Sunday, May 26, 2024
Thursday, May 23, 2024
A Dad's Lesson For Us All
From Cafe Mom -
My Dad Watched Me Get Dumped Then Sent Me a Powerful Text I'll Never Forget
By Michelle Stein
Recently, a college student shared the text messages she received from her father following a breakup. Fallon Thompson, who plays volleyball at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, posted a video of her dad's touching advice, and the internet instantly fell in love with him.
https://cafemom.com/lifestyle/internet-praises-emotionally-intelligent-dads-message-daughters-breakup/scott-then-left-is-daughter-with-a-fitting-analogy
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Southern Comments to Avoid
An excerpt from the Wealthy Nickel -
16 Comments You Should Never, Ever Make to a Southerner
by Rebecca Holcomb
1. Sweet Tea
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| Image Credit: Shutterstock. |
During a trip to Michigan with my southern husband, we were invited to lunch, where my husband kindly asked the waitress for sweet tea. Word to the wise: If someone asks you for sweet tea, it is far better to say you don’t have any than to offer them iced tea with sugar from the table.
Anyone who makes sweet tea knows you cannot add sugar to cold tea and get good sweet tea. At most, you’ll end up with iced tea with gritty crystals.
2. Instant Grits
Having moved to Florida in 2003, I can tell you people in the South are serious about their grits. Cheesy grits are especially favored, but cooking them well is a big part of most “Southern” cooking. Creamy with a texture similar to cream of wheat, these savory grains are a great addition to Southern specials like fried chicken and excellent barbecue.
However, never are they “instant,” and asking someone if they are may get you disinvited from dinner.
4. Y’all
When I was growing up and in school, a contraction of the words you and all wasn’t a word. However, down South, it’s been an accepted part of everyday vocabulary since before I was born. One particular sticking point, though, is where you place the apostrophe.
Y’all is the correct way to write it; anything else is unacceptable. Also, ain’t, which wasn’t a word when I was in school, is now proper (according to Webster’s Dictionary) language and should be spelled correctly.
12. Bless Your Heart
While hearing this phrase may make you think that the sweet grandma you met at the grocery store is complimenting you, it’s more likely that she thinks you’re a bit dim. “Bless your heart,” or any version thereof, is not often given as a nice comment. Take a moment to evaluate the situation, and you’ll know whether someone’s insulting you. If you’re unsure, chalk it up to indifference and move on.
Black-Owned Pilot School
An excerpt from Travel Noire -
A NEW BLACK-OWNED FLIGHT SCHOOL IS MAKING WAVES IN THE RACE FOR MORE MINORITY PILOTS
Gwinnett County has opened its first Black-owned flight school, joining a nationwide effort to increase the number of minority pilots.
by Faith Katunga
Gwinnett County, in Atlanta, Georgia, officially has its first Black-owned flight school, joining a nationwide effort to increase the number of minority pilots. Look Up Flight Academy, owned by Mike Ojo, is a much-needed opportunity for aspiring minority aviators. As a successful pilot in his own right, Mike Ojo has always felt a deep connection to the air. However, he did have some reservations on his way to the skies.
“I always thought it wasn’t for me because I never saw anyone who looked like me in a pilot uniform,” Ojo expressed during an interview with WSB-TV’s Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson. His experiences reflect a larger issue within the industry. Minority pilots currently make up only about 3% of the total aviation workforce.
With Ojo’s dedication to expanding minority access to aviation, the Look Up Flight Academy is a vanguard of progressive change. The Gwinnett County airport, recognizing the significance of this initiative, approved a 25-year lease for the academy. The school will open its doors by summer. This launch will follow the renovation of a vacant building and hangar at Briscoe Field, creating a conducive learning environment for students.
https://travelnoire.com/gwinnett-county-black-owned-flight-school-opens
Malcolm X Quotes
An excerpt from Newsone.com -
20 Malcolm X Quotes Every Black Person Should Know
His eloquent, but fearless style of writing and reciting still resonates with people from all walks of life.
Written by Bilal G. Morris
A father, a civil rights leader, and a symbol of courage; Malcolm X was a true pioneer to the advancement of human thought.
