Closely Watching

I can't get enough of the news about the possibility of Scottish Independence.

The election is this Thursday, Sept. 18th.

If I could, I'd vote YES.

It's hard to believe the dominant influence Great Britain has had in places all over the world.  I've experienced it many times when I've visited countries where there is a preference for tea over coffee and driving on the left.  Far and wide the Brits have left their mark.  It's time more folks said, "Enough."

John Oliver does a terrific job of explaining the issues of Scottish Independence, enumerating the pros and cons.

The clip is about 15 minutes, but watching him is like reading the Cliff Notes, only much funnier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UU3XTzVzaHQEd30rQbuvCtTQ&v=-YkLPxQp_y0

Making History at Harvard

Alexis Wilkinson has made history as the first African-American woman president of the campus comedy magazine, the Harvard Lampoon.

Check out the article below from Salon where she discusses her experiences.

http://www.salon.com/2014/09/14/harvard_lampoon_president_alexis_wilkinson_opens_up_about_internet_parodies_race_and_gender/?source=newsletter

Turning Over in Their Graves

Not sure what prompted me to check out the ladies representing each state in the Miss America Pageant, but I did.  And lo and behold, representing Mississippi is a beautiful black woman.

Miss Mississippi - Jasmine Murray

Now, you and I both know there are plenty of folks in that great state that are turning over in their graves.

http://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/life/people/2014/09/13/miss-america-2015-contestants/15522751/

Unexpected Consequences

This guy (a scientist) gave his parents a gift of genetic testing.  He was getting one, and thought it would be great to have a more complete picture.  What they discovered was he had a brother no one knew about.

This information did not lead to a happy ending.

http://www.vox.com/2014/9/9/5975653/with-genetic-testing-i-gave-my-parents-the-gift-of-divorce-23andme

Is is possible to have too much information, or is this a case of not having enough?

Milestones

September is a month of celebrations in our world as Ben and Frankie and other family members celebrate birthdays.

Frankie was 31 years old on the 10th and Ben is 33 on the 16th.

For those of you with little ones, know this - in a blink of an eye, they will be all grown up.

It's hard to believe that the incident with Ben not being allowed to attend his 8th grade graduation or give the valedictorian speech because his haircut was deemed too short (the school was trying to discourage skinhead activity on campus - like black folks were likely to be skinheads was unfathomable, and was clearly irrelevant to the conversation at the time), happen 20 years ago!

Incredible!

Frankie headed to New York for college as a 16 year old who turned 17 weeks after arriving on campus.

That was fourteen years ago!

Unbelievable!

It's true, if they're this old, then that means I'm no spring chick, but I'm thankful for my 58 years on this planet.  They are many who haven't lived to see this, like Terry, my youngest brother, who passed away suddenly at 51, eight years ago.

So, the message today is, enjoy life.

If you have kids, savor the time with them.  Let the fun times outweigh the aggravating ones.

I know that that can be hard to do, especially when they become surly teenagers, but remember, this too shall pass.

Besides, if you're lucky, you'll get to enjoy the best part of being a parent, when you become a grandparent.  That's when the fun really begins.

Cheers!

Choosing Another Path

This video clip is a TED Talk by a young man who was raised to hate.  His father is a convicted terrorist.

His journey is a fascinating one.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zak-ebrahim/zak-ebrahim-ted-book-terrorists-son_b_5811816.html

My Daily Fix

One of my news sources that is delivered with sass is The Daily Skimm.  It arrives via email everyday.

Check it out below.

Skimm for September 10th

QUOTE OF THE DAY “In real estate, location defines value and parking is no exception” – A NYC real-estate exec. A new luxury building has spaces going for $1 million. Parking spaces. Honk. SKIMM THIS

THINGS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

THE FRUIT THE STORY Yesterday, Apple invited a bunch of people over for a show-and-tell. There was lots of clapping. WHAT DO iWANT FOR CHRISTMAS? A watch and a phone. But you can only have the phone since the watch doesn’t come out until next year. There are two choices: the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. One’s a little tiny; the other’s a little full-figured. As for the watch, it’s like a Fitbit, a wallet, and a Tamagotchi all in one. With your choice of colors. If that didn’t make you realize how broke you’re about to be, Apple’s also got a new way for you to spend money — Apple Pay will let you store credit cards and pay for things on your phone and watch. iScared. theSKIMM Investors got really excited during the event, but after the sugar-high wore off they forgot about it and went on with their lives. Meanwhile, the Fruit’s new offerings show the company might be driving off into the luxury lane for good. SKIMM THIS

