Monday, February 12, 2018
Sunday, February 11, 2018
She's the Badass Tesla Robot Builder
An excerpt from Business Insider -
A Tesla employee who builds robots told us why production hell is actually a good thing
By Matthew DeBord
Tesla turned out to be the perfect fit — and Patterson's decision to join the company was perfect timing.
She started just as Tesla was launching the Model X, a complicated vehicle to build. With her expertise in systems design and robotics, which dates to her undergraduate days, she could make an immediate contribution.
She designed a robot that now sits on the combined Model S-Model X assembly line where glass panels are glued and attached to the Model X.
Smaller than the massive orange robots at Fremont that can sling around entire vehicle bodies, Patterson's robot — named Gambit, for the superhero from the "X-Men" comics — is yellow, about as large as an adult, and encased in Plexiglas.
Its job is to apply adhesive — something formerly done by multiple workers, who had to use glue guns and work on tables set up next to the assembly line. Gambit draws adhesive from large barrels and can save Tesla time and money on this delicate phase of production.
It's a glimpse into Musk's plans for factories of the future: almost fully automated, with robots that can build cars so fast that air resistance becomes a problem.
Patterson is smack in the middle of that revolution. She's currently working on the new highly automated Model 3 assembly line.
http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-employee-explains-why-production-hell-is-good-2018-2?pt=385758&ct=Sailthru_BI_Newsletters&mt=8&utm_source=Triggermail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email_article
A Tesla employee who builds robots told us why production hell is actually a good thing
By Matthew DeBord
 | ||
| Sheena Patterson with one of Tesla's giant robots. Matthew DeBord/Business Insider |
Tesla turned out to be the perfect fit — and Patterson's decision to join the company was perfect timing.
She started just as Tesla was launching the Model X, a complicated vehicle to build. With her expertise in systems design and robotics, which dates to her undergraduate days, she could make an immediate contribution.
She designed a robot that now sits on the combined Model S-Model X assembly line where glass panels are glued and attached to the Model X.
Smaller than the massive orange robots at Fremont that can sling around entire vehicle bodies, Patterson's robot — named Gambit, for the superhero from the "X-Men" comics — is yellow, about as large as an adult, and encased in Plexiglas.
Its job is to apply adhesive — something formerly done by multiple workers, who had to use glue guns and work on tables set up next to the assembly line. Gambit draws adhesive from large barrels and can save Tesla time and money on this delicate phase of production.
It's a glimpse into Musk's plans for factories of the future: almost fully automated, with robots that can build cars so fast that air resistance becomes a problem.
Patterson is smack in the middle of that revolution. She's currently working on the new highly automated Model 3 assembly line.
http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-employee-explains-why-production-hell-is-good-2018-2?pt=385758&ct=Sailthru_BI_Newsletters&mt=8&utm_source=Triggermail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email_article
Indian Home Remedies
An excerpt from OZY -
THE HOME REMEDIES INDIANS SWEAR BY
By Joanna Lobo
The turmeric latte and golden milk trend abroad had many of us Indians thanking our mothers for foreseeing their popularity. I was given warm milk with haldi (what we called haldi doodh) to treat an impending cold or sore throat pain. Sometimes garlic was added as a disinfectant. As a child, I hated it. As an adult, I swear by it. There are many similar home remedies, passed down by our grandmothers and mothers, whose value I am discovering only as an adult. Some involved alcohol too — brandy rubbed on the chest brought relief from congestion, and a shot of feni with sugar cleared up blocked sinuses in a trice.
These simple remedies are a mix of herbs and spices, easily available in kitchens and gardens. The best part: no side effects.
TREATING COLIC IN KIDS
A light brew of fennel, a pinch of ajwain (carom seeds) and vavding (false black pepper), diluted with lukewarm water, is an old-fashioned remedy for colic. “I fed my daughter this brew every day for two years” and never had a cranky baby, says Nandita Godbole, a cookbook and fiction author from Mumbai now settled in Atlanta. When they traveled, they even carried a little kettle and a bottle of seeds.
Why it works: Useful for treating digestive problems, ajwain “reduces gas in the stomach,” says Raj Merchant, a naturopath in Mumbai.
http://www.ozy.com/good-sht/the-home-remedies-indians-swear-by/83096
THE HOME REMEDIES INDIANS SWEAR BY
By Joanna Lobo
The turmeric latte and golden milk trend abroad had many of us Indians thanking our mothers for foreseeing their popularity. I was given warm milk with haldi (what we called haldi doodh) to treat an impending cold or sore throat pain. Sometimes garlic was added as a disinfectant. As a child, I hated it. As an adult, I swear by it. There are many similar home remedies, passed down by our grandmothers and mothers, whose value I am discovering only as an adult. Some involved alcohol too — brandy rubbed on the chest brought relief from congestion, and a shot of feni with sugar cleared up blocked sinuses in a trice.