On Sunday, May 19, the civil rights leader would have turned 99 years old
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| Source: Richard Saunders/Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty Images / Richard Saunders/Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty Images |
Malcolm X Quotes About Violence
1. “If violence is wrong in America, violence is wrong abroad. If it is wrong to be violent defending black women and black children and black babies and black men, then it is wrong for America to draft us, and make us violent abroad in defense of her. And if it is right for America to draft us, and teach us how to be violent in defense of her, then it is right for you and me to do whatever is necessary to defend our own people right here in this country.” — Speech, Nov. 1963, New York City.
2. Concerning non-violence: “It is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks.” – Malcolm X
3. “I am for violence if non-violence means we continue postponing a solution to the American black man’s problem just to avoid violence.”
4. “I don’t favor violence. If we could bring about recognition and respect of our people by peaceful means, well and good. Everybody would like to reach his objectives peacefully. But I’m also a realist. The only people in this country who are asked to be nonviolent are black people.”
5. “I don’t even call it violence when it’s in self defense; I call it intelligence.”
Malcolm X Quotes About Education
6.”Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
7. “Without education, you are not going anywhere in this world.”
Malcolm A Quotes About Media
8. “The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent.”
9. “The press is used to make it look like (the black man) is the criminal and (the police force is) the victim.”
https://newsone.com/4186419/malcolm-x-quotes-you-need-to-know/
Favorite Movies Nobody Has Watched
An excerpt from BuzzFeed -
"This Is My Favourite Movie Of All Time And I've Never Met Anyone Else Who Has Seen It" — 21 Of The Best Films You've Never Heard Of
"This is my favourite movie of all time and I've never met anyone else who has seen it, or even heard of it."
By Amy Glover
1. Breaking Away (1979)
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| 20th Century |
| Roger Ebert gave it four stars and called it 'a precious cinematic miracle.'" | u/WhatsMyAgeAgain-182 |
8. The Station Agent (2003)
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| Miramax |
u/Camille_Toh
"This is a lovely film. I’m going to mention that Peter Dinklage is the leading character (in a tremendous ensemble cast) in order to get more people to watch it."
u/Dogs_Akimbo
11. Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai (1999)
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| Arthaus / Lionsgate Films, Madman Entertainment / MORE |
u/jinyx1
"That recurring bit in Ghost Dog where he and the French guy talk every day despite not understanding each other was so endearing."
u/alltherobots
Success Depends On This One Skill?
An excerpt from CNBC Make It -
Amazon CEO: An ‘embarrassing’ amount of your success depends on this one skill
By Morgan Smith
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| Andy Jassy on stage at the 2022 New York Times DealBook in New York City, November 30, 2022.Thos Robinson | Getty Images |
The trick to getting ahead at work isn’t being the fastest learner or the smartest in the room — it’s having a positive attitude, says Amazon CEO Andy Jassy.
Jassy, who took the top job at Amazon after Jeff Bezos stepped down in 2021, shared his “best career advice” in a new interview with LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky.
“I think an embarrassing amount of how well you do, particularly in your 20s, has to do with attitude,” Jassy, 56, said.
It’s not just about being cheerful, he explained. Having a positive attitude means you work well on a team and honor deadlines, among other strengths.
If you have the right mindset, Jassy said you should be able to confidently answer “yes” to the following questions:
- Do you work hard?
- Are you more can-do than naysaying?
- Do you do what you said you were going to do?
- Can you work in a team?
These strategies are “so simple” and yet often overlooked, he said.
Extraordinary Black Scientists
An excerpt from AfroTech -
15 Black Scientists That Changed Our Understanding Of The World
By Leah Jones
Shirley Ann Jackson (b. 1946)
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| Photo Credit: Nicholas Kamm / AFP |
Dr. Shirley Jackson is a physicist and the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Jackson’s research has primarily focused on theoretical physics, semiconductor physics and condensed matter physics. She conducted groundbreaking research in the field of semiconductors, leading to advancements in telecommunications and computing. Her work laid the foundation for technologies such as fiber optics, solar cells and the portable fax machine. Jackson also served as the chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission from 1995 to 1999, becoming the first woman and first Black American to hold this position.
~~~~~
Neil deGrasse Tyson (b. 1958)
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| Photo Credit: John Lamparski |
Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist, author, and science communicator known for his efforts to popularize science and make complex concepts accessible to the public. yson has made significant contributions to astrophysics through his research on star formation, galaxy evolution, and the structure of the Milky Way. However, he is perhaps best known for his work in science communication. Tyson has hosted several television series, including “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey” and “StarTalk,” where he discusses scientific topics in an engaging and entertaining manner. He has also authored numerous books aimed at making science understandable and engaging for people of all ages. Tyson’s ability to convey complex scientific concepts with enthusiasm and clarity has made him a beloved figure in the world of science and education.
