From the Root -
Another Racist Gets Fired Because of Her Tweets
People will one day realize that 1) you need to keep your racism to yourself or 2) Twitter users will find you and tell your employer. BY: YESHA CALLAHAN
The unemployment line now has one more person joining its ranks. And it was all because she was the typical unhinged racist on Twitter.
http://www.theroot.com/blog/the-grapevine/another-racist-gets-fired-because-of-her-tweets/?wpisrc=newsletter_jcr:content%26
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Dear White People
An excerpt from the Huffington Post -
The Real Reason White People Say ‘All Lives Matter’
by John Halstead
The Problem With “Colorblindness”
If you’re like me, growing up, the word “Black” was always spoken of in whispers in your family. It was like we were saying something taboo. Why was that? Because it was taboo. We might feel more comfortable saying “African-American,” but not “Black.” The reason is that we were raised to believe that “colorblindness” was the ideal for whites. We were taught that we shouldn’t “see color.” And saying the word “Black” was an acknowledgment of the fact that we did “see color.”
The problem with being “colorblind” — aside from the fact that we’re not really — is that it is really a white privilege to be able to ignore race. White people like me have the luxury of not paying attention to race — white or black. The reason is because whiteness is treated as the default in our society. Whiteness is not a problem for white people, because it blends into the cultural background.
Black people, on the other hand, don’t have the luxury of being “colorblind.” They live in a culture which constantly reminds them of their Black-ness, which tells them in a million large and small ways that they are not as important as white people, than their lives actually do not matter as much as white lives. Which is why saying “Black Lives Matter” is so important.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-halstead/dear-fellow-white-people-_b_11109842.html
The Real Reason White People Say ‘All Lives Matter’
by John Halstead
The Problem With “Colorblindness”
If you’re like me, growing up, the word “Black” was always spoken of in whispers in your family. It was like we were saying something taboo. Why was that? Because it was taboo. We might feel more comfortable saying “African-American,” but not “Black.” The reason is that we were raised to believe that “colorblindness” was the ideal for whites. We were taught that we shouldn’t “see color.” And saying the word “Black” was an acknowledgment of the fact that we did “see color.”
The problem with being “colorblind” — aside from the fact that we’re not really — is that it is really a white privilege to be able to ignore race. White people like me have the luxury of not paying attention to race — white or black. The reason is because whiteness is treated as the default in our society. Whiteness is not a problem for white people, because it blends into the cultural background.
Black people, on the other hand, don’t have the luxury of being “colorblind.” They live in a culture which constantly reminds them of their Black-ness, which tells them in a million large and small ways that they are not as important as white people, than their lives actually do not matter as much as white lives. Which is why saying “Black Lives Matter” is so important.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-halstead/dear-fellow-white-people-_b_11109842.html
Building 7 - Gone in 7 - WHAT YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO KNOW ABOUT 9/11 !!
I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but . . .
This certainly makes you go . . . hmmmm. H/T Ben
This certainly makes you go . . . hmmmm. H/T Ben
I'm Here
Excerpts from Shift.Newco -
Invisible Talent
Earlier today Wall Street Journal posted a piece titled “Facebook Blames Lack of Available Talent for Diversity Problem”. Facebook has come to the conclusion that their diversity problem is due to there being too few underrepresented people who have the necessary tech skills to work for them. So instead of looking to find this talent, they are passing off the issue to the public education system.
I am a Black woman who will graduate with a computer science degree from Dartmouth College in less than a year. There are thousands of other Black and Latinx who graduate every year with computer science Bachelor degrees. Most of us don’t get hired into the tech industry. So instead of putting in the effort to look for us, Facebook is ignoring the fact that we even exist.
When I saw this article I had to fight back tears. I thought about all the work I’ve put into to get to where I am today and wondered will it even matter when I start my job search in a few months. According to most tech companies, if I can’t pass an algorithmic challenge or if I’m not a “culture fit” I don’t belong. I haven’t even started my first full-time job yet and I’m already so tired of feeling erased and mistreated by the tech industry. I’ve worked so hard to make myself visible over the last few years so it hurt me to see Facebook make such false statements. What more must students of color do to make it clear that we are qualified to be in this industry?