THE NFL THE STORY After indefinitely suspending Ray Rice this week, the NFL is getting a lot ofquestions. THE WHAT Earlier this week, video surfaced of star NFL running back Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee (now-wife) Janay Palmer in an elevator, apparently knocking her unconscious. Rice got cut from the Baltimore Ravens, and was indefinitely suspended from the NFL. Months ago, a shorter video was released showed Rice dragging Palmer from the elevator. In July, the NFL suspended him for two games, which basically everyone agreed was on the wrong side of lenient. Janay defended her husband yesterday, saying the media is making her family “relive a moment in our lives that we regret every day.” TERRIBLE STORY…BUT WHAT ARE WE STILL DEBATING? What the NFL knew and when. The NFL says it never saw the full video until everybody else did this week. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league assumed there was video of what happened in the elevator, but was “never granted [the] opportunity” to see it. Networking is hard. An official said the video wasn’t released to the NFL because it was “grand jury material.”  But some reporters are calling BS, pointing to league sources who seemed to know details of the full video back in July. See the problem? theSKIMM Ray Rice’s NFL career may be over – or maybe not if you ask Goodell — but the NFL is going to be dealing with questions about how it handled all this for a long time. Many would prefer discussing ways to prevent domestic violence.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

WHAT PEOPLE ARE WATCHING… ISIS. Today, Sec. of State John Kerry arrived in Iraq to talk to the country’s leaders about the fight against the Islamic militant group. He’s starting a tour of the Mideast to rally support. Back in Washington yesterday, President Obama met with Congressional leaders to remind them they can stand with him or without him to take action against ISIS. Or they can just watch him work. He’ll address the nation tonight about the US’s new strategy to fight the group, which could reportedly includeairstrikes in Syria. Meanwhile, yesterday, the US government got a bad grade from the family rep of Steven Sotloff – the US journalist who was beheaded by ISIS in a video released last week — for how it handled the situation. The Sotloff family says the White House wasn’t in regular communication with them like it said it was. Sotloff’s family also claims the journalist was sold to ISIS by another rebel group for up to $50,000 and the US could have done more to try to save him.

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOUR FRIEND STEALS YOUR MILLION DOLLAR IDEA… Um, I invented Post-Its. Yesterday, Snapchat settled a lawsuit with ousted co-founder Reggie Brown for a confidential amount. The guys behind Snapchat also admitted for the first time that Brown came up with the idea for the app. Idea, shmidea. Brown was later pushed out and not given equity. So he sued. This all comes after Snapchat was recently valued at $10 billion. SKIMM THIS

WHAT TO SAY WHEN THE NEXT EPISODE OF “HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER” WON’T LOAD… Barney blocked. Today, Netflix and a bunch of other big-name websites like Etsy, Kickstarter, and WordPress are protesting to support net neutrality. The sites will be showing a picture of the ‘spinning wheel of death’ loading symbol — not to make sure you’re still breathing, but as a friendly reminder that this could be the future. Refresher: net neutrality is the idea that all content on the Internet should be treated equally, and preference shouldn’t be given to sites willing to pay for faster connections. That’s not what happens now. There’s currently no regulation over how Internet providers treat traffic from different websites. The FCC’s been listening to comments on some new rules for monitoring pay-to-play. They’re going to stop listening to everyone’s opinions next week. SKIMM THIS

WHAT TO SAY WHEN SOMEONE ASKS ABOUT YOUR COLLEGE’S RANKING… Who are you, my mother? Yesterday, US News & World Report released its annual “Best Colleges” list. For something new and different, Princeton, Harvard, and Yale are the top three universities and Williams is the top for liberal arts colleges. If your friends are posting about their ranking, time to make new friends.

WHAT TO SAY WHEN THERE’S A KNOT IN YOUR HAIR… First, let me take a selfie. Meet the Selfie Brush. Finally, something that lets you duckface and untangle. ‘No judgment’ sold separately. SKIMM THIS

THING TO KNOW Flak vs. Flack  Flak: what you get when someone gives you a hard time. Also apparently means antiaircraft fire and something resembling body armor. Flack: What Ari has on “Entourage.” A publicist or right-hand person who pumps up an employer’s rep. SKIMM THIS

SKIMM GIFT Machu Picchu looks good on you. Click here to win a trip to Peru. Inca Trail included. It’s kind of a big deal.

