You should’ve seen it coming.

You knew the economy was bad. You saw friends losing their jobs, houses, their savings. Yet, when everybody else was slapping checkbooks shut, you didn’t worry. Your ship came in years ago and you figured you were okay.

But then, faster than a tsunami, you were drowning in debt. How did that happen? Sunk like the Titanic, your finances under water—suddenly, you’re broke.

So how can you keep your dignity, image and lifestyle afloat in lean times? Start by reading “Divanomics: How to Still be Fabulous When You’re Broke” by Michelle McKinney Hammond.

Poetry showcase

Cave Canem presents the 15th Annual Poetry Showcase at 7:30 p.m. at the City of Asylum, 330 Sampsonia Way, North Side. Cave Canem is the North American premier home for Black poetry. The featured poets will be Colleen J. McElroy, Carl Phillips, Claudia Rankine and Sapphire, the author of “Push,” the novel adapted for film “Precious.” All events are free and open to the public. For more information, call 412-321-2190 or visit www.cavecanempoets.org.

Two years after her first project, piano-based independent artist Joy Ike released her second full-length album, “Rumors,” with a release event at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.

JOY IKE

The CD was recorded by Jake Hanner, who doubles as sound engineer of Play On Recording and drummer for accomplished indie-pop group, Donora. Emmy Award Winning Studio, Ya Momz House, based in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty, mixed and mastered the album. Produced by Ike, the project maintains her signature sound of pop, nu-jazz and neo-soul while simultaneously lending itself to a number of new ideas and sounds ranging from pop rock to classical.

WASHINGTON (NNPA)—TV One’s new television show Donald J. Trump Presents “The Ultimate Merger” sounds more like business program about joint ventures than an African-American dating show—but it isn’t.

Trump and the producers of the highly-successful NBC reality program “The Apprentice” have brought their can’t miss formula to TV One hoping that one of their most infamous “Apprentice” contestants can close the deal on love.

If nothing else, Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, usually just known as Omarosa, always makes for good television. Trump knows this. That’s why he invited his season one contestant back for a second time as a participant on “Celebrity Apprentice” and has now green-lighted her a reality show of her own.