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Katherine Johnson (1918-2020)
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| Photo Credit: Eddy Chen/Disney General Entertainment Content |
Katherine Johnson was a mathematician whose calculations were critical to the success of NASA’s early space missions. She is one of the most famous Black scientists in history. Johnson’s mathematical genius played a pivotal role in the Mercury and Apollo space programs. She calculated trajectories, launch windows and re-entry paths for many of NASA’s missions, including Alan Shepard’s 1961 flight and John Glenn’s historic orbit around the Earth in 1962. Her calculations were so accurate that Glenn specifically requested her verification before his flight. Johnson’s work was instrumental in ensuring the safety and success of NASA’s missions during the space race.
Katherine Johnson’s contributions to space exploration were recognized with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. Her story gained widespread attention following the publication of the book “Hidden Figures” and the subsequent film adaptation, bringing her achievements to a broader audience. She is celebrated not only for her groundbreaking work as a mathematician but also for breaking barriers as an African American woman in a male-dominated field.
Black-Owned Hotels in New Orleans
An excerpt from Travel Noire -
5 BLACK-OWNED HOTELS TO VISIT IN NEW ORLEANS
Whether a bed and breakfast or a luxury hotel, these Black-owned accommodations are fan favorites when visiting the Big Easy.
By Jasmine Osby
THE DUTCHESS BB
Steeped in Southern charm, the Dutchess BB is a lovely accommodation in the historic Irish Channel neighborhood. It has eight bedrooms spread out over two stories. Travelers will fall in love with the beautiful home with all of the fixings of a modern home. There’s a private backyard for outdoor vibes, laundry access, free breakfast, a jacuzzi, and more. The Dutchess is great for a personal experience while visiting New Orleans.
*Location: The Irish Channel
*Type of Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
*Accommodation Spotlight: The Dutchess is located near the trolley for easy access to transportation to restaurants and excursions.
*Before You Go: This is a great B&B for group trips with a downstairs and upstairs space with multiple bedrooms on each floor.
HUBBARD MANSION
The Hubbard Mansion opened in 2000 and is a beacon of hospitality in New Orleans. It’s located minutes from everything you want to see in the city including the French Quarter, Central Business District, and the Zoo. The Black-owned hotel in New Orleans has always been in the family and offers five rooms with suite accommodations for visiting guests. The mansion overlooks the Mississippi River and has a graceful flair you won’t find at any other bed and breakfast.
*Location: St. Charles Avenue
*Type of Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
*Accommodation Spotlight: Hubbard Mansion is decorated with an array of antiques and historic heirlooms for guests to see and experience during their stay.
*Before You Go: It took the Hubbard family three years to build this NOLA stay.
This Info Could Save Your Life
@doctorhoeflinger Knowing this about drinking could save your life! #fyp #party #drinking #alcohol #foryou #holiday #christmas ♬ Storytelling - Adriel
Denzel Breaks It Down
An excerpt from MadameNoire
Denzel Washington Breaks Down Why ‘Fences’ Needed A Black
by marysymone
Washington began, “It’s not color, it’s culture. Steven Spielberg did Schindler’s List. Martin Scorsese did Goodfellas, right? Steven Spielberg could direct Goodfellas. Martin Scorsese probably could have done a good job with Schindler’s List. But there are cultural differences.”
He continued to give an example, “I know, you know, we all know what it is when a hot comb hits your head on a Sunday morning, what it smells like. That’s a cultural difference, not just color difference.”
The Equalizer star expressed the importance of what August Wilson did for the culture. “August Wilson is writing how we feel. That’s why I’m producing all 10 of [his plays]. Because of all those people who laid the groundwork for me to be in the position I’m in, I’m going to make sure that there’s hundreds of roles for the next generation and utilize the power that I have at this moment to do that, and nobody’s going to get in my way,” he told SiriusXM.
