From Russia With . . . Say What?

From the Root -

From Russia With Blackness: Terrell J. Starr, Black America’s Russian Translator
Starr is an expert on Russian and Eastern European politics, and he has a few warnings for us.
By Jason Johnson

Terrell J. Starr has been Columbused by many in the mainstream media in the last several weeks. As the Russian hack on the 2016 election and President-elect Donald Trump’s relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin dominate the headlines, outlets are looking for a fresh take on Russian politics and American vulnerabilities.

Terrell J. Starr—tall, black, lanky, with a Detroit accent, and who is just as likely to lay out facts in Russian as he is to compare Putin to Marlo Stansfield from The Wire—has stepped into the gap.

He may not “look” like your typical Russian/Eastern European political expert, but with a Fulbright scholarship and degrees in journalism and ethnic conflict, Terrell J. Starr just might be black Generation X’s best chance to understand what is happening in this postelection Trump/Putin world.

http://www.theroot.com/articles/politics/2016/12/from-russia-with-blackness-terrell-j-starr-black-americas-russian-translator/

Rewarding Ingenuity

From the Washington Post -

How Ford turned thousands of employees into inventors
By Steven Overly

To jump-start its inventive culture, the company implemented a number of internal initiatives, from altering its financial incentives for inventors to creating companywide innovation challenges. The efforts appear to be paying off. As of Tuesday, Ford is poised to have more U.S. utility patents granted this year than any other automaker, according to agency data.

These patents include a flying drone that acts as a lookout for your self-driving car. A filter that purifies air conditioner condensation into drinkable water. And, more recently, an electric wheelchair that loads itself into the car.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2016/12/14/how-ford-turned-thousands-of-employees-into-inventors/?utm_term=.e9fd16cdb1ce&wpisrc=nl_rainbow&wpmm=1

Books! Books! Books!

From the Undefeated -

NEW BEGINNINGS: THE FRESHEST BOOKS OF 2016
Sports, fiction, nonfiction, poetry and children’s lit — 59 soulful books to rock your world

By Tierra R. Wilkins

http://theundefeated.com/features/new-beginnings-the-freshest-books-of-2016/

[OFFICIAL VIDEO] O Come, All Ye Faithful - Pentatonix

Cleared to Help

From the Washington Post -

A black doctor barred from helping on a flight gets an apology — and triggers a policy change
By Carolyn Y. Johnson

In October, physician Tamika Cross took a Delta