~~~~~~~~~~
Tech companies who believe that the pipeline is the only issue are refusing to see underrepresented talent. I am a CODE2040 2nd-year fellow and after this summer the CODE2040 fellows program will have over 150+ talented alumni who are all Black and Latinx with computer science degrees. CODE2040 is a selective program meaning that for every student they accepted into the program they probably had to deny at least 5. Hundreds of students are applying to CODE2040 every year in hopes of getting an internship in Silicon Valley. We want to work in tech. We want to be a part of the industry that has changed the world and continues to change the world. We want to be a part of the future innovations. We want to be here, but it seems like the tech industry doesn’t want us to be.
https://shift.newco.co/invisible-talent-409a085bee9c#.zactv245u
Lint Roller Hacks
An excerpt from the Huffington Post -
7 Ways You Should Be Using Your Lint Roller (But Aren’t)
by Talia Cuddeback
2) Clean up the inside of a purse or bag: Why does it seem like the bottom of your purse is always filled with lint, hair, and crumbs? By using a lint roller and rolling it around the inside of any bag, the sticky sheets will pick up all the tiny particles that mysteriously moved in.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/7-ways-you-should-be-using-your-lint-roller_us_5783f22ee4b01edea78f08ae?cps=gravity_2246_-2223403967632516757
7 Ways You Should Be Using Your Lint Roller (But Aren’t)
by Talia Cuddeback
2) Clean up the inside of a purse or bag: Why does it seem like the bottom of your purse is always filled with lint, hair, and crumbs? By using a lint roller and rolling it around the inside of any bag, the sticky sheets will pick up all the tiny particles that mysteriously moved in.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/7-ways-you-should-be-using-your-lint-roller_us_5783f22ee4b01edea78f08ae?cps=gravity_2246_-2223403967632516757
Monopoly Maybe?
From Good -
This Infographic Shows How Only 10 Companies Own All The World’s Brands
by Kate Ryan
https://www.good.is/articles/major-brands-infographic?utm_source=thedailygood&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailygood
This Infographic Shows How Only 10 Companies Own All The World’s Brands
by Kate Ryan
https://www.good.is/articles/major-brands-infographic?utm_source=thedailygood&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailygood
I Love This!
From Upworthy -
http://www.upworthy.com/if-you-love-books-youll-need-to-see-this-moms-amazing-diy-art-project?c=upw1&u=6861cbea6edfdfe5a709ee39ad3c14b64135e61f
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| Mom created this literary staircase for her kids. So clever! |
http://www.upworthy.com/if-you-love-books-youll-need-to-see-this-moms-amazing-diy-art-project?c=upw1&u=6861cbea6edfdfe5a709ee39ad3c14b64135e61f
Too Little, Too Late?
An excerpt from The Root -
Michael Jordan: A Day Late and a Million Dollars Short
BY: STEPHEN A. CROCKETT JR.
On Monday, Michael Jordan decided to break his Clarence Thomas-like silence on race relations in this country to denounce the killings of unarmed black men, women and children at the hands of police. In a piece for The Undefeated, Jordan also condemned the killings of cops and donated $1 million each to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s Institute for Community-Police Relations.
It’s with great thought and all due respect that I say, “F–k Michael Jordan.”
The cause doesn’t need his money, or his statement or his sympathy now; we needed it then, back when his name held weight. Back when he was the largest athlete on the planet. Back in 1990, when African-American U.S. Senate candidate Harvey Gantt was trying to wrestle North Carolina away from the racist control of Sen. Jesse Helms. That’s right, the same Jesse Helms who didn’t want to make Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a national holiday. Jordan was asked to endorse Gantt, a request to which he famously replied, “Republicans buy sneakers too.”
http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2016/07/michael-jordan-a-day-late-and-a-million-dollars-short/
Michael Jordan: A Day Late and a Million Dollars Short
BY: STEPHEN A. CROCKETT JR.
On Monday, Michael Jordan decided to break his Clarence Thomas-like silence on race relations in this country to denounce the killings of unarmed black men, women and children at the hands of police. In a piece for The Undefeated, Jordan also condemned the killings of cops and donated $1 million each to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s Institute for Community-Police Relations.
It’s with great thought and all due respect that I say, “F–k Michael Jordan.”
The cause doesn’t need his money, or his statement or his sympathy now; we needed it then, back when his name held weight. Back when he was the largest athlete on the planet. Back in 1990, when African-American U.S. Senate candidate Harvey Gantt was trying to wrestle North Carolina away from the racist control of Sen. Jesse Helms. That’s right, the same Jesse Helms who didn’t want to make Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a national holiday. Jordan was asked to endorse Gantt, a request to which he famously replied, “Republicans buy sneakers too.”
http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2016/07/michael-jordan-a-day-late-and-a-million-dollars-short/
Monday, July 25, 2016
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Monday, July 18, 2016
R & B
It never ceases to amaze me that all over the world, in the places I've visited, R & B music has been playing - in the taxis, in the lounges, in the hotel lobbies, and in the shopping malls.
Today I listened to Anita Baker's "Sweet Love" during breakfast.
It truly is international in its scope and reach.
Today I listened to Anita Baker's "Sweet Love" during breakfast.
