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Good evening, folks, Today I want to discuss who is playing tomorrow on Thursday night football! So, let’s get started, shall we?! So, the first matchup of the season will be the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions in Kansas City. A lot of people really think that the Lions are going to be very good this season. The Chiefs of course will be good once again especially after winning their second Super Bowl in State Farm Stadium against the Eagles. The Chiefs pro bowl tight end Travis Kelce is questionable to play vs the Lions as he is dealing with his knee. He hyperextended his knee while he was practicing on the field with his teammates. That would not be a good start for the Chiefs if he can’t play because he is a dual threat to all of the opponents no matter what team the Chiefs play. Of course, they could find a way to win the game without him, but it might be a little bit tough for the Chiefs offense. So, what is my first prediction of the season? I think the Chiefs come out on top of the Lions 37-23 in a pretty close game. The Lions offense and defense could play good tomorrow, but it won’t be enough to beat the Super Bowl Champions especially the fact that the stadium is so loud as the crowds just distract the away teams rooting for them to make mistakes. So, there you go!

What are your thoughts about the game?! I would love to hear your comments and thoughts down below!

Stay tuned for NFL updates.

The post Tomorrow’s Thursday Night Football Prediction! appeared first on The Nerd Element.

During today’s Walt Disney Studios presentation at Destination D23, the event was more an an overview of current new releases on the studio slate as opposed to new premieres and surprises of what is coming out of the studio.

There was a brief mention during the panel that Disney will release a collection of 100 animated movies as a part of a gift set that you can own. This is to celebrate the 100 years of Disney that the company is currently commemorating this year.

Clark Spencer, president of Walt Disney Studios kicked off the presentation with opening remarks about the history of Disney animation and the impact the company has had on audiences worldwide.

This was a great segue to introduce filmmakers Dan Abraham and Trent Correy to talk about their short film “Once Upon A Studio”. D23 attendees had the opportunity to screen the film which for Disney fans was incredible to experience. Bubbling with nostalgia the flick contains some of your favorite Disney characters from Mickey Mouse, Tiana from Princess and the Frog, Goofy, and so many more! The movie resonated with patrons from the D23 event so much that it received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Property master of such shows of The Mandalorian and Ahsoka chatted a bit about the construction and labor behind creating Ahsoka Tano’s lightsaber on the series. And while we didn’t get a sneak peek of any episodes beyond what the public has already seen, we did get a surprise from Josh and the team over at Ashoka where every attendee in the audience were given a pair of Ahsoka ears to take home with them.

Next up was Marvel Studios. There was a quick showing of the short “I Am Groot”. Season 2 just started streaming on Disney+ on September 6th. A quick clip was presented from the audience featuring an inquisitive Groot chasing after some ice cream. There was also a clip of the impending Nia DaCosta film The Marvels. Following that was executive producer Hevin Wright from Marvel Studios’ Loki.

The panel ends where it starts with animation and it ends with its latest anticipated animated film Wish. The film stars Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, and Alan Tudyk. The movie Wish tells the story of Asha (DeBose), who makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force, a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe—the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico (Pine) —to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars.

The audience was able to screen 10 minutes of the film, and I must say the musical number is a bonafide earworm. I look forward to seeing this movie when its out in theaters.

Former NBA player Kevin Johnson is surveying towns for his restaurants in pretty much the same way he used to look over the basketball court as a point guard during his playing years.

According to Basketball Insiders, Johnson is expanding his Fixins Soul Kitchen restaurant after initially debuting the first location in Sacramento in 2019.

Last month, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported that the former Phoenix Suns point guard will open one in downtown Detroit. The soul food eatery will be located at 1435 Randolph Street. There are already locations in Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Tulsa.

Johnson and his wife, Michelle Rhee, are planning to open additional Fixins Soul Kitchen locations in Denver and Oakland within the next year.

Colorado should have its opening in early 2024. The Fixins Soul Kitchen that will open in Denver will be located at 2600 Welton Street, inside the Hooper Building.

The restaurant’s menu has traditional soul food entrees. You can find items like fried chicken and waffles, oxtails, and shrimp and grits. Their “fixins” include peach cobbler, collard greens, and fried green tomatoes. Side items include catfish nuggets, red beans, and mac and cheese, to name a few.

Vegan options include blackened tofu with corn succotash, a romaine-arugula salad, and a grilled portobello burger.

Erik Rhee, the company’s national director of real estate and development for about a year, is a Denver resident who has been there for 30 years. He commented that Johnson aims to revive smaller, historically Black neighborhoods.

“[Kevin Johnson is] all about promoting Black-owned businesses,” Rhee said.

The company also stated that the Oakland restaurant is slated to open in March 2024 near Lake Merritt.

The first Fixins Soul Kitchen opened in Sacramento in 2019. After his sports career was over, Johnson became the city’s 55th mayor and the first Black man to be elected to that position. He served in office from 2008 to 2016.

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As credit card delinquencies rise nationally, Black Americans facing financial disadvantages could be impacted even more.

That is a view from Monique White, the Head of Community at Self Financial, a credit-building platform with products geared to make building credit accessible for consumers with low or no credit. White has over 10 years of experience in the financial industry and was formerly a financial coach with Operation HOPE.

White provided BLACK ENTERPRISE email commentary of new studies indicating that 46% of Black adults have been denied in their application for credit versus 22% of white adults. Further, the finding comes amid reports of an increasing number of Americans sliding behind on monthly credit card payments.

Credit card debt surged by $45 billion to a banner level of $1.03 trillion in the second quarter of 2023, per the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Another report revealed the Fed’s barometer of credit card debt 30 or more days late climbed to 7.2% in the quarter, the largest increase since the first quarter of 2012.

White shared some of the biggest repercussions of missing credit card payments. According to her, many people underestimate the impact of credit on your ability to build lasting wealth and achieve your financial goals. For example, a good credit score can help you apply for a mortgage or take out a loan, all of which will bolster your future financial profile.

However, she added, establishing a strong credit history is not easy.

“And with missed payments making up 35% of your credit score, high delinquency rates will lead to lower credit scores—putting more boundaries between you and those big milestones in life. Late payments can stay on your credit report for up to seven years. And rebuilding your credit, after several missed payments, can cost you more time and money,” she explained.

Here are some steps that White says credit card users can take to mitigate the impact of late payments and work toward fixing their credit score:

• “Set up automatic payments: Most credit card companies give you the option to set up automatic payments to avoid missing your payments. This will not only protect your credit score but ensure that you are not paying extra late fees or penalties.”

• “Utilize your existing bills to build credit: Many people don’t know there are multiple ways to increase your credit score. For example, you can now report your biggest monthly payments, such as your rent and utilities, to the three major credit bureaus to help bolster your credit. This adds new trade lines and payment history to your credit report, important factors in your score.”

• “Make sure you are constantly reviewing your credit report: Having a clear sense of what is impacting your credit score–any errors or changes– is crucial to make the necessary changes to bolster your score.”

•  “Create a budget: Inevitably, your credit score is linked to your overall finances. As you work toward increasing your financial profile, take some time to evaluate what works and what doesn’t when it comes to your finances. Nobody knows your finances better than you, so make sure that you are creating a budget that is sympathetic to your needs, your income, and your long-term goals. Make necessary changes that can benefit you in the short term, including canceling subscriptions or identifying areas in your life where you can cut spending.”

Check out more informative tips here. 

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