges stemming from the attack on Alexian Lien, police arrested a second motorcyclist, Allen Edwards, 42, of Queens.

Cops are trying to identify two suspects (pictured) who are also wanted in the beating and slashing a Manhattan man in front of his family.

RELATED: PACK OF MOTORCYCLISTS CHASE MAN IN SUV ON WEST SIDE HIGHWAY

Cruz was riding with a swarm of motorcyclists when he swerved in front of Lien’s Range Rover on the Henry Hudson Parkway and stopped short, causing Lien, 33, to bump the biker’s back tire, police said.

INSTAGRAM/REDYREDBX

Video shows Lien, 33, being ripped out of his Range Rover and beaten in front of his wife and 2-year-old daughter.

Video taken by one of the sport-bikers taking part in the wild ride shows the group of motorcyclists then stopping and surrounding the SUV. They attacked the door and tires, cops say, and Lien peeled away, seriously injuring one of the bikers.

Cruz was charged with menacing, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child.Edwards surrendered after police released a photo of him. He was charged Tuesday night with reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and menacing, police said.

Mieses was in a medically induced coma at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, family said.

RELATED: MAN PUNCHES STORE CLERK OVER 41-CENT CHARGESources said Edwards was the biker shown in an online video pounding on the rear window of Lien’s Range Rover while another brute bashed in the driver’s-side window using his helmet.

Mieses was in a medically-induced coma at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, family said.

Cops were still searching for other motorcyclists who dragged Lien out of the SUV and beat and slashed him. He received stitches for his wounds and was released.RELATED: MAN FATALLY STABBED IN BROOKLYN

Mieses was recovering from broken legs, bruised lungs and spine fractures. Family said doctors fear he may never walk again.

Lien was not charged, angering relatives of biker Edwin Mieses, 32, of Lawrence, Mass., who had both legs broken when Lien ran him over trying escape the pack.“You have to look at the totality of the circumstances and that’s what we’re doing,” said NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly, noting that Lien fled the attacking bikers in fear for his and his family’s safety.

The bikers left the pummeled man bleeding on the ground before police arrived.The bikers were taking part in a ride loosely organized by a group called Hollywood Stuntz. Police arrested 15 bikers Sunday for incidents unrelated to the mob attack. “We had over 200 calls just on Sunday about this particular group operating in a reckless manner,” Kelly said.With Rocco Parascandola and Bill Hutchinsonjkemp@nydailynews.com@joekempUsing a mobile device? Click here for video.Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/cops-hunt-bikers-wanted-wild-upper-manhattan-attack-article-1.1472419#ixzz2gYcymz65LIVELEAK.COM

About 30 bikers caught up with Lien in Washington Heights. One biker so far has been charged with menacing, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and endangering the welfare of a child.LIVELEAK.COMPolice said Lien initially stopped after the accident, but several angry bikers began to bash his car with their helmets and slash his tires before he fled.