Repurposing Old Teacups
An excerpt from House Digest -
18 Clever Ways To Repurpose Old Teacups Around The House
BY MASIE O'TOOLE
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1. Bird feeder
Bird feeders are easy to make out of just about anything, but this teacup idea is one of the most fun and whimsical out there. All you need is a teacup, a saucer, some string, and an adhesive. Turn your teacup on its side with the handle facing upwards, then attach it to the saucer with your adhesive of choice. Once it's dry, attach your string to the handle of the teacup to hang it from a branch. After you fill the cup (and likely some of the saucer, too) up with birdseed, birds can fly up and rest on the rim of the saucer to eat.
2. Candle vessel
Making your own soy candles is surprisingly easy, so much so that finding appropriate vessels for your creations is oftentimes the hardest part. If you're tired of filling plain jars with wax, try thinking outside the box and making a teacup candle. Teacups are already meant to withstand high heat, so there's a low risk of cracking as you fill the teacup and eventually burn your creation, and the handle on the side can make it easy for you to move the candle from place to place, even when it's still hot. Add on the fact that it's absolutely adorable, and you have a winning DIY idea.
3. Succulent garden
Succulent gardens are a low-maintenance way to bring some interesting greenery and freshness to your home décor. Once you start adding to your collection of plants, however, it can be hard to find planters that are the perfect fit for a collection of different succulents. To give yourself more freedom, consider potting your succulents in individual teacups, then displaying them together. Teacups are small and shallow, making them a great choice for succulent planters, and putting your succulents in several tiny pots instead of one large one can make it easier add on new plants and take away old ones that might not be faring so well.
Sunday, May 12, 2024
Still Want 'Em?
@elle.cordova Replying to @the_lonelyest_pickle dare accepted. RX Side Effects Redux! (Deja vu now also makes a recurring appearance per commenter requests) #rx ♬ original sound - Elle Cordova
A Mother's Love
An excerpt from USA Today -
She was the chauffeur, the encourager and worked for the NSA. But mostly, she was my mom
By Mike Freeman
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| Mike Freeman and his mom in the 1970s. Provided by Mike Freeman |
I remember the exact day I first saw my mother’s strength. I mean, really saw it. My father had left us. Not long after, my mom sat next to me on the stairs of the house, put her arm around me, and kissed me on the cheek. She told me we were going to be OK, and there was no doubt in my mind she was right. Because she was Mom. She always made everything right. Even moments like that one.
She’s called me Mickey or Mickey Joe forever. We’ll be all right, Mickey. I promise. And her promises meant something. They meant everything.
She was the chauffeur who took me to soccer practice, the cook, the child psychologist, the encourager, the disciplinarian and the empath. She did all of that while working at the National Security Agency, where she was a senior executive, and one of the highest-ranking Black women at the agency. She’d also get her law degree by going to classes at night.
We sometimes think of power as physical strength or wealth, but true power is what my mom did for me growing up, and what so many other moms have done. She used her strength to create a protective forcefield over the ordinary and mundane, which are so important to kids: going to school; playing sports; hanging with friends; having food and clothes and support.
Her love has always had the power of a splitting atom. But another strength was just as buttressing. Mom’s almost unrelenting desire to educate me about the world and how things work, from making pancake batter, to handling myself if stopped by the police, to emphasizing the power of Black pride when much of the outside world constantly told Black people how awful we were.
If We Only Knew Then What We Know Now
An excerpt from Buzzfeed -
People Over 60 Are Revealing "Time-Sucking" Habits They Wasted WAY Too Much Time On In Their 30s, 40s, Or 50s
"That may have worked for men, but definitely not for women at that time."
by Raven Ishak - BuzzFeed Staff
3. "Trying so hard to be friends with people who had no time or interest in being friends with me or only wanted my friendship when it was convenient for them." —Jayne, 62 1/2, California
4. "I spent way too much time people-pleasing. Being a caregiver for my parents at a very young age left me struggling for good coping skills as I grew older. The insecurity made me way too concerned about what others thought. The best part of getting older is not giving a crap about what anyone thinks!"—Anonymous, 62, Illinois
5. "When I was younger, I wasted too much time worrying about whether a man liked me or not. My self-esteem was not very high, and I suspect I thought most men I liked were thinking about anything else besides me. Nowadays, I don't worry about whether a man likes me or not. If he likes me, he'll show it by wanting to be with me. It's now all about whether I find him interesting enough to want to be with him!"—Suzanne, 63, United Kingdom
10. "Don’t waste time being angry over something you can’t control. Don’t waste time on gossip or negativity. Don’t waste time blaming others or your childhood on present bad decisions, behavior, or situations."—fiercemoon84
https://www.buzzfeed.com/ravenishak/things-older-people-wish-they-didnt-waste-time-on
Sacramento State University's president speaks on peaceful end to campus...