These simple remedies are a mix of herbs and spices, easily available in kitchens and gardens. The best part: no side effects.
TREATING COLIC IN KIDS
A light brew of fennel, a pinch of ajwain (carom seeds) and vavding (false black pepper), diluted with lukewarm water, is an old-fashioned remedy for colic. “I fed my daughter this brew every day for two years” and never had a cranky baby, says Nandita Godbole, a cookbook and fiction author from Mumbai now settled in Atlanta. When they traveled, they even carried a little kettle and a bottle of seeds.
Why it works: Useful for treating digestive problems, ajwain “reduces gas in the stomach,” says Raj Merchant, a naturopath in Mumbai.
http://www.ozy.com/good-sht/the-home-remedies-indians-swear-by/83096
Black History Month Playlist
From YouTube -
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKB8zkQFlMyKNmK6qGqdOX2_l5ArBH_mD
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKB8zkQFlMyKNmK6qGqdOX2_l5ArBH_mD
Kumbaya
An excerpt from the NY Times -
About That Song You’ve Heard, Kumbaya
By John Eligon
We chant it with locked arms and closed eyes, at campfires, in protests lines and from the pews at church, but the truth is, many of us have no clue what the lyrics mean or exactly where they come from.
Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya. Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya.
Thanks to research and lobbying by residents of a coastal community descended from slaves, the origins and meaning of “Kumbaya” have been recognized in Congress, raising hopes that a fading culture might get a boost. The song may be sung more often than usual this month, especially in the part of Georgia where its soulful lyrics are said to have originated almost a century ago.
Speaking on the House floor two months ago, Representative Buddy Carter of Georgia recognized the Gullah Geechee, whose ancestors were brought to America’s southeastern coast from West Africa, as the probable creators of the famous folk song.
https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/2018/02/10/race-related?nlid=38867499
About That Song You’ve Heard, Kumbaya
By John Eligon
We chant it with locked arms and closed eyes, at campfires, in protests lines and from the pews at church, but the truth is, many of us have no clue what the lyrics mean or exactly where they come from.
Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya. Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya.
Thanks to research and lobbying by residents of a coastal community descended from slaves, the origins and meaning of “Kumbaya” have been recognized in Congress, raising hopes that a fading culture might get a boost. The song may be sung more often than usual this month, especially in the part of Georgia where its soulful lyrics are said to have originated almost a century ago.
Speaking on the House floor two months ago, Representative Buddy Carter of Georgia recognized the Gullah Geechee, whose ancestors were brought to America’s southeastern coast from West Africa, as the probable creators of the famous folk song.
https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/2018/02/10/race-related?nlid=38867499
Do No Harm
An excerpt from the Huffington Post -
When Volunteering Abroad Does More Harm Than Good
By Noelle Sullivan, Guest Writer
“Voluntourism” is a booming multibillion-dollar industry. Many volunteer placement companies market themselves as sustainable, helpful, even crucial.
However, there’s a growing body of scholarship demonstrating that the potential inadvertent harms of short-term international volunteering often outweigh the positives. Voluntourism can reinforce paternalism, expecting hosting communities to be passive and grateful “recipients.” Volunteers’ efforts often shirk pressing issues like infrastructure and resource shortages, or unknowingly duplicate existing resources. Sociologist Judith Lasker finds most global health volunteering benefits the sending organizations and the volunteers more than the host communities. Anthropologist Nicole Berry’s work reveals that volunteer medical missioners often prioritize their own interests rather than local needs.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-sullivan-volunteering-abroad_us_5a7de894e4b044b3821d1627
When Volunteering Abroad Does More Harm Than Good
By Noelle Sullivan, Guest Writer
“Voluntourism” is a booming multibillion-dollar industry. Many volunteer placement companies market themselves as sustainable, helpful, even crucial.