SKIMM 50 Thanks to these Skimm’rs for knowing what’s up and telling everyone else:  Tess Ramirez, Bridget Morse-Karzen, Sandie Nunez, Angela Ri, Gayle Powell, Alexandra Jones, Alexis Teixeira, Keri Strucher, Menaka Sachdev, Julia Liguori, Christina Richardson, Brittany Gellerman, Alexis Whitley, Megan Hurlbert, Mimi Thomas, Marissa Simon, Elyce Murillo, Kathryn Oatway, Julie Stecker, Danni Topalsky, Jena Fritts, Carly Swartz, Halle Morgan, Chloe Miller

SKIMM LIFE Back to work. Does your office need the #SkimmLife? Emailskimmbassador@theskimm.com to get involved and spread the word.

SKIMM BIRTHDAYS Skimm’bassador Abby Isaacs (Syracuse, NY); Skimm’bassador Stephanie Silverman (Cary, NC); Skimm’bassador Lucy Hoffman (New York, NY); Skimm’bassador Katrina Dorsey (Greenwich, CT); English Taylor (Chicago, IL); Lindsey Toomey (Hanover, NH); Jenny Meyer (New York, NY); Orçun Açan (Antalya, Turkey); Jocelyn Gailliot (New York, NY); Karen Williams (Jamaica, NY); Angela Bookmyer (Houston, TX); Felicia Wright (Laguna Beach, CA); Stephanie Rapp (New York, NY); ChanelleNeal (Washington, DC); Cian Barron (Clinton, NY); Dave Crowe (Portland, OR); Enjoli Duval (New York, NY); Kathe Caire (Nashville, TN);  Meryl Hayes (Newton, MA); Patrick Johnson (Brooklyn, NY); Carrie Kelley (Bermuda); Allie Baker (Orlando, FL)

Skimm'd something we missed? Email SkimmThis@theSkimm.com • Read in browser »

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Vassar Victory!

Vassar is Frankie's alma mater, and it was just recognized as the most economically diverse top college.  Their generous financial aid package is what got Frankie through school.

YEAH Vassar!

Check out the complete list of school below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/09/upshot/top-colleges-that-enroll-rich-middle-class-and-poor.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&region=CColumn&module=MostEmailed&version=Full&src=me&WT.nav=MostEmailed&_r=0&abt=0002&abg=1

Defending An Outrageous Act

First of all, why in the world would a woman marry a man that has VICIOUSLY beat her?

I'm referring to the video of Ray Rice, the football player, beating the snot out of his then girlfriend.

She was an absolute fool for being with the guy, but let's assume this was the first time he put hands on her, although I'd bet the farm it wasn't.

There she is, in that elevator, being assaulted by a guy who is suppose to care for her.

OK.

She gets a pass that time for being stupid.

But to turn around and marry the guy???

That takes stupid to a whole new level.

No woman should ever feel so desperate to have a man, that she'll settle for one who uses her as a punching bag.

OH HELL NO!

And yet now, this lady not only married the beast, but she's defending him and their life together.

My message to her, and any other woman who finds herself in this same situation, is . . .

GET A FREAKING GRIP!

And . . .

GET THE HELL OUT OF DODGE BEFORE YOU END UP DEAD INSTEAD OF BRUISED AND BROKEN.

Ingenious!

What's your great idea?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/05/pizza-box-turns-into-plat_n_5766244.html

Great Ideas!

Check these out.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/07/organizing-solutions_n_5773932.html

Appalling!

It continues to shock me, although by now it shouldn't, how horrific we as human beings can treat each other.

Below you'll find ten examples of systematic horrors leveled against poor, ignorant, helpless folks - mostly by their governments.

Shame on us.

http://www.salon.com/2014/09/04/10_of_the_most_evil_medical_experiments_in_history_partner/?source=newsletter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."  --Anonymous

Lists

I enjoy reading the end-of-year lists, so the ones below are a real treat, arriving months early.

Peruse at your leisure.

http://www.bloomberg.com/visual-data/best-and-worst/

"How Was Your Day?"

Unless you have a "Chatty Patty," most kids are pretty mum when it comes to talking about how their day went at school.

The article below offers 25 questions to get those conversations started.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/liz-evans/25-ways-to-ask-your-kids-so-how-was-school-today-without-asking-them-so-how-was-school-today_b_5738338.html

I especially like this one:

12. If an alien spaceship came to your class and beamed someone up, who would you want them to take?

Happy chatting!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.  

