Reality show star Gloria Govan is handling her recent split from Lakers star Matt Barnes pretty well.  The former couples relationship plays out on television every week on VH1’s “Basketball Wives: LA.”

But it’s not getting her down, in fact, she says life is good.

“I’m happy with where I am now,” she told VH1.

Her announcement of the split came on Tuesday after the couple has been together for years, produced two children together, and making the move to Los Angeles.

“It hasn’t been an easy ride moving across the country twice, having kids at 21 when I just graduated college; it hasn’t been easy,” Gloria said, adding that the pressure of the NBA lockout has also been a huge stress on her former fiancé. “But we’re still friends and we’re still working things out and I wish him nothing but the best.”

Gloria isn’t planning to date anyone any time soon. She’s just taking the time to refocus and get things back in order.

Check out the official "Paranormal Activity 3" Trailer. The movie hits theatres this Thursday October 20th at Midnight!

500 Tips, Strategies, and Resources for the African-American Entrepreneur

by Dante Lee

Foreword by Randal Pinkett

Smiley Books

Paperback, $15.95

310 pages, Illustrated

ISBN: 978-1-4019-2954-1

Black Business Secrets

“Black Business Secrets is dedicated to transforming the devastating statistics that African-Americans are much more likely to fail in business than their white, Asian, or Hispanic counterparts due to a lack of fundamental business education, insufficient economic development, and resources… [The book] offers business tips that will help you get the ball rolling—from consulting to franchises to preparing to enter emerging markets…

Contributions from experienced businesspeople have been central to compiling this wealth of information. They generously gave of their time to provide this warehouse of knowledge… to ensure that your business will shine throughout the 21st Century.”

-- Excerpted from the Introduction (pg. 10)

During these dire economic times when the overall unemployment rate in the U.S. is at 9.8 %, you can be sure that that figure is at least double in the African-American community. And after the Democrats took what President Obama referred to as a “shellacking” on Election Day, they appear prepared to capitulate to the Republican demand that the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy be extended.

If you’re presently out of work, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for the supposedly-stimulative effect of that windfall for the rich to trickle-down to you in the form of a job. Instead, may I suggest perusing a copy of “Black Business Secrets: 500 Tips, Strategies, and Resources for the African-American Entrepreneur.”

This invaluable how-to tome designed with ambitious self-starters in mind was written by Dante Lee, a bona fide success story in his own right. He is the CEO of Diversity City Media, the umbrella organization for a number of marquee internet sites including BlackNews.com, BlackPR.com, HBCUconnect.com and BlackHistory.com. Mr. Lee founded the company in 2000 while still in college, and it has mushroomed over the course of the past decade into the largest network of premier African-American web properties.

In Black Business Secrets, the author shares a cornucopia of practical advice based on his experiences about what’s involved in getting a profitable money-making operation off the ground. But Dante doesn’t rely only on his own anecdotal evidence here, for he also conducted informative tete-a-tetes with such sepia captains of industry as chocolate chip cookie magnate Famous Amos, BET Network founder Bob Johnson, “Reallionaire” Farrah Gray, and reigning wunderkind Ephren Taylor, who is the youngest CEO of a publicly-traded company.

Among the hundreds of tips revealed and elaborated upon in the text are morsels of wisdom ranging from “Learn to Have Thick Skin” to “Don’t Wait for the Phone to Ring” to “Learn to Speak Like Obama” to “Never Check Email in the Morning.” Although much of what’s printed on these pages might be easier read than done, Mr. Lee certainly has a knack for serving up a delectable winning recipe in easy-to-follow, step-by-step fashion.

A plausible primer for financial success for any aspiring entrepreneur armed with a viable business idea and the requisite amalgam of guts, determination and common sense to make their dream a reality.

To order a copy of Black Business Secrets, visit: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401929540?ie=UTF8&tag=thslfofire-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1401929540

Critically-acclaimed film Mooz-lum, starring Evan Ross, Nia Long and Danny Glover is intended to offer a different perspective on Islam, will be released February 11.

Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and the autobots are back for another battle against the evil decepticons!  Transformers: Dark of the Moon is expected to hit theaters next summer. The film was directed by Michael Bay, with Steven Spielberg as the executive producer. The movie will hit theaters on July 1, 2011. Check out the trailer.

The trailer for Halle Berry’s new movie “Frankie & Alice” has been released from Access Motion Pictures.

Berry also served as a producer on the psychological drama based on the true story of Frankie Murdoch (Berry), a woman suffering with multiple personality disorder in early 1970's Los Angeles.

Directed by Geoffrey Sax, and shot by Newton Thomas Sigel (“Valkyrie,” “X-Men,” “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” “The Usual Suspects”), the film also stars Stellan Skarsgård (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”), Phylicia Rashad (“For Colored Girls”) and Chandra Wilson (“Grey’s Anatomy”).

“Frankie & Alice” is opening in limited release on Dec. 10 and nationwide on Feb. 4, 2011

Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige is reportedly in talks to star in the forthcoming film adaptation of the Broadway musical “Rock of Ages.”

New York Magazine is reporting that the Queen of Hip Hop/Soul is eyeing the role of Justice Charlier, a woman who owns the Venus exotic dance club on Los Angeles’s Sunset Strip.

Blige could star alongside Tom Cruise, who is said to be in talks for the role of rock singer Stacee Jaxx in the production.

“Hairspray” helmer and “So You Think You Can Dance” judge Adam Shankman is directing the film from a script by Chris D’Arienzo.

Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett is headed back to television as the newest cast member of ABC’s drama project “One Police Plaza,” Deadline.com reports.

The actress will play New York City’s first female commissioner in the series, which is currently in development.

Bassett was last seen on the small screen in NBC’s “ER,” where she played emergency room chief Dr. Catherine Banfield on the show’s 15th and final season in 2008-09.

The respected actress and wife of actor Courtney B. Vance stars in the upcoming films “Jumping the Broom” and “The Green Lantern.”

For Colored Girls

Black Feminist Classic Refreshed Courtesy of Tyler Perry

Ntozake Shange's For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf made a big splash when it debuted on Broadway back in the Seventies. The emotionally-draining “choreopoem” was essentially a series of soul-baring monologues plumbing the depths of the African-American female psyche on sensitive subjects ranging from sexuality to spirituality. Performed by a nameless cast of seven troubled women, this hybrid of drama and poetry met with critical acclaim, although it particularly resonated with sisters.

Ms. Shange subsequently wrote the screenplay for a made-for-TV version of her opus which aired on PBS’ American Playhouse in 1982. And she also appeared in the movie version opposite Alfre Woodard, Sophie Okenedo and Lynn Whitfield.

The unenviable challenge of adapting her much-beloved production to the big screen has now fallen to Tyler Perry, a man who proves himself up to the challenge. He ostensibly began by abbreviating the original’s cumbersome, grammatically-challenged name, which only makes sense, since it had been coined back during a more loquacious era when wordy was fashionable not only in terms of movie titles (Dr. Strangelove: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb) but in advertising slogans (“Vicks’ Nyquil: The nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head fever so you can rest medicine”) as well.

Next, the inventive Perry fleshed out the lead roles, while adding a number of support characters to the ensemble and updating some themes (ala AIDS and the down-low) as concessions to 21st Century cultural sensibilities. More importantly, however, he has preserved the source material’s relentlessly-harrowing tone.

Loyal Tyler Perry fans will appreciate how his enhanced plotline emulates that of his ever-popular morality plays, except for those trademark touches of humor. The stellar cast assembled to execute his vision includes Janet Jackson, Thandie Newton, Kerry Washington, Loretta Devine, Kimberly Elise, Phylicia Rashad, Macy Gray, Anika Noni Rose and Whoopi Goldberg.