However, there’s a growing body of scholarship demonstrating that the potential inadvertent harms of short-term international volunteering often outweigh the positives. Voluntourism can reinforce paternalism, expecting hosting communities to be passive and grateful “recipients.” Volunteers’ efforts often shirk pressing issues like infrastructure and resource shortages, or unknowingly duplicate existing resources. Sociologist Judith Lasker finds most global health volunteering benefits the sending organizations and the volunteers more than the host communities. Anthropologist Nicole Berry’s work reveals that volunteer medical missioners often prioritize their own interests rather than local needs.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-sullivan-volunteering-abroad_us_5a7de894e4b044b3821d1627
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Making Hockey History
From CNN -
For the first time in Olympic history, an African-American is playing for a US hockey team
By Meridith Edwards, CNN
Video by Madeleine Stix, CNN
Jordan Greenway hasn't yet finished college, but he's already made history: He's the first African-American competing on a Olympic US hockey team.
http://www.cnn.com/2018/02/10/sport/olympics-hockey-first-african-american-greenway-trnd/index.html
For the first time in Olympic history, an African-American is playing for a US hockey team
By Meridith Edwards, CNN
Video by Madeleine Stix, CNN
Jordan Greenway hasn't yet finished college, but he's already made history: He's the first African-American competing on a Olympic US hockey team.
http://www.cnn.com/2018/02/10/sport/olympics-hockey-first-african-american-greenway-trnd/index.html
Friday, February 9, 2018
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Jobs? What Jobs?
From Propublica -
What Happened to All the Jobs Trump Promised?
Since the election, President Trump has made 31 specific claims about companies adding or saving American jobs thanks to his intervention. We went back to see what’s become of those announcements.
By Isaac Arnsdorf and Lena Groeger
http://projects.propublica.org/graphics/trump-job-promises#nws=mcnewsletter
What Happened to All the Jobs Trump Promised?
Since the election, President Trump has made 31 specific claims about companies adding or saving American jobs thanks to his intervention. We went back to see what’s become of those announcements.
By Isaac Arnsdorf and Lena Groeger
http://projects.propublica.org/graphics/trump-job-promises#nws=mcnewsletter
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Treason? God Help Us.
An excerpt from the NY Times -
Gulp. I’m Guilty of Treason.
By Frank Bruni
After more than five decades of reasonably virtuous living, I’m now told that I have betrayed my country and committed the ultimate crime.
I did not clap during President Trump’s State of the Union address.
Granted, my hands were otherwise engaged. They pounded my laptop’s keyboard as I frantically took notes: “clean coal,” “disastrous Obamacare.” And I’m limited in my appendages and much too clumsy to approximate applause with my feet.
But even if I could, I wouldn’t have. That’s not because I’m rooting against America. It’s because I’m rooting for it — and believe that we deserve better than a leader who uses language as sloppily and poisonously as Trump does, who reacts to every unwelcome message by smearing the messenger, and whose litmus test for patriotism is this and this alone: Do you worship me?
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/opinion/trump-treason-guilty.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fopinion&action=click&contentCollection=opinion®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=7&pgtype=sectionfront
Gulp. I’m Guilty of Treason.
By Frank Bruni
After more than five decades of reasonably virtuous living, I’m now told that I have betrayed my country and committed the ultimate crime.
I did not clap during President Trump’s State of the Union address.
Granted, my hands were otherwise engaged. They pounded my laptop’s keyboard as I frantically took notes: “clean coal,” “disastrous Obamacare.” And I’m limited in my appendages and much too clumsy to approximate applause with my feet.
But even if I could, I wouldn’t have. That’s not because I’m rooting against America. It’s because I’m rooting for it — and believe that we deserve better than a leader who uses language as sloppily and poisonously as Trump does, who reacts to every unwelcome message by smearing the messenger, and whose litmus test for patriotism is this and this alone: Do you worship me?
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/opinion/trump-treason-guilty.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fopinion&action=click&contentCollection=opinion®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=7&pgtype=sectionfront
"The Talk" is a Necessary Rite of Passage
From the NY Times -
Wendell Pierce: The First Time My Dad Gave Me ‘The Talk’
By WENDELL PIERCE
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/theater/wendell-pierce-the-first-time-my-dad-gave-me-the-talk.html?smprod=nytcore-ipad&smid=nytcore-ipad-share
Wendell Pierce: The First Time My Dad Gave Me ‘The Talk’
By WENDELL PIERCE
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/theater/wendell-pierce-the-first-time-my-dad-gave-me-the-talk.html?smprod=nytcore-ipad&smid=nytcore-ipad-share
Cold or Flu
Flu info from a literal Doctor...who is funny. pic.twitter.com/j3zP0eW3rp— John Richards (@loserboy) January 29, 2018
 |
| From the Center of Disease Control |
https://www.vox.com/2018/2/6/16978544/cold-versus-flu-chart
Why It Matters
An excerpt from Essence -
This Elementary School Teacher Styled Her Hair Like One Of Her Students To Teach Her a Beautiful Lesson
By SIRAAD DIRSHE
Ms. Bishop understood the immense influence teachers can have on their students and wanted to truly make her young student feel beautiful. When she complimented one little girl on her beautiful braided hairstyle, the student, unfortunately, did not believe her. In order to help the student truly comprehend just how amazing and beautiful she really was, Ms. Bishop came to school the very next day with an identical hairstyle.