--Henry B Adams

Ummmmmm

This is filed under "live and learn."

Topic:  Best time to apply antiperspirant

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/28/antiperspirant-mistake_n_5701736.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think outside the box, because after you buried you’ll have an eternity to think inside the box.

A New School Year

The beginning of the school year is one of my favorite times.

It signals a new start.

A do-over.

A chance to do it better this time, whatever "it" is.

The kids are excited, but little do they know, I'd bet serious money that the teachers are even more excited.

The typical school year cycles through highs and lows.

The start of school is a high.

By winter break, we've been looking forward to it for weeks.

Then we return at the new year, and we're refreshed again.

By March, we're counting down once more to spring break.

When we return after that last break, usually the students begin testing, with so much riding on those few days.  You pray that nothing interferes with their concentration during this time.  They can't afford to have a bad day.  We can't afford for them to have a bad day.  Bad days are banned during testing time.

Then, the real countdown begins for the end of school, which at this point, seems so far away.

But, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Way ahead.

Now I'm just excited about tomorrow.

Happy first day of school to you all, and to all a good night.

~~~~~

You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.  -Clay P. Bedford

(Hat tip to Forrest for suggesting that I add quotes to blog).

Okra Love

I love okra, and fortunate for me, it's available all year long here.  It's offered regularly as a buffet selection at most events I've attended where food is served.

Today, I noticed an article from the New York Times, that features it.

Check out the two-minute video at the beginning of the piece.

Yum.  Yum.

Enjoy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/27/dining/okras-triumph-of-taste-over-texture.html?src=dayp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-above-moth-fixed-region&region=c-column-above-moth-fixed-region&WT.nav=c-column-above-moth-fixed-region

Endless Possibilities

I love this young man's attitude.  His name is Rashard Mendenhall.

He begins this article by stating:

I wasn't supposed to walk away from the NFL, but I did. I wasn't supposed to be writing television, but I am. I'm supposed to be lost after football. I'm not. I've reinvented myself. This is my first transformation. I'm supposed to be broke right now, or maybe the statistics say five years from now. Either way, I'm not even close. I'm not supposed to be anything but a football player. But really, I'm just a guy who used to play football. There's a reason I'm doing this.

The last few months of my life are a true example of the fact that everything "they" say can be wrong. I believe it usually is.

It's largely assumed that there is only one way to happiness/success. Most often it's some variation of going to college, finishing school, landing a good job, getting married, having a family, putting your personal desires aside and after many years of this you leave whatever you can for your children, retire and wait till it's your turn to go. Now, I'm sure this structure works for a lot of people, but can this exact model be right for everyone?

Any person I've known, met or studied that has done something great and found their joy has done it by following a passion or an idea that felt right to them. Even if they were alone in it, they chased that desire without fear and trusted that things would turn out. They believed so deeply in their truth, that it was manifested and actually became their reality.

A question I like to ask people I'm meeting, or even people who I know, is 'If you could be anything in the world, without any restriction or it even being realistic, what would you be?'

It always sparks an interesting conversation. One guy even told me he'd want to be an assassin. I backed away slowly... However, beyond the fun and imaginings it's surprising to me how often the things that people say they truly want to do are actually very possible. They literally can be done. The strongest hesitation is the fear of stepping off course and doing something uncertain. Though certainty provides a strong level of comfort, the question is, will it please your soul?

"If you want guarantees in life, then you don't want life." -- The Creator

A few months ago I moved to Santa Monica and became a member of the Writers Guild of America, West. I'm on the writing team of a new show that will air on HBO next summer. A year ago, a writing career was just a tiny seed of thought as I prepared for my sixth NFL season. And as I write this now, it has already begun to sprout. Through this experience I've learned that you can will your dreams into existence.

If only I wouldn't have taken that step...

The link is below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rashard-mendenhall/august_2_b_5717657.html

Yes!

I love this man's thinking!

This is taken from a message by the CEO of LinkedIn.  Check it out below.

http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140824235337-22330283-the-three-qualities-of-people-i-most-enjoy-working-with?trk=eml-mktg-inf-w-top-p2

Playing Like a Girl

I've never been a fan of baseball, but the story of the 13 year old phenom, Mo'ne Davis, is a message for the ages.  She's currently graces the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Check out the article below from The New York Times that delves into the coach who helped her get here.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/24/opinion/sunday/frank-bruni-black-white-and-baseball.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-top-span-region&region=c-column-top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region&_r=0