Saturday, August 31, 2019
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Made in China
WATCH: David Letterman once confronted Donald Trump over making his ties in China. pic.twitter.com/RVKjKibgSA— TheBeat w/Ari Melber (@TheBeatWithAri) August 24, 2019
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Friday, August 23, 2019
Monday, August 19, 2019
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Monday, August 12, 2019
Tragedies Multiplied Over and Over
The pace of the deadliest public mass shootings has accelerated significantly in recent years. The 423 people represented here died between the Sandy Hook massacre and last weekend’s attack in Dayton, Ohio.— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 11, 2019
They accounted for more than a third of the 1,196 killed since 1966. pic.twitter.com/04mkucWlM6
Running For His Life
An excerpt from the San Francisco Examiner -
‘The Gazelle of San Quentin’
Seven years into a life sentence, Markelle Taylor was 36 and realized continued survival at San Quentin State Prison would require some spiritual help.
By JOEL P. ENGARDIO
Seven years into a life sentence, Markelle Taylor was 36 and realized continued survival at San Quentin State Prison would require some spiritual help.
“Prison can be too much to bear,” Taylor said, describing a desperate place that fosters fear and loathing over self-reflection and rehabilitation. “I didn’t have a lot of hope.”
Parole wasn’t an option for at least 15 years on his second-degree murder conviction. And meeting a sympathetic parole board could take many more years. Taylor’s friend committed suicide after being denied release four times.
“When you don’t have the strength to hang in there, you can either act out and hurt others or kill yourself,” Taylor said. “Finding a spiritual purpose for my life is what saved me.”
Taylor became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2009. But the religious conversion alone wasn’t enough to deal with the daily trauma of prison.
“Even with the spiritual assistance, I was still stressing,” he said. “I didn’t want to end up like my friend.”
A member of Taylor’s Bible group suggested some physical activity could supplement his scriptural studies and clear his mind. Taylor joined the 1,000 Mile Club, a running program led by volunteer coaches from the outside. Inmates train on a makeshift, quarter-mile track that circles the prison yard.
“Once I started running, it relieved a lot of stress. I felt more mentally balanced. I was able to make better decisions,” Taylor said. “I felt free.”
https://www.sfexaminer.com/news-columnists/the-gazelle-of-san-quentin/
‘The Gazelle of San Quentin’
Seven years into a life sentence, Markelle Taylor was 36 and realized continued survival at San Quentin State Prison would require some spiritual help.
By JOEL P. ENGARDIO
 |
| While in prison, Markelle Taylor was able to run 105 non-stop loops around the prison track — the equivalent of a marathon. (Christine Yoo/Special to S.F. Examiner) |
Seven years into a life sentence, Markelle Taylor was 36 and realized continued survival at San Quentin State Prison would require some spiritual help.
“Prison can be too much to bear,” Taylor said, describing a desperate place that fosters fear and loathing over self-reflection and rehabilitation. “I didn’t have a lot of hope.”
Parole wasn’t an option for at least 15 years on his second-degree murder conviction. And meeting a sympathetic parole board could take many more years. Taylor’s friend committed suicide after being denied release four times.
“When you don’t have the strength to hang in there, you can either act out and hurt others or kill yourself,” Taylor said. “Finding a spiritual purpose for my life is what saved me.”
Taylor became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2009. But the religious conversion alone wasn’t enough to deal with the daily trauma of prison.
“Even with the spiritual assistance, I was still stressing,” he said. “I didn’t want to end up like my friend.”
A member of Taylor’s Bible group suggested some physical activity could supplement his scriptural studies and clear his mind. Taylor joined the 1,000 Mile Club, a running program led by volunteer coaches from the outside. Inmates train on a makeshift, quarter-mile track that circles the prison yard.
“Once I started running, it relieved a lot of stress. I felt more mentally balanced. I was able to make better decisions,” Taylor said. “I felt free.”
https://www.sfexaminer.com/news-columnists/the-gazelle-of-san-quentin/
Sunday, August 11, 2019
Holy Moly!
Congrats to Simone Biles!— MEFeater Magazine (@mefeater) August 10, 2019
She is the FIRST person in HISTORY to perform a double-double dismount on a beam 🙌🏾👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/ukoAE2K7SO
Niagara Falls of the West
I visited this place - Shoshone Falls Park, Twin Falls, Idaho - recently. It was magnificent!
Christians vs. Christians
An excerpt from the Washington Post -
How Ferguson widened an enormous rift between black Christians and white evangelicals
By Jemar Tisby
Six days after Brown’s killing, I wrote for the first time publicly about my traumatic encounters with the police. Every black man I know has harrowing stories of being pulled over, searched, handcuffed or even held at gunpoint. When I encouraged readers to "pause to consider the level and extent of injustice that many blacks have experienced at the hands of law enforcement officers,” the responses disclosed a deep divide.
One told me to submit myself to the authority of the police. He wrote, "Let us exhort each other to be in subjection (Romans 13:5) to police and other civil authorities so long as they are not causing us to commit evil/sin as shown by the example of the apostles and other disciples of Christ’s generation.” He didn’t acknowledge that police can be wrong, too.