It truly is international in its scope and reach.
Manila Day 2
As promised, below is a recap of my day of sightseeing.
A guide picked me up at about 8:15, and we spent the next four hours touring the city. I was especially excited to see the many churches, and they are even more magnificent than advertised.
The first one was the Shrine of Jesus Church.
Here are some street scenes.
Below is the Shrine of Saint Therese Church. I found this photo online that shows the entire church.
I took this picture of the front of it. Off center. I know.
There is a large military presence with the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines having their bases lined the streets in what could be considered "military row."
Contrary to what I thought, Manila is a thriving city, booming with new construction all over the place. Many of the natives have chosen to live and work abroad, and I assumed that it was because their country was poor and destitute. That is not the case at all. There are areas with homes reflecting great wealth, and there is a mall with high-end stores that rivals anything you'll see in New York City or Dubai.
As I mentioned in the previous post, my hotel is located in a walled city called Intramuros, a part of the Fort Santiago Fortress.
That's it.
It's been a wonderful couple of days here in Manila.
Tomorrow night I head for San Francisco.
USA here I come!
A guide picked me up at about 8:15, and we spent the next four hours touring the city. I was especially excited to see the many churches, and they are even more magnificent than advertised.
The first one was the Shrine of Jesus Church.
Here are some street scenes.
 |
| The bus-like thing is called a jitney. They were everywhere! |
 |
| Busy city street. |
I took this picture of the front of it. Off center. I know.
There is a large military presence with the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines having their bases lined the streets in what could be considered "military row."
 |
| This picture isn't great but it's better than the one I took. It's from the Internet. |
The next pictures are from the Manila American Cemetery & Memorial where 17,206 men who died in the Philippines during World War II are buried. They are 16,636 Americans and 507 Filipinos. It is very much like Arlington Cemetery in DC. There are rows and rows of white crosses that dot the landscape. They are arranged in circular patterns that are solemn, heart wrenching and beautiful.
 |
| Manila American Cemetery & Memorial Monument |
 |
| This photo doesn't begin to do justice to the scene, but I wanted you to get an idea of what it looks like. |
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| These columns form a semicircle from the main entrance on both sides, and they include the names of all of the men who are buried here, except for 3,744 who remain unknown. |
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| You can't read the names, but they are listed in alpha order, by their branch of the military. These men were in the Navy. |
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| Booming cityscape. |
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| The main entrance to Fort Santiago. |
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| Another view of the main entrance. |
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| A president and Gen. MacAuthur, I think. |
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| Bombed out building from World War II. |
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| Honoring the dead. |
Here are two more churches.
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| This is the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral - Basilica. Again, this picture doesn't do it justice. |
 |
| It was fascinating because a mass was being held as tourists were walking through the back of the sanctuary! |
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| This is the San Agustin Church, which is a World Heritage Site. Breathtakingly beautiful! |
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| It is 445 years old! |
 |
| Another view. |
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| Close-up of one of the door panels. |
It's been a wonderful couple of days here in Manila.
Tomorrow night I head for San Francisco.
USA here I come!
Sunday, July 17, 2016
Help For a Determined Kid
An excerpt from CNN -
Community rallies for homeless college student living in a tent
By Lizzie Likness
(CNN)Fred Barley was living in a tent with his belongings in two duffel bags and a box of cereal to ration over the next few weeks.
Responding to a trespassing call on July 9, campus police at Gordon State College in Barnesville, Georgia, asked him to leave his makeshift home.
But the situation changed once the officers heard his story: The 19-year-old had biked more than six hours from Conyers, Georgia, to register for his second semester at Gordon State. The dorms didn't open until August, but Barley felt his college campus was the safest place to stay.
The biology major, who plans to become a doctor, told CNN affiliate WSB that police officers said they can't let him stay there, but took him to a local motel and paid for his next two nights.
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/17/us/iyw-fred-barley-homeless-college-student-bikes-six-miles/index.html
Community rallies for homeless college student living in a tent
By Lizzie Likness
(CNN)Fred Barley was living in a tent with his belongings in two duffel bags and a box of cereal to ration over the next few weeks.
Responding to a trespassing call on July 9, campus police at Gordon State College in Barnesville, Georgia, asked him to leave his makeshift home.
But the situation changed once the officers heard his story: The 19-year-old had biked more than six hours from Conyers, Georgia, to register for his second semester at Gordon State. The dorms didn't open until August, but Barley felt his college campus was the safest place to stay.
The biology major, who plans to become a doctor, told CNN affiliate WSB that police officers said they can't let him stay there, but took him to a local motel and paid for his next two nights.
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/17/us/iyw-fred-barley-homeless-college-student-bikes-six-miles/index.html
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