https://www.essence.com/hair/texas-elementary-school-teacher-natural-hairstyle-student
This Elementary School Teacher Styled Her Hair Like One Of Her Students To Teach Her a Beautiful Lesson
By SIRAAD DIRSHE
Ms. Bishop understood the immense influence teachers can have on their students and wanted to truly make her young student feel beautiful. When she complimented one little girl on her beautiful braided hairstyle, the student, unfortunately, did not believe her. In order to help the student truly comprehend just how amazing and beautiful she really was, Ms. Bishop came to school the very next day with an identical hairstyle.
https://www.essence.com/hair/texas-elementary-school-teacher-natural-hairstyle-student
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Monday, February 5, 2018
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Knocked Off Their High Horse!
From USA Today -
Eagles dethrone Tom Brady, Patriots for first Super Bowl title in stunner
By Lindsay H. Jones
MINNEAPOLIS – The Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LII over the New England Patriots 41-33 Sunday night at U.S. Bank Stadium. Here’s how it happened:
Key drive: After the Patriots took their first lead of the game, at 33-32 with 9:22 remaining, the Eagles could have wilted. But quarterback Nick Foles led the Eagles on a 14-play, 75 yard touchdown drive to retake the lead with 2:21 remaining on an 11-yard pass from Foles to tight end Zach Ertz. The drive included a fourth-down conversion near midfield, also on a pass from Foles to Ertz.
Key play: The Eagles defense, who struggled to pressure on Tom Brady throughout the game, finally got to Brady as the Patriots’ quarterback was trying to lead yet another game-winning drive. But defensive end Brandon Graham pushed his way into the pocket and knocked the ball from Brady’s hand, and teammate Derek Barnett recovered the fumble with 2:16 remaining. It was the first turnover of the game for the Patriots. The Eagles again held firm against Brady and the Patriots on the final drive.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/super/2018/02/04/super-bowl-2018-score-philadelphia-eagles-new-england-patriots/305840002/?csp=
Eagles dethrone Tom Brady, Patriots for first Super Bowl title in stunner
By Lindsay H. Jones
MINNEAPOLIS – The Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LII over the New England Patriots 41-33 Sunday night at U.S. Bank Stadium. Here’s how it happened:
Key drive: After the Patriots took their first lead of the game, at 33-32 with 9:22 remaining, the Eagles could have wilted. But quarterback Nick Foles led the Eagles on a 14-play, 75 yard touchdown drive to retake the lead with 2:21 remaining on an 11-yard pass from Foles to tight end Zach Ertz. The drive included a fourth-down conversion near midfield, also on a pass from Foles to Ertz.
Key play: The Eagles defense, who struggled to pressure on Tom Brady throughout the game, finally got to Brady as the Patriots’ quarterback was trying to lead yet another game-winning drive. But defensive end Brandon Graham pushed his way into the pocket and knocked the ball from Brady’s hand, and teammate Derek Barnett recovered the fumble with 2:16 remaining. It was the first turnover of the game for the Patriots. The Eagles again held firm against Brady and the Patriots on the final drive.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/super/2018/02/04/super-bowl-2018-score-philadelphia-eagles-new-england-patriots/305840002/?csp=
Redemption: Lost, Found & Lost Again
Too good to cherry pick.
From The Times-Picayune
The search for Jackie Wallace
Story and Pictures by Ted Jackson
http://www.nola.com/living/index.ssf/2018/02/jackie_wallace_ted_jackson.html#incart_most-read_#incart_m-rpt-2
From The Times-Picayune
The search for Jackie Wallace
Story and Pictures by Ted Jackson
http://www.nola.com/living/index.ssf/2018/02/jackie_wallace_ted_jackson.html#incart_most-read_#incart_m-rpt-2
Remembering Tulsa's "Black Wall Street" Massacre
An excerpt from OZY -
HISTORY HANGS HEAVILY OVER TULSA’S LONE BLACK COUNCILWOMAN
By Nick Fouriezos
To engage with Vanessa Hall-Harper is to grapple with the tragic history of race relations in Tulsa. Reckoning is the only option when sitting down with the 46-year-old, who, within minutes, is digging into what was — and what could have been.