Another person said that it wasn’t just black people who had to be cautious of the police. She, as a white woman, had distasteful run-ins, too. “I think cops do stereotype, they did it to me, my dad and no doubt black people. It sucks but don’t think it happens to you alone. Rural cops do it to city folks or people driving out of state plates, city cops do it to minorities, folks who drive muscle cars or people like me who drive clunkers.”
Still another person told me I was just wrong and thought he would correct me. After giving a litany of “facts” related to the Trayvon Martin killing in 2012 and Brown’s death, he said I was being duped by the media. "So, again, I would strongly admonish you to really understand what actually happened and the proper context of each case in which the (liberal) media is saying that somehow we have a war of white police officers killing young black teens. Don’t be hoodwinked.” He ended by pointing me to what he thought were reliable news sources such as the Blaze and conservative commentator Michael Savage’s website.
Those responses came from a single blog post. I can’t list the vitriol that erupted in the comment sections of similar posts on Twitter and Facebook.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/08/09/how-ferguson-widened-an-enormous-rift-between-black-christians-white-evangelicals/
How Ferguson widened an enormous rift between black Christians and white evangelicals
By Jemar Tisby
Six days after Brown’s killing, I wrote for the first time publicly about my traumatic encounters with the police. Every black man I know has harrowing stories of being pulled over, searched, handcuffed or even held at gunpoint. When I encouraged readers to "pause to consider the level and extent of injustice that many blacks have experienced at the hands of law enforcement officers,” the responses disclosed a deep divide.
One told me to submit myself to the authority of the police. He wrote, "Let us exhort each other to be in subjection (Romans 13:5) to police and other civil authorities so long as they are not causing us to commit evil/sin as shown by the example of the apostles and other disciples of Christ’s generation.” He didn’t acknowledge that police can be wrong, too.
Another person said that it wasn’t just black people who had to be cautious of the police. She, as a white woman, had distasteful run-ins, too. “I think cops do stereotype, they did it to me, my dad and no doubt black people. It sucks but don’t think it happens to you alone. Rural cops do it to city folks or people driving out of state plates, city cops do it to minorities, folks who drive muscle cars or people like me who drive clunkers.”
Still another person told me I was just wrong and thought he would correct me. After giving a litany of “facts” related to the Trayvon Martin killing in 2012 and Brown’s death, he said I was being duped by the media. "So, again, I would strongly admonish you to really understand what actually happened and the proper context of each case in which the (liberal) media is saying that somehow we have a war of white police officers killing young black teens. Don’t be hoodwinked.” He ended by pointing me to what he thought were reliable news sources such as the Blaze and conservative commentator Michael Savage’s website.
Those responses came from a single blog post. I can’t list the vitriol that erupted in the comment sections of similar posts on Twitter and Facebook.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/08/09/how-ferguson-widened-an-enormous-rift-between-black-christians-white-evangelicals/
Wow!
From NJ.com
 |
| Jordan Thomas, a Rhodes Scholar from Newark and a Princeton University graduate, received 430,000 LinkedIn views for getting accepted to both Yale Law School and Harvard Business School. He's wearing a Yale snuggie, holding a Rhodes scholarship notebook book and a Harvard banner with the Princeton tiger mascot on his shoulder. (Courtesy photo)
https://www.nj.com/education/2019/08/this-nj-rhodes-scholar-is-going-to-harvard-and-yale.html
|
Friday, August 9, 2019
The Truth Hurts
From the Washington Post -
Some white people don't want to hear about slavery at plantations built by slaves
The nasty online reviews have gone viral on Twitter.
By Gillian Brockell
"It was just not what we expected.”
“I was depressed by the time I left.”
“ … the tour was more of a scolding of the old South.”
“The brief mentions of the former owners were defamatory.”
“Would not recommend.”
These are a few of the apparently negative reviews posted online about guided tours of Southern plantations, some of which went viral Thursday after former Colorado congressional candidate Saira Rao tweeted a screenshot of one.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/08/08/some-white-people-dont-want-hear-about-slavery-plantations-built-by-slaves/?amp=1
Some white people don't want to hear about slavery at plantations built by slaves
The nasty online reviews have gone viral on Twitter.
By Gillian Brockell
"It was just not what we expected.”
“I was depressed by the time I left.”
“ … the tour was more of a scolding of the old South.”
“The brief mentions of the former owners were defamatory.”
“Would not recommend.”
These are a few of the apparently negative reviews posted online about guided tours of Southern plantations, some of which went viral Thursday after former Colorado congressional candidate Saira Rao tweeted a screenshot of one.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/08/08/some-white-people-dont-want-hear-about-slavery-plantations-built-by-slaves/?amp=1
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Calling Out the Truth
One of my favorite interviews with Toni Morrison. The interviewer asked her when she was going to “substantially” write about white people. Her response? “You can’t understand how powerfully racist that question is, can you?” pic.twitter.com/WFhNMgx7xv— Paul McCallion (@OrangePaulp) August 6, 2019
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Monday, August 5, 2019
He Connected the Dots
Using the El Paso terrorist's manifesto, I connected the dots for folks still having trouble doing that.— Brandon Friedman (@BFriedmanDC) August 4, 2019
This is just the first page. pic.twitter.com/mQcW3doGNF
Sunday, August 4, 2019
Friday, August 2, 2019
Sistas in Abu Dhabi
An excerpt from Sisters from AARP -
Why Black Women Are Moving to Abu Dhabi
An AKA chapter and Wednesday Wing Night in the desert? Opportunity calls in the Middle East.