The story is set in a seedy, Harlem tenement inhabited by several of the protagonists. Each, we learn, is already deeply enmeshed in some sort of family dysfunction, from promiscuous bartender Tangie (Newton) who brings home a different stud every night, to her pregnant, teenage sister (Tessa Thompson) in urgent need of an abortion, to their clueless mother (Goldberg), a hoarder caught in the clutches a religious cult. Just across the hall, lives the apartment building’s relatively-composed manager (Rashad) whose self-assured manner might be a mask.

On the floor below, we find Crystal (Elise) being battered by the unemployed, alcoholic boyfriend (Michael Ealy) she refuses to marry yet can’t summon up the gumption to dump. Then there’s Juanita (Devine), a free clinic nurse who counsels others about relationships, but remains in denial about the abysmal state of her own. Naïve dance instructor Yasmine (Rose) comes to regret accepting a date from a flirtatious stranger (Khalil Kain) she meets on the street.
More upscale, but no less troubled are Kelly (Washington), a social worker worried about how her police officer husband (Hill Harper) will react to the news that she can’t conceive. Last but not least, there’s Jo (Jackson), a famous fashion magazine editor, whose closet-gay beau (Omari Hardwick) has been using her for a beard. .

Eventually, all of the assorted melodramas serendipitously merge and resolve themselves satisfactorily right on cue for a typically-preachy, Perry denouement during which our heroines take turns expressing their resolve to rise above their overwhelming personal challenges. A fresh interpretation of For Colored Girls which puts to rest the question of whether that black feminist classic was too dated to be adapted to the screen.
All that was missing was a pistol-packing granny in drag, chirrun!

Excellent (3.5 stars)
Rated for sexuality, profanity and disturbing violence including rape.
Running time: 120 minutes
Studio: Lionsgate Films

To see a trailer for For Colored Girls, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbklqYMaYGg

Is It Just Me? Or Is It Nuts Out There?

Thoughtlessness is the new manners, and I’ve got to say I don’t like it… Somehow, so many little pieces of courtesy have gone by the wayside. People in your face, in your business, not caring if they are being disrespectfully loud…
So over the last year there were days when I remembered to write things down that struck me. Many are written here.

They cover the map of my mind, unleashed on you the way they appear in my head.

Little things, the way I can comment on them in a book but not on TV. In no particular order—oh, and I don’t necessarily have any answers guaranteed to work for anyone.

-- Excerpted from The Foreword (pgs. xiii-xiv)

All over the country nowadays, we’re witnessing a frightening decline in civility, whether it’s teens being bullied to the point of suicide, tourists being subjected to searches at airports that look more like foreplay than pat downs, or simply people talking loudly on cell phones in places where it’s rude or illegal to do so. In the political realm, we’ve heard mudslinging candidates refer to opponents as a “witch,” “whore” or “degenerate idiot,” a Republican interrupt the President’s State of the Union speech to call him a liar, and even a fellow Democrat tell Obama to “shove it.”
Weighing-in on this disturbing trend is comedienne Whoopi Goldberg, herself no stranger to such controversy. You may remember how she and fellow co-host Joy Behar recently became so exasperated by what they considered to be anti-Muslim remarks by guest Bill O’Reilly that they stormed off the set of their own show, The View.

Now Whoopi has written “Is It Just Me? Or Is It Nuts Out There?“, a book chock full of observational humor about the demise of manners in America. In a flip stream of consciousness, she basically bemoans the quality of discourse’s being stuck in the toilet. In fact, the tome’s cover even features a tasteless photo of the author sitting on the john in a public bathroom stall.

Among the hundred or so behaviors getting under Ms. Goldberg’s skin are fans who act like jackasses at sporting events, drivers with road rage, noisy neighbors, cowardly bloggers and cheap perfume. You can easily imagine her gravely voice as you read along, given her conversational tone peppered with colorful slang and salty expletives.
Nothing particularly deep or memorable here, just the literary equivalent of an entertaining standup act by a seasoned comic venting via an emotional dump.