It's long, but worth the time. He has a powerful backstory that makes his message all the more meaningful.
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Southern Sayings
An excerpt from the Wealthy Nickel -
15 Phrases Only a True Southerner Would Understand
By Rebecca Holcomb
1. Yonder
There are several versions of this saying. “Right Yonder” or “Over Yonder” are the two most common examples of a word that means “over there.” If a Southerner is trying to tell you the general direction something is in or where something is at, they’ll likely say “Right yonder” or “Over yonder” and point with a finger to help guide you.
3. Y’all
In Michigan, most people will say “you guys” when referring to a group of people. Being a proper Southerner, however, my husband uses “Y’all.” Thankfully, it is an appropriate contraction of the words you and all. We use it most often when talking to our mix of children.
5. Bless Your Heart
This phrase is one of my favorite Southern expressions because it can be a passive insult or a meaningful compliment. As an insult, it means that you’re dim in the mental acuity department. As a compliment, it means that whoever is saying it appreciated that you thought of them.
6. Fixin’ To
When I was a sophomore in college, I met a couple of girls from Texas, and it was the first time I ever heard the phrase “Fixin’ to.” This phrase can mean anything you’re planning to do in the future. However, it usually refers to something you’re hoping to do.
https://wealthynickel.com/15-southern-sayings-that-northerners-need-a-translator-to-understand-0424/
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Who Benefits From Racism?
An excerpt from CNN.com -
A White author calculated just how much racism has benefited her. Here’s what she found
By Harmeet Kaur, CNN
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| Tracie McMillan, journalist and author of "The White Bonus," outside her home in Detroit, Michigan. Sarah Rice |
Exactly how much has racism benefited White Americans?
Journalist and author Tracie McMillan did the math: The advantages she’s gotten over her life from being White, she estimates, amount to $371,934.30.
To calculate that number, McMillan tallied those benefits and divided them into two categories: A family bonus, which includes money her parents spent on her college tuition, educational loans she got from her grandfather and an inheritance; and a social bonus, which includes jobs, apartments and access to credit she’s gotten throughout her life.
Those resources and capital, she concludes, wouldn’t have been available to her if it weren’t for her race.
In her new book, “The White Bonus: Five Families and the Cash Value of Racism in America,” which publishes Tuesday, McMillan traces just how much of her family’s modest wealth can be attributed to policies and practices that have systematically hurt Black Americans.
Through investigative research, interviews and personal recollections, McMillan examines how racism has shaped her life, as well as the lives of four other White, middle class families.
“It was the one story about White people that I didn’t know,” she says.
McMillan, who grew up in rural Michigan and now lives in New York, didn’t have a particularly privileged upbringing by most standards. As she details in the book, she grew up in an abusive household and an unfortunate accident left her mother unable to care for her. In college, McMillan juggled numerous jobs to support herself, and as a working journalist, she’s had her own brushes with poverty.
Despite those hardships, McMillan says the financial advantages she’s experienced because of her race are undeniable. Her grandparents benefited from federal programs that largely excluded Black people, allowing them to build wealth that was then passed on to the next generation. That enabled her parents to help her pay to attend an elite university, which in turn opened doors to employment opportunities.
But, as she writes in the book, those advantages also come with a cost — not just to Black Americans, but White people like her.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/22/us/the-white-bonus-book-tracie-mcmillan-cec/index.html
Friday, March 8, 2024
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
NFL Player Warrick Dunn Helped Build Over 145 Homes For Single Moms
An excerpt from the Secret Life of Mom -
Warrick Dunn: The NFL Player Who Helped Build Over 145 Homes For Single Mothers So They Could Have Better Lives
By Sarah Biren
Warrick Dunn is famous for his professional football career, which spanned 12 seasons in the NFL, but he deserves more acclaim for his philanthropy. Ever since his rookie season in 1997, Dunn has supported single-parents and underprivileged families with his Homes for the Holidays program. He started the organization to honor his mother’s memory, since she had always dreamed of homeownership. So Dunn has made this dream a reality for many families in the United States.