By Janel Herbert
When people think of the UAE, they usually think of Dubai and its high-end shopping, vibrant nightlife and extreme luxury. Many may not know there’s a growing African-American community in Abu Dhabi, the nation’s capital. Drawn by its tax-free salaries, year-round warm weather and safe, family-friendly culture, Abu Dhabi is a viable option if you’re looking for a change and open to living internationally. I was privileged to meet a few exceptional women during my brief visit and gained tremendous insight about life in the gulf region.
https://www.sistersletter.com/culture/why-black-women-are-moving-to-abu-dhabi?cmp=EMC-DSM-NLC-OTH-SIS-20190716_SistersNL_691400_1183404-071619-F2-OpportunityAbuDhabi_Culture-Text-CTRL-Photo2P-3895062&mi_u=25385839&mi_ecmp=20190716_SistersNL_691400_1183404&encparam=K95w/aA3Y1jUsbhskO4NJ3Razk7cT/0Wfc8vMDiyEfE=
Why Black Women Are Moving to Abu Dhabi
An AKA chapter and Wednesday Wing Night in the desert? Opportunity calls in the Middle East.
By Janel Herbert
 |
| TIFFANY MCDOWELL |
When people think of the UAE, they usually think of Dubai and its high-end shopping, vibrant nightlife and extreme luxury. Many may not know there’s a growing African-American community in Abu Dhabi, the nation’s capital. Drawn by its tax-free salaries, year-round warm weather and safe, family-friendly culture, Abu Dhabi is a viable option if you’re looking for a change and open to living internationally. I was privileged to meet a few exceptional women during my brief visit and gained tremendous insight about life in the gulf region.
https://www.sistersletter.com/culture/why-black-women-are-moving-to-abu-dhabi?cmp=EMC-DSM-NLC-OTH-SIS-20190716_SistersNL_691400_1183404-071619-F2-OpportunityAbuDhabi_Culture-Text-CTRL-Photo2P-3895062&mi_u=25385839&mi_ecmp=20190716_SistersNL_691400_1183404&encparam=K95w/aA3Y1jUsbhskO4NJ3Razk7cT/0Wfc8vMDiyEfE=
Why Watermelon?
An excerpt from the Huffington Post -
How Watermelon's Reputation Got Tangled In Racism
Imagery has the power to turn a seemingly innocent depiction of fruit into the stereotyping of an entire group of people.
ByNneka M. Okona
It appears on the surface to be a glorious tribute to his hard work and harvesting, but it shrouds a much darker and destructive racist stereotype that has persisted even today—one linking African Americans to a cherished pastime of munching on watermelons during the warmer summer months.
But how did it start? How did this green-and-white striped rind and its juicy, red flesh become a racist moniker?
The images disseminated in the Life story, and others like it, played a pivotal role in turning a bigoted assumption into a lasting racist stereotype in the minds of white Southerners ― and Northerners too.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/watermelon-racism_l_5d2dfea4e4b0a873f6428b9c
How Watermelon's Reputation Got Tangled In Racism
Imagery has the power to turn a seemingly innocent depiction of fruit into the stereotyping of an entire group of people.
ByNneka M. Okona
It appears on the surface to be a glorious tribute to his hard work and harvesting, but it shrouds a much darker and destructive racist stereotype that has persisted even today—one linking African Americans to a cherished pastime of munching on watermelons during the warmer summer months.
But how did it start? How did this green-and-white striped rind and its juicy, red flesh become a racist moniker?
The images disseminated in the Life story, and others like it, played a pivotal role in turning a bigoted assumption into a lasting racist stereotype in the minds of white Southerners ― and Northerners too.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/watermelon-racism_l_5d2dfea4e4b0a873f6428b9c
A Powerful Editorial
From the Sacramento Bee -
Despite sunny image, Ronald Reagan’s racism paved the way for Trump’s
Despite sunny image, Ronald Reagan’s racism paved the way for Trump’s
https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/article233373467.html
From Doorman to Owner
From Inc.
He Started as a Doorman at a Marriott. Now He Runs a $3 Billion Hotel Empire
Why Alan Fuerstman, founder of the luxury-resort chain Montage International, was right to skip going to law school.
By Sheila Marikar
https://www.inc.com/sheila-marikar/montage-international-alan-fuerstman-hotel-luxury-resort-marriott.html
He Started as a Doorman at a Marriott. Now He Runs a $3 Billion Hotel Empire
Why Alan Fuerstman, founder of the luxury-resort chain Montage International, was right to skip going to law school.
By Sheila Marikar
https://www.inc.com/sheila-marikar/montage-international-alan-fuerstman-hotel-luxury-resort-marriott.html
Thursday, August 1, 2019
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