To order a copy of “Is It Just Me?”, visit: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401323847?ie=UTF8&tag=thslfofire-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1401323847

264 pages
ISBN: 978-0-9827-0270-3

“This book is dedicated to all women who are ready to ask themselves, ‘What

Why Do I Have to Think Like a Man?

could I have done differently to get what I wanted out of the relationship?’ or ‘How do I heal now that I’m out of it?’

If you are a reader of self-help or relationship books, you have undoubtedly heard of… Steve Harvey who gave us Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man… He has promised us that if we play our cards right, we can learn how to find a man, get a man, and keep a man by following just a few crucial steps, straight from the handbook of the original player himself.

Ladies, to keep it all the way real… it is time for some real girlfriend talk about the BS and about the state of our situation… The reason this book is relevant is because it is straight talk, no chaser, complete with dating revelations from women who look, think and act like you; who have been through what you have been through and have decided enough is enough and that we can do better.

No, we are not a man, so we don’t think like one. We are emotional, strong, loving creatures… without whom nothing comes to life.”

-- Excerpted from the Preface (pgs. x-xii)

Faithful readers are well aware of how exasperated this critic has become about the recent flood of relationship advice books aimed at the African-American demographic. The latest contribution to the burgeoning genre is this how-to tome written from the female perspective by a couple of cutie pies who have a bone or two to pick with comedian Steve Harvey’s best seller on the subject.

The authors claim to be your average females, but that’s just not the case, judging from their photos (Va-va-va-voom!) and the fact that one of them, Shanae Hall, was once married to an NFL star. Furthermore, these divorcees don’t claim to have any professional credentials, rather merely a lifetime of experience in the battle-of-the-sexes.

Consequently, their primer is peppered with personal anecdotes, such as Shanae’s account how she made a millionaire she was dating wait three years before sleeping with him, only to have the player dump her anyway. The moral of the story is implied by the Chapter’s title: “You Can’t Change Him.”
Another chapter, “Setting Standards with a Capital ‘S’,” contains Shanae’s common sense list of questions you should ask early in a relationship, like: “Are you married?” “Do you have children?” and “Are you still friends with your baby-mama?” Duh!

Excuse me for sensing a slight condescension, if not a disconnect, when a jet-setter who managed to marry a pro-athlete and who ostensibly hobnobs with the rich and famous suggests she’s dealt with the same sort of drama as the unfortunate sisters we see settling their differences daily on Jerry Springer.

That being said, Rhonda and Shanae do have some sensible ideas to share with those members of the love guru book-of-the-month club who are yet to land the man of their dreams.

To order a copy of Why Do I Have to Think Like a Man, visit:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0982702701?ie=UTF8&tag=thslfofire-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0982702701

Case 39 (R for violence, terror and disturbing images) Renee Zellweger stars in this psychological thriller about a naïve social worker who rescues an abused 10 year-old (Jodelle Ferland) from her parents (Callum Keith Rennie and Kerry O’Malley) only to discover that the girl isn’t as innocent as she looks.

Hatchet II (Unrated) Revenge-fueled, fright sequel features scream queen Danielle Harris reprising her lead role of Marybeth with the survivor returning to the swamps of Louisiana assisted by an army of hunters in the search for the bayou butcher (Kane Hodder) behind the slaughter of her family. Cast includes Tony Todd, John Carl Buechler and Tom Holland.

Let Me In (Unrated) Remake of Let the Right One In, the Swedish horror flick about a bullied, 12 year-old boy (Kodi Smit-McPhee) who discovers that his new friend (Chloe Moretz) and her mute father (Richard Jenkins) are hiding a big secret. With Elias Koteas, Cara Buono and Seth Adkins.