They called the city councilor’s North Tulsa district “Black Wall Street” in the early 20th century, when African-American aristocrats paraded their automobiles down roads lined with more than 200 Black-owned businesses. But on May 31, 1921, everything changed. Resentment over Black wealth erupted, with white vigilantes taking to the streets, killing at least 300 of their neighbors of color and firebombing their businesses in what would be dubbed a “race riot” by the history books — and then promptly forgotten.
Too often, the past becomes destiny. It’s a thought internalized by Hall-Harper, a history lover since she studied political science and organized sit-ins at the historically Black Jackson State University in Mississippi. “It’s a slap in the face to call it a riot,” she says. But now, the native daughter of a Tulsa structural mechanic can start righting the wrongs of the past. Elected to the city council last year after defeating 12-year incumbent Jack Henderson, she has crafted a constituency around grassroots activism, expanding access to food in her district and reviving traditions that speak to the area’s once thriving African-American community. She has elevated the concerns of those who had forgotten their power, says Chief Amusen, a Black organizer and guidance counselor in Tulsa. “Instead of her being the voice, she became the messenger for the community’s needs. Whether it’s police matters, social justice, mental health, you name it, she’s been a part of it.”
http://www.ozy.com/politics-and-power/history-hangs-heavily-over-tulsas-lone-black-councilwoman/82011
HISTORY HANGS HEAVILY OVER TULSA’S LONE BLACK COUNCILWOMAN
By Nick Fouriezos
To engage with Vanessa Hall-Harper is to grapple with the tragic history of race relations in Tulsa. Reckoning is the only option when sitting down with the 46-year-old, who, within minutes, is digging into what was — and what could have been.
They called the city councilor’s North Tulsa district “Black Wall Street” in the early 20th century, when African-American aristocrats paraded their automobiles down roads lined with more than 200 Black-owned businesses. But on May 31, 1921, everything changed. Resentment over Black wealth erupted, with white vigilantes taking to the streets, killing at least 300 of their neighbors of color and firebombing their businesses in what would be dubbed a “race riot” by the history books — and then promptly forgotten.
Too often, the past becomes destiny. It’s a thought internalized by Hall-Harper, a history lover since she studied political science and organized sit-ins at the historically Black Jackson State University in Mississippi. “It’s a slap in the face to call it a riot,” she says. But now, the native daughter of a Tulsa structural mechanic can start righting the wrongs of the past. Elected to the city council last year after defeating 12-year incumbent Jack Henderson, she has crafted a constituency around grassroots activism, expanding access to food in her district and reviving traditions that speak to the area’s once thriving African-American community. She has elevated the concerns of those who had forgotten their power, says Chief Amusen, a Black organizer and guidance counselor in Tulsa. “Instead of her being the voice, she became the messenger for the community’s needs. Whether it’s police matters, social justice, mental health, you name it, she’s been a part of it.”
http://www.ozy.com/politics-and-power/history-hangs-heavily-over-tulsas-lone-black-councilwoman/82011
Where the Millionaires Live
Scroll down tot he map.
From VisualCapitalist -
http://www.visualcapitalist.com/global-millionaire-population/
From VisualCapitalist -
http://www.visualcapitalist.com/global-millionaire-population/
Friday, February 2, 2018
Paid in Full - Kaep's Million Dollar Pledge
An excerpt from CNN -
While you were arguing about the anthem, Colin Kaepernick just finished donating $1 million
By AJ Willingham, CNN
CNN)People like to talk about Colin Kaepernick. But while everyone was busy arguing over the on-field protests he spearheaded two years ago, the free agent NFL quarterback was putting his money where his mouth is.
On Wednesday, Kaepernick completed a pledge he made in September 2016: To donate $1 million to organizations working in, what he called, oppressed communities.
The donations spanned the country and touched on a wealth of social issues: Homelessness, at-risk families, education, community-police relations, prison reform, inmates' right, reproductive rights, hunger and more.
http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/31/sport/colin-kaepernick-million-dollar-donation-pledge-anthem-nfl-trnd/index.html
While you were arguing about the anthem, Colin Kaepernick just finished donating $1 million
By AJ Willingham, CNN
CNN)People like to talk about Colin Kaepernick. But while everyone was busy arguing over the on-field protests he spearheaded two years ago, the free agent NFL quarterback was putting his money where his mouth is.
