by Yolanda M. Johnson

Lamar Rashawn Giles was born in 1979 in Hopewell, Virigina. He currently resides in Chesapeake, where he is constantly working on his writing. Lamar began writing at the age of eight when his short story, "Giant Dinosaur Inside" took first place in a Young Author's competition.

In 2001, Mr. Giles won a whopping $5 when he sold a piece of work to Alternaterealities.com for his short story "Amber Romance". In 2003, Brandon Massey accepted Mr. Giles' "The Track" as one of the stories published in "Dark Dreams: A Collection of Horror and Suspense by Black Writers".

To read more on L. R. Giles, visit him at http://www.lrgiles.com/

Hank Thomas was 19 years old, a sophomore at historically black Howard University in Washington, D.C., when he boarded a Greyhound bus to journey through the 1960s Deep South. It wasn't long before an angry mob of segregationists launched a grenade through the window outside Anniston, Ala., and held its door closed, crying "Let's burn them n------!" It took only a few seconds for the grenade to explode and the bus to fill up with smoke.

State Health Commissioner Antonia C. Novello M.D., M.P.H., Dr.P.H. and State Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro today issued an update concerning the gastrointestinal illness which has been linked to the spray park attraction at Seneca Lake State Park. The State's investigation is ongoing.

The number of reported illnesses possibly linked to the park is now 3,297 cases in thirty-three counties, prompting the commissioners to again stress precautionary measures people should take to keep the illness from spreading further.

by Monique Bruner

How often do you tell your grandparents (or those who take the place of your grandparents) you appreciate their love, support, and respect? We are African Americans should make a special point to shower our elders with love as often as we can. But if you are a person that waits for a holiday – what about Grandparents Day?

In 1970, Marian McQuade initiated a campaign to set aside a special day just for Grandparents. Through years of petitions, political support from the state of West Virginia, and concerted efforts of various civic, business, and church organizations, President Jimmy Carter signed legislation. Since that time National Grandparents Day has been celebrated the first Sunday after Labor Day. The month of September was chosen for the holiday, to signify the “autumn years” of life.

by Yolanda M. Johnson

YMJ: My daughter and I never missed an episode of first few seasons of the UPN Show Moesha which is the first place that I think I noticed you, with the exception of Martin. Marcus how old were you when you started Moesha? MTP: I was about 8 when I started Moesha. I had just finished the episode of Martin and begin auditioning for the role of Myles. YMJ: How old were you when you first started acting? MTP: I was 4 when I first started acting. YMJ: How old are you now? MTP: I'm 18 years old. YMJ: My research shows that you played various roles in many movies, commercials and sitcoms. I see you did a commercial for Yoplait Yogurt in 2003. What was your first stint? MTP: My first big thing was the Hammerman cartoon. It was an animated show where in the beginning Hammer would discuss the story idea for the day with several girls and boys and I was one of them. And we would dance for the opening and ending credits. I am seen at the ending credits dancing for Hammer as he is watching.

by Monique Bruner

The sight of crossing guards and bright yellow buses mean the “dog days of summer” and the traditional summer break have come to a close — our nation’s schools have reopened! Here are some facts that highlight the importance of school and parental involvement. Take time this week to show appreciation to your students, teachers, and school administrators returning to the classroom.

Facts found on Census Website at: www.census.gov

This informative luncheon will give an overview of the STATE OF BLACK BUSINESS IN SAN DIEGO, by presenting past successes, present conditions, and future opportunitites.

While individual success is a common occurance in our business community, the Black business community as a whole needs more understanding of the balances of power so that it may position itself for opportunitites in the future.

This luncheon will set the foundation for a more inclusive opportunistic future for Black businesses.

Malcolm X Library 5148 Market St San Diego, California 92114 $20 Online - $25 @ the Door 11:30 - 1:30

by Shelia M. Goss

$20,000 for the most strict family in the US! ABC!

ABC and "Wife Swap" are casting for season 2! The premise of Wife Swap is simple: two moms from two different families swap lives (but not bedrooms!) for one week to experience what it's like to live a different woman's life! What could you teach another family? We're looking for two parent homes with children at least 5 and older.

Each participating family receives a $20,000 honorarium !

NOTE: To SUBMIT your family, you MUST MENTION S. HUGHES @ Planet Shark referred you when you contact Heather @ heather.teta@rdfusa.com or 212-404-1428 (make sure to mention S. Hughes/Planet Shark Productions & good luck!)

Urban Independent Music Award's combines performances with celebrity presenters and special guests to honor legendary as well as up-and-coming artists in the independent entertainment industry. Independent artists compete for top billing in categories including Album and Single of the Year for Go-Go, Gospel, Hip-Hop, Jazz, R&B/Soul, Reggae, and Rock/Pop. The UIMA's history of honorees include Big Tigger, Ludacris, Eve, Donnie Simpson, Stacy Lattisaw, Tim Reid, Luke Campbell, Roxanne Shante, and many more contributors to the independent arena.

Locality: Washington, DC Friday, September 23, 24, 2005 2005 Nominee Information & Categories Nominee: any artist (s) who has released/finished a single between August 1, 2004 and August 1, 2005. To receive information on the UIMA, email uima@makingmoves.us. PO Box 2138, Stafford, VA 22555

A tag team of Internet worms dubbed “Zotob” and “Rbot” have begun to knock out computers by slipping through some recently discovered holes in Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

One of the most identifiable signs of infection is the unexpected shutdown and rebooting of the computer, which may occur repeatedly. In addition, the worms can change the computer’s Internet settings to prevent it from receiving help from Web- based antivirus programs or websites. Furthermore, the worms can allow Internet criminals to connect to the infected computer and hijack it, which not only gives them access to the victim’s files, but also enables them to use the computer as a “zombie” or “drone” to attack other computers or websites.

TIME, Are You Wasting It or Investing It

(Mark 13:33-35) Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. (34) It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. (35) Therefore, keep awake--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn. (Eccl 3:1) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: (James 4:14) Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Two decades after coming here from El Salvador, Blanca Mejia de Vasquez badly wanted to own a house not too far from her Northwest Washington neighborhood, but the prices were too high for her income as a cosmetologist.

Her solution was first to team up with her mother, a restaurant worker, to qualify for a mortgage and then to agree, reluctantly, to broaden her home search into other areas of the city.

Today, she and her mother own a house with a backyard and three parking spaces in Northeast. They moved in, along with her three teenage sons, in March.

James Lisbon: When and why did you start The Possibili -Tees? Sheraun Britton-Parris "Before a person can accomplish anything of an enduring nature in the world she must first of all acquire some measure of success in the management of her own mind. If a person cannot govern the forces within herself, she cannot hold a firm hand upon the outer activities that form her visible life." - The Mastery of Destiny This, above all else is the reason The Possibili-Tees exists. We exist to help women re-program their limited thinking with life affirming messages that inspire them to shake off mediocrity and live the life they WANT rather than the life SOMEONE ELSE GIVES them. In 1993 I started The Possibili-Tees with this goal in mind.

This month's "What's On Your Mind?" question is: What is YOUR opinion on the "morning after" pill? Email your opinions, comments and questions to WOYM@awarenessmagazine.net or to yolanda@awarenessmagazine.net.