Warrick Dunn Helps House Over 200 Families
Dun’s mother, Betty Dunn Smothers, worked as a police officer in Louisiana. She was killed while working her second job as a security guard. Corporal Smothers was in uniform and driving a patrol car when she and the store manager went to make a deposit at a bank. Three men shot them as they sat in the car, killing Corporal Smothers and injuring the manager. This happened a few days before her oldest son’s birthday, Warwick Dunn. [1]
Dunn was already a father figure for his five younger siblings. “I never really had a childhood,” he said in a 1994 interview with the Los Angeles Times. “I’ve never been able to go out and just go crazy, like most kids, because I grew up staying in the house a lot, baby-sitting.” [2]
Monday, March 4, 2024
45 Fascinating Maps
From Bored Panda -
Exploring America: 45 Maps That Might Shift Your View Of The US
By Robertas Lisickis and Mindaugas Balčiauskas
Thursday, February 29, 2024
Still Fighting at 101 Years Old!
An excerpt from Dan Rather's Steady Column -
A 101-Year-Old’s Fight Against Book Banning
Inspiring young 92-year-olds like me
DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY
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| Credit: PEN America/Damarcus Adisa |
I’m often inspired by those younger than I who work tirelessly to help our country survive and thrive. But at 92, it’s not every day I find someone older who is such an inspiration. Grace Linn is a spry 101-year-old with strong opinions about what’s happening where she lives in Martin County, Florida. The school board there has been at the forefront of book bans in the state, removing more than 80 titles from county classrooms.
I recently came upon a remarkable and inspirational interview with Linn. Her husband died in 1944 fighting the Nazis, who were notorious book burners. Linn was so disgusted by the book bans in her Florida school district that she made a quilt depicting 84 banned books and displayed it while testifying before the school board. “Banning books and burning books are the same. Both are done for the same reason: fear of knowledge,” Linn said. “Fear is not freedom. Fear is not liberty. Fear is control.”
Linn’s dedicated activism got me thinking about the surge in book bans specifically and the culture war being waged more broadly. The idea of a culture war is not something new in America.
https://steady.substack.com/p/a-101-year-olds-fight-against-book?
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
CIA's Former Chief of Disguise Reveals Secrets
An excerpt from People -
CIA's Former Chief of Disguise Reveals Spy Secrets: 'People Who Knew Me Well Will Be Shocked' (Exclusive)
Trailblazer Jonna Mendez revolutionized the CIA’s techniques — and now she’s finally sharing her own story
By Dawn Klavon
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| “I didn’t join the CIA thinking I’d drive over the Alps in a Jaguar like James Bond,” says Jonna Mendez (in 2023 and, opposite, disguised as a man in 2005). PHOTO: NANCY PASTOR/THE WASHINGTON TIMES; TINA LEU |
When Jonna Mendez, then the CIA’s chief of disguise, was asked to brief President George H.W. Bush on the agency’s new mask technology in the early 1990s, she wanted to make a powerful impression to secure more funding.
“It’s expensive to make these masks,” says Mendez, 78.
Meeting Bush in the Oval Office disguised as a Latina woman with black curly hair, she described the extraordinary results her team achieved to evade Russia’s KGB. Bush curiously glanced to her side, perhaps looking for a briefcase holding the new disguise. She told him she was wearing it.
“He said, ‘Hold on, don’t take it off yet.’ Then he got up and took a closer look,” she recalls. “He said, ‘Okay, do it.’ ”
Like a Mission: Impossible character, Mendez slowly peeled off a remarkably lifelike mask, revealing her true face: blue eyes, fair skin and short, dark blonde hair. When she held up the disguise that duped everyone in the room, Bush and his advisers seemed dazzled.
“The masks were something that no one else, not even Hollywood, could do,” she says.
That’s just one memory from Mendez’s 27-year tenure as a master of disguise that she’s mined for her CIA-reviewed memoir In True Face: A Woman’s Life in the CIA Unmasked, out March 5.
“This is my career that no one knows about,” she tells PEOPLE in this week's issue from her Reston, Va., home. “You step into that world, and the door closes behind you. I thought it would be interesting to open the door. People who knew me well will be shocked.”