On Wednesday, Kaepernick completed a pledge he made in September 2016: To donate $1 million to organizations working in, what he called, oppressed communities.
The donations spanned the country and touched on a wealth of social issues: Homelessness, at-risk families, education, community-police relations, prison reform, inmates' right, reproductive rights, hunger and more.
http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/31/sport/colin-kaepernick-million-dollar-donation-pledge-anthem-nfl-trnd/index.html
The Blackest Season
An excerpt from the Huffington Post -
The Blackest Season In NFL History
By Jamil Smith, Columnist
In 1933, the National Football League suddenly became monochromatic. The “gentleman’s agreement” to ban black players was reportedly set in motion, poetically enough, by the owner of the Washington franchise that still uses a racial slur as its team name. Baseball, then the national pastime, was conspicuously a white-only affair. Professional football was still a niche sport at the time, and thus could practice its discrimination more discreetly. Even the breaking of its color line in 1946 ― with two signings each by the Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns ― seems all but forgotten in the context of Jackie Robinson’s debut the following year.
Things are different now, and they are not. The NFL’s 32 franchises are still owned almost universally by white people, but the percentage of black players hovers just above 70 percent. Those athletes play mostly for the pleasure of a majority-white fan base. Still, it was tough to describe the NFL before this season as unmistakably black, despite the epidermal clarity. The league’s own mechanisms for generating fan interest have aided in the distillation of the players’ humanity to injury reports and fantasy points. The race of its players only seemed to come up in maudlin pre-game feature segments about the rough neighborhoods from which their NFL fortunes delivered them. African American life, through the lens of pro sports, has largely been something to escape, and the playing field or the court is both the means of deliverance and the promised land.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-smith-superbowl-kaepernick_us_5a711e2de4b0a6aa4874562c
The Blackest Season In NFL History
By Jamil Smith, Columnist
In 1933, the National Football League suddenly became monochromatic. The “gentleman’s agreement” to ban black players was reportedly set in motion, poetically enough, by the owner of the Washington franchise that still uses a racial slur as its team name. Baseball, then the national pastime, was conspicuously a white-only affair. Professional football was still a niche sport at the time, and thus could practice its discrimination more discreetly. Even the breaking of its color line in 1946 ― with two signings each by the Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns ― seems all but forgotten in the context of Jackie Robinson’s debut the following year.
Things are different now, and they are not. The NFL’s 32 franchises are still owned almost universally by white people, but the percentage of black players hovers just above 70 percent. Those athletes play mostly for the pleasure of a majority-white fan base. Still, it was tough to describe the NFL before this season as unmistakably black, despite the epidermal clarity. The league’s own mechanisms for generating fan interest have aided in the distillation of the players’ humanity to injury reports and fantasy points. The race of its players only seemed to come up in maudlin pre-game feature segments about the rough neighborhoods from which their NFL fortunes delivered them. African American life, through the lens of pro sports, has largely been something to escape, and the playing field or the court is both the means of deliverance and the promised land.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-smith-superbowl-kaepernick_us_5a711e2de4b0a6aa4874562c
Racial Profiling is Real
An excerpt from the AP -
Only on AP: For NFL players, racial profiling often personal
By ERRIN HAINES WHACK and FRED GOODALL
A son who saw a police officer hold a gun to his father’s head. A husband whose wife was pulled over driving a Bentley.
These unsettling scenes are among the stories from some of the NFL’s marquee players, multimillionaires sharing tales of racial profiling by law enforcement. It is a troubling concern for people of color that has been at the center of the protests begun in August 2016 by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
The protests have waned, but the ongoing issue for players — and the black communities they come from — has not.
The Associated Press surveyed 56 of the 59 black players at last weekend’s Pro Bowl game as part of its look at how African-American athletes have long used their sports platforms to effect social and political change. The AP asked the players whether they or someone they knew have ever experienced racial profiling.
All said yes.
https://apnews.com/986f72af56b44b9f9ec9efc824a33cbb
Only on AP: For NFL players, racial profiling often personal
By ERRIN HAINES WHACK and FRED GOODALL
A son who saw a police officer hold a gun to his father’s head. A husband whose wife was pulled over driving a Bentley.