The Social Network (PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, and drug and alcohol use) David Fincher directs this bio-pic about billionaire Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), the wunderkind who founded Facebook in 2004 while still a student at Harvard. Ensemble cast includes Justin Timberlake, Rashida Jones, Max Minghella, Andrew Garfield, Brenda Song, Mara Rooney and Joseph Mazzello.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Barry Munday (R for sexuality and profanity) Castration comedy about a wannabe ladies man (Patrick Wilson) who awakens in a hospital with his testicles missing after being attacked in a movie theater. To add insult to injury, the newly-neutered eunuch learns he’s being sued for paternity by a woman (Judy Greer) he can’t even remember sleeping with. Cast includes Chloe Sevigny, Billy Dee Williams, Cybill Shepherd, Malcolm McDowell and Colin Hanks.

Chain Letter (R for profanity, brief nudity and pervasive sadistic violence) Gruesome horror flick about six teenagers being stalked by a sicko (Michael Bailey Smith) threatening to kill those who refuse to forward his chilling text and email messages. With Nikki Reed, Keith David, Brad Dourif, Bai Ling, Matt Cohen, Noah Segan and Brian Tee.

Douchebag (Unrated) Sibling rivalry comedy about a groom-to-be (Andrew Dickler) who, at the suggestion of his fence-mending fiancée (Marguerite Moreau), embarks on a road trip with her and his estranged brother (Ben York Jones) in search of the latter’s childhood sweetheart so he can have a date for the wedding. With Nicole Vicius, Amy Ferguson and Wendi McLendon-Covey.

Freakonomics (PG-13 for violence, sexuality, nudity, drug use and brief profanity) A half-dozen directors contribute segments to this pop culture documentary illustrating a variety of the unorthodox economic ideas contained in Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner’s best seller of the same name exploring the “Hidden Side of Everything.”

The Hungry Ghosts (Unrated) The Sopranos’ Michael Imperioli makes his directorial debut with this East-meets-West drama revolving around an eclectic group of New Yorkers’ quest for sensual and spiritual fulfillment. Ensemble includes Aunjanue Ellis, Emory Cohen, Steven Schirripa, Nick Sandow and Sharon Angela.

Inspector Bellamy (Unrated) Crime caper, directed by the recently-deceased Claude Chabrol, revolving around Paris’ Police Commissioner (Gerard Depardieu) whose quiet vacation with his wife (Marie Bunel) at their country home is disturbed by the arrival of his ne’er-do-well stepbrother (Clovis Cornillac) and a mysterious stranger (Jacques Gamblin) in need of protection. (In French with subtitles)

Ip Man (Unrated) Historical bio-pic, set in the late Thirties, about the Chinese martial arts master (Donnie Yen) who first introduced the discipline known as Wing Chun to Japan. With Simon Yam, Siu-Wong Fan and Ka Tung Lam. (In Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese with subtitles)

Leaving (Unrated) Romance thriller, set in the South of France, revolving around a happily-married psychotherapist (Kristin Scott Thomas) who recklessly risks her bourgeois lifestyle by embarking on a passionate affair with her ex-con handyman (Sergi Lopez). (In French, Catalan and English with subtitles)

S&Man (Unrated) Peeping Tom documentary explores the voyeuristic nature of mainstream horror films via an examination of snuff, bondage and other fetish films.

Speed-Dating (Unrated) Urban-oriented comedy about a trio of players (Wesley Jonathan, Chico Benymon and Leonard Robinson) who devise the ultimate scheme to seduce women while simultaneously making money. Supporting cast includes Mekita Faiye, Chris Elliott, Esther Baxter and Chingy.

"To really know about a person, you have to do things that they did, and see the things that they saw. So I listened to the music, and watched performances on YouTube, I walked the streets of Jimi’s hometown, Seattle.

Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow

 I read and thought about Jimi, and talked to people who knew him, and I even fingered an electric guitar once or twice...