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| The cover of Jonna Mendez's book, "In True Face," out March 5. Photo: PUBLICAFFAIRS |
https://people.com/cias-former-chief-of-disguise-reveals-spy-secrets-people-who-knew-me-well-will-be-shocked-exclusive-8594627
10 Landmark R & B Albums Turning 50 This Year
An excerpt from People -
The Sound of '74: 10 Landmark R&B Albums Turning 50 This Year
Learn more about the making of iconic albums by Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Al Green and more.
By Jordan Runtagh
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| PHOTO: Getty |
The year 1974 saw a host of legendary Black performers reach the peak of their powers, with icons like Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Millie Jackson and Aretha Franklin releasing works that defined both their careers and the decade through bold sonic innovations or powerful social commentary. It was a transitional time for the sound of Black America, as the ever-expanding scope of R&B grew to include emerging genres including funk, disco and even early hip-hop. In celebration of Black History Month, learn about — and listen to! — these landmark works by some of the greatest Black artists of all time.
01 'Perfect Angel' by Minnie Riperton
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| 'Perfect Angel' by Minnie Riperton. |
Released: Aug. 6, 1974
Standout Tracks: "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe,” "You're the First, the Last, My Everything"
Far more than just a velvet-voice, White was a writer, producer, arranger and key pioneer of the developing disco sound thanks to his run of early ‘70s solo albums that fused Memphis funk, Philly Soul, lush strings, and infectious four-on-the-floor beats with his unmistakable stage-rattling croon. Can’t Get Enough, his third solo disc, is the maestro at his peak. "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe,” the lead single, became his first No. 1 under his own name, and “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” — which began life as an unreleased country song from the 1950s before White reworked it — remains a sultry R&B standard half a century after its release.
The amped-up romance came from a real place for White. While producing the R&B group Love Unlimited, he fell in love with their singer, Glodean James. During one sleepless night, he poured his passionate sweet nothings for James into a song that became the title track. They were married by the time it topped the charts that September.
2nd HBCU Vet School to Open
An excerpt from Black Enterprise -
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE TO BECOME 2ND HBCU TO HAVE VETERINARIAN SCHOOL
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is making strides in diversity, becoming the second HBCU to host a veterinarian program.
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Maryland, is set to become the second HBCU to have a veterinarian school. Classes are set to begin in 2026.
Not only will the school join Tuskegee University as the only HBCU in the nation to have the program, it will soon be part of the just over three dozen schools that grant the degree, as reported by USA Today on Feb. 20, granting more opportunities for aspiring Black veterinarians.
“We are hoping that our new school will open the door and create plenty of opportunities in an underserved field,” said Moses Kairo, the dean of agricultural and natural sciences at the university.
“There are very few vet schools being established, so there’s room for growth. We feel our timing is just right.”
Black veterinarians only make up 1.2% of all professionals in the United States, according to a 2021 Bureau of Labor Statistics report.
First Medical School Staff President
An excerpt from Black Enterprise -
MEDICAL SCHOOL’S FIRST BLACK GRADUATE MAKES HISTORY AGAIN AS FIRST BLACK MEDICAL STAFF PRESIDENT
Dr. James D. Griffin, the first Black graduate of the University of Texas Southwestern’s medical school, was elected as the first Black president of the Medical Staff at Parkland Health.
By Daniel JohnsonDr. James D. Griffin is the first Black graduate of the University of Texas Southwestern’s medical school to join the school’s faculty, as well as the chief of Anesthesiology at Parkland Health, a hospital located in Dallas, Texas. Griffin made even more history, recently he was elected as the first Black president of the medical staff at Parkland Health.
Griffin, as NBC DFW reported, shares a special connection with Parkland; he was born in the hospital’s segregated wing in 1958. In an interview with the outlet, Griffin reflected on that history and his parents, who he says pushed him to believe in himself, beyond the limits that society placed on Black people in the Jim Crow South. “To be born at Parkland in a time when my mother could not receive health care in any other hospital was important. At that time, Parkland’s maternity ward was segregated so the African American babies were born in one part of the hospital and everyone else was born somewhere else,” Griffin said.
Griffin continued, praising the values his parents instilled in him, “We never talked about what we couldn’t do. It was always based in faith on what was possible if we put our minds to it.
https://www.blackenterprise.com/first-black-president-parkland-health/
Monday, February 12, 2024
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Scarf Bombing
An excerpt from the Washington Post -
‘Scarf bombing’ is helping keep people warm in the winter months
The act of leaving handmade garments in public places when it’s cold out has spread across Canada and the U.S.