These unsettling scenes are among the stories from some of the NFL’s marquee players, multimillionaires sharing tales of racial profiling by law enforcement. It is a troubling concern for people of color that has been at the center of the protests begun in August 2016 by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
The protests have waned, but the ongoing issue for players — and the black communities they come from — has not.
The Associated Press surveyed 56 of the 59 black players at last weekend’s Pro Bowl game as part of its look at how African-American athletes have long used their sports platforms to effect social and political change. The AP asked the players whether they or someone they knew have ever experienced racial profiling.
All said yes.
https://apnews.com/986f72af56b44b9f9ec9efc824a33cbb
Weasels and Liars
An excerpt from the Huffington Post -
James Comey Defends FBI, Says History Will Catch Up To ‘Weasels And Liars’
“Not a lot of schools or streets named for Joe McCarthy,” the ex-FBI director said.
By Lydia O’Connor
Former FBI Director James Comey broke his silence on the White House’s efforts to a release a secret Republican memo alleging FBI bias against President Donald Trump, tweeting Thursday that “weasels and liars” will reap what they sow.
“All should appreciate the FBI speaking up. I wish more of our leaders would,” Comey wrote in reference to the agency’s strong opposition to releasing the memo crafted by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee.
Comey’s mention of “the FBI speaking up” is a reference to a statement the bureau issued on Wednesday that effectively said the GOP-authored memo was nonsense. The statement said he bureau had “grave concerns about material omissions of fact that fundamentally impact the memo’s accuracy.”
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/comey-nunes-fbi-memo_us_5a739ba3e4b06ee97af107ac
James Comey Defends FBI, Says History Will Catch Up To ‘Weasels And Liars’
“Not a lot of schools or streets named for Joe McCarthy,” the ex-FBI director said.
By Lydia O’Connor
Former FBI Director James Comey broke his silence on the White House’s efforts to a release a secret Republican memo alleging FBI bias against President Donald Trump, tweeting Thursday that “weasels and liars” will reap what they sow.
“All should appreciate the FBI speaking up. I wish more of our leaders would,” Comey wrote in reference to the agency’s strong opposition to releasing the memo crafted by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee.
Comey’s mention of “the FBI speaking up” is a reference to a statement the bureau issued on Wednesday that effectively said the GOP-authored memo was nonsense. The statement said he bureau had “grave concerns about material omissions of fact that fundamentally impact the memo’s accuracy.”
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/comey-nunes-fbi-memo_us_5a739ba3e4b06ee97af107ac
Sanitized History
An excerpt from the Huffington Post -
American Students Aren’t Learning The Full Truth About Slavery
Students often get only a superficial view of the atrocity that built the country, a new study finds.
By Rebecca Klein
American students are being taught an inadequate and often sanitized version of history when it comes to slavery, according to a new report.
The report, from the Southern Poverty Law Center, looks at how slavery is presented in K-12 classrooms and found that students are often taught a deeply incomplete version of events. Students learn inspirational stories ― about figures like Harriet Tubman and good Samaritans who helped slaves reach freedom in the underground railroad ― before they learn about the horrors of enslavement. When they learn about slavery, it is often presented as an isolated, albeit unfortunate phenomenon, disconnected from white supremacist ideologies that abetted it and the racism that continues as a pervasive part of American life today.
Only 8 percent of high school seniors surveyed by an independent polling firm for the study identified slavery as the primary reason for the Civil War. Almost half identified tax protests as the main cause.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/schools-teaching-slavery_us_5a7243cbe4b03699143f144f
American Students Aren’t Learning The Full Truth About Slavery
Students often get only a superficial view of the atrocity that built the country, a new study finds.
By Rebecca Klein
American students are being taught an inadequate and often sanitized version of history when it comes to slavery, according to a new report.
The report, from the Southern Poverty Law Center, looks at how slavery is presented in K-12 classrooms and found that students are often taught a deeply incomplete version of events. Students learn inspirational stories ― about figures like Harriet Tubman and good Samaritans who helped slaves reach freedom in the underground railroad ― before they learn about the horrors of enslavement. When they learn about slavery, it is often presented as an isolated, albeit unfortunate phenomenon, disconnected from white supremacist ideologies that abetted it and the racism that continues as a pervasive part of American life today.