I thought about how Jimi saw the world and how that differed from other people’s views, so I painted Jimi one way and his surroundings another way… This book is about the creative process of an artist… No matter who we are creatively, we all basically follow the same path, but make the process our own and unique to us… All I can say is, Jimi rocks!”

-- Excerpted from the Illustrator’s Note (pg. 31)

Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) was a flamboyant rock icon who flamed out instead of fading away due to his also being a substance abuser who dabbled in everything from alcohol to marijuana to amphetamines to hashish to heroin to LSD before succumbing at the tender age of 27 to a combination of red wine and sleeping pills. Ostensibly enough time has elapsed since his passing that Hendrix can now serve as a role model to children, at least in terms of overcoming childhood adversity, exploring one’s creativity and, of course, making beautiful music.

Thus, he is appropriately the subject of Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow, an autobiography designed for 4th though 8th graders which focuses primarily on the legendary guitarist’s formative years spent growing up and exploring in Seattle. Faithful factually to what actually transpired in Jimi’s life, the book touches on such significant milestones as his acquiring his first ukulele, guitar and, later, electric guitar.

Adults familiar with Hendrix’s hits are more apt to appreciate how author Gary Golio has imperceptibly woven allusions to songs like “The Wind Cries Mary” and “Purple Haze” right into the story. A little less subtle are Javaka Steptoe’s psychedelic illustrations evocative of flower children fave Peter Max.

Hey, if these authors figured out how to put a positive spin on the Woodstock Nation’s fondness for hallucinogens, who knows what’s next? Maybe a graphic pop-up book aimed at kindergarteners about the Hip-Hop Generation’s East Coast-West Coast turf war featuring bios of Biggie and Tupac.

Excuse me while I kiss the sky.

To order a copy of Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow, visit: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618852794?ie=UTF8&tag=thslfofire-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0618852794

After learning that his job is being outsourced, Todd (Josh Hamilton) is faced with the choice of either resigning or relocating to India to train his replacement. Conceding that he’s standing in the way of globalization, Todd moves to Mumbai, where he soon comes to regret that fateful decision. For not only does he see himself as sewing the seeds for the speedy demise of the U.S. infrastructure, but he finds himself missing familiar food like McDonald’s hamburgers.

So, when he starts familiarizing his new recruits with American idioms, he deliberately misinforms them about the fundamental meaning of certain terms. For instance, he teaches them that ‘schmuck’ means nice guy and that a ‘redneck’ is a farmer, hoping to hurt the business by aggravating callers from the States. Meanwhile, he’s gradually being driven crazy by beggars and pickpockets and local customs calling for eating meals without utensils and treating cows as sacred.

Consequently, he is eager to return home, at least until the day he locks eyes with the alluring Asha (Ayesha Dharker), a raven-haired intern with good looks and spunk to spare. Mutually-curious despite their considerable social differences, the two embark on a flirtatious kabuki dance daily till they can contain themselves no longer and share a stolen kiss.

They proceed to fall head-over-heels in love and to date secretly, although Asha fails to reveal that she’s already engaged to an Indian guy picked out by her parents. Will she follow through with the arranged marriage or abandon her fiancé for the foreigner for whom she feels so much passion?

That is the pivotal question to be answered in Outsourced. Engaging, unpredictable, hilarious and entertaining at every turn, this charming romantic romp offers all you could ever ask of a modern cross-cultural comedy, plus it paints a plausible picture of the logical consequences of sending so many jobs overseas.

Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG-13 for sexual content.
Running time: 103 minutes
Studio: CreateSpace DVD/ShadowCatcher Entertainment
DVD Extras: A half-dozen never-before-seen “behind the scenes” documentaries by director John Jeffcoat, a discussion with cinematographer Teo Maniaci, a translation of Hindi dialogue, the final shooting script and more.

To see a trailer for Outsourced, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LImhTTFu4b8