Daily News Feed 11.11.2009/Vocab: forfend

Berry to receive Sherry Lansing award
Halle Berry has something else in common with fellow Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Jodie Foster: The Sherry Lansing Leadership Award. The Hollywood Reporter says Berry will receive the honor next month at the paper’s 18th annual Power 100: Women in Entertainment breakfast. The award recognizes groundbreaking contributions to the entertainment industry. Besides Streep and Foster, past recipients include Barbara Walters, Glenn Close and Lansing herself. (Continue Reading…)

Women say ‘adios’ to Black hair salons in favor of Dominicans
Janis Boatwright doesn’t speak Spanish. “Buenos dias. That’s all I can tell you,” Boatwright chuckles. Yet, she’s part of a growing number of African-American women who are saying “adios” to black hair salons and “hola” to Dominican hair salons. “I like the fullness you get in your hair,” said Boatwright, 49, of Baltimore. “You don’t have to have a relaxer; you can get your hair blown out with the brush.” According to Jennifer Drew, creator of roundbrushhair.com, a Website that tracks and promotes Dominican hair salons nationwide, African-American women make up an estimated 95 percent of the clientele at Dominican hair shops. Dominican salons are known for their signature hair styling that includes roller setting the hair and using a round brush and blow dryer to finish the look. Drew said the technique, along with their fast walk-in service and low prices makes them more appealing to black women. In Maryland, the average cost for basic service is $35, compared to $50 at black salons. “You can afford to go back weekly, whereas if you’re spending $50 to $55 [at a black hair salon], maybe you’ll go once a month,” explained Drew. (Continue Reading…)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar being treated for rare form of leukemia
As if a leukemia diagnosis weren’t enough, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had another internal battle on his hands. Whom should he tell? The intensely private Abdul-Jabbar found out last December that he had a rare form of leukemia, though he shared it with only the smallest of circles. He waited five months before telling Lakers Coach Phil Jackson that he had Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia, Jackson said Tuesday. The disease is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that produces cancerous blood cells. (Continue Reading…)