Only 8 percent of high school seniors surveyed by an independent polling firm for the study identified slavery as the primary reason for the Civil War. Almost half identified tax protests as the main cause.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/schools-teaching-slavery_us_5a7243cbe4b03699143f144f
Black Vegans Rejoice
An excerpt from Essence -
This Black-Owned Vegan Restaurant is Helping Brooklyn Become Greener, One Meal and Juice at a Time
By SIRAAD DIRSHE
In many inner-city communities, particularly low-income ones, access to healthy food options is still very limited. It's oftentimes easier and much cheaper to find a fast food hamburger, then say a salad. Twenty-one-year-old Francesca “Sol” Chaney noticed this inequality and thought it unfair.
"The wellness community can be really classist," Chaney tells ESSENCE. "Our intention [with Sol Sips] is to make organic plant-based beverage and bites available to everyone," she says.
As a full-time student, who worked three jobs, Chaney found herself constantly on the hunt for nutrient dense food that she could consume quickly. "At the time, I had just moved out on my own and began brewing teas and making juices and smoothies. I saw that they were working and I was feeling more energized and lighter," she says. So she began making her newly minted recipes for friends and family.
https://www.essence.com/beauty/black-owned-vegan-restaurant-brooklyn-sol-sips
This Black-Owned Vegan Restaurant is Helping Brooklyn Become Greener, One Meal and Juice at a Time
By SIRAAD DIRSHE
In many inner-city communities, particularly low-income ones, access to healthy food options is still very limited. It's oftentimes easier and much cheaper to find a fast food hamburger, then say a salad. Twenty-one-year-old Francesca “Sol” Chaney noticed this inequality and thought it unfair.
"The wellness community can be really classist," Chaney tells ESSENCE. "Our intention [with Sol Sips] is to make organic plant-based beverage and bites available to everyone," she says.
As a full-time student, who worked three jobs, Chaney found herself constantly on the hunt for nutrient dense food that she could consume quickly. "At the time, I had just moved out on my own and began brewing teas and making juices and smoothies. I saw that they were working and I was feeling more energized and lighter," she says. So she began making her newly minted recipes for friends and family.
https://www.essence.com/beauty/black-owned-vegan-restaurant-brooklyn-sol-sips
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Damn!
From the Huffington Post -
Donald Trump Jr. Fails Miserably In Twitter War With Joy Reid
Junior brought a slingshot. Reid had brought an arsenal.
By David Moye
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-jr-joy-reid-twitter-war_us_5a722c1ce4b03699143ef9ae?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009
Donald Trump Jr. Fails Miserably In Twitter War With Joy Reid
Junior brought a slingshot. Reid had brought an arsenal.
By David Moye
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-jr-joy-reid-twitter-war_us_5a722c1ce4b03699143ef9ae?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009
A Shameful History
From Atlas Obscura -
How Photographers Captured the Incarceration of Japanese Americans During WWII
A new exhibition examines a dark history.
BY ANIKA BURGESS
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/how-photographer-captured-incarceration-japanese-americans-wwii-miyatake-lange-adams-albers
How Photographers Captured the Incarceration of Japanese Americans During WWII
A new exhibition examines a dark history.
BY ANIKA BURGESS
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/how-photographer-captured-incarceration-japanese-americans-wwii-miyatake-lange-adams-albers
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Monday, January 29, 2018
Spreading Joy
From the Huffington Post -
I Just Had The Most Surreal — And Profound — Flight Attendant Experience In My Life
By Noah Michelson
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jetblue-flight-attendant-surreal-zach_us_5a6dc1f1e4b0ddb658c744c0?section=us_huffpost-personal
I Just Had The Most Surreal — And Profound — Flight Attendant Experience In My Life
By Noah Michelson
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jetblue-flight-attendant-surreal-zach_us_5a6dc1f1e4b0ddb658c744c0?section=us_huffpost-personal
Petra
As beautiful as these photos are, they don't capture the absolute splendor of this place. It is truly spectacular.
From USA Today -
https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/travel/destinations/2018/01/26/petra-jordan-beautiful-photos-of-the-rose-city/109802270/
From USA Today -
https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/travel/destinations/2018/01/26/petra-jordan-beautiful-photos-of-the-rose-city/109802270/
Having Fun With Architecture
From CNN -
Mimetic architecture: Why does this building look like a fish?
By Cathy Adams
http://www.cnn.com/style/article/mimetic-architecture-osm/index.html
Mimetic architecture: Why does this building look like a fish?
By Cathy Adams
http://www.cnn.com/style/article/mimetic-architecture-osm/index.html
King Louie
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/animalkind/2018/01/28/cat-so-popular-he-has-over-10-owners/1070343001/
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