By Sydney Page
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| A "scarf bomb" in Pittsburgh in December 2022. (Scarf Bombardiers) |
The 14 handmade scarves were a mystery.
Ten years ago, they appeared around the necks of famous statues in Ottawa on a chilly January day. Each scarf was tagged with a note that read: “I am not lost! If you are stuck out in the cold, take this scarf to keep warm.” It was later revealed that a few university students were behind the good deed.
The incident went viral, and is part of a movement now known as “scarf bombing” — leaving handmade scarves in public places to warm people up during the winter months. The scarves are typically tied around fences, benches and railings, and are especially intended to support those experiencing homelessness.
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While the Ottawa scarf bombing was the first to go big online, the phenomenon had already arrived in other places, including Winnipeg.
The scarf bombing movement has spread across Canada and the United States — including in Maryland, Virginia, Iowa, New York City, the Twin Cities and Jacksonville, Fla.
“Most of us are doing it because that one person did,” said Michelle Chance-Sangthong, who saw the Ottawa story online in 2014 and started scarf bombing in Jacksonville. She created a Facebook group called Scarf Bomb Jax and has recruited dozens of volunteers over the past decade. They range in age from their teens to their 80s.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2024/02/02/scarf-bomb-winter-homeless-kindness/
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Why He's "The Boss"
This is a truly wonderful story from Bruce @springsteen and I hope you listen to the end of it.
— Don Winslow (@donwinslow) July 26, 2023
It's a reminder to all artists...be humble, be grateful.pic.twitter.com/QC380HC1ua
Driven by Curiosity: The Lanny Smoot Story
An excerpt from AfroTech -
Lanny Smoot Becomes The Second Person From Disney, Since Walt Disney Himself, To Get Inducted Into The National Inventors Hall Of Fame
By Ashley Turner
Smoot is making history as the first Disney Imagineer to receive this honor. He’s also only the second Walt Disney Company employee since Walt Disney to earn the recognition.
During Smoot’s 45-year career, he has been a theatrical technology creator, inventor, electrical engineer, scientist, and researcher. The innovator has amassed a collection of over 100 patents, 74 of them created during his 25-year stint at the Walt Disney Company.
Before working at Disney, Smoot was talented.
After graduating with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Columbia University, Smoot developed multiple innovations, such as video-on-demand technology, video conferencing, and specialized television for remote locations, to name a few.
Smoot has been integral in creating some of the most technically advanced special effects at Disney theme parks and experiences. Some examples of these special effects include Madame Leota’s floating in the Séance Room at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, Disney Live Entertainment’s extendable lightsaber, the Magic Playfloor interactive game experience on the Disney Cruise Line, and the Fortress Explorations adventure at Tokyo DisneySea.
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Sunday, January 14, 2024
A Classy Dude
An excerpt from the Whiskey Riff -
Derrick Henry Thanked The Kitchen Staff, Security And Cleaning Staff By Name After His Last Game With The Tennessee Titans
By Aaron Ryan
It’s been said a million times that you should treat the cleaning staff the same way you treat the CEO. And NFL superstar Derrick Henry lives by that philosophy.
Henry has been one of the best running backs in the league for years now, since being selected by the Tennessee Titans in the 2016 NFL Draft. He’s a four-time Pro Bowl selection, led the NFL in rushing in 2019, and in 2020 was selected as the AP Offensive Player of the Year after becoming just the eighth player in history to rush for over 2,000 yards.
But despite all of the accolades and accomplishments, Henry has managed to stay humble.
It’s likely that yesterday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars is Henry’s last game in Nashville. And after the game, he took a moment to address the fans and thank them for their support over the past 8 years:
Pretty incredible two-plus minutes from #Titans RB Derrick Henry @KingHenry_2 after today’s game — thanked countless members of the organization by name, from equipment staff to cafeteria staff to custodial staff and many, many more.
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) January 7, 2024
🎥 pic.twitter.com/aND2GiL0my
Friday, January 12, 2024
Regina Hall's Acceptance Speech
Kevin Costner’s best Golden Globe appearance is still last year when he didn’t show up pic.twitter.com/vlOvSrnZAW
— Ryan Aguirre (@aguirreryan) January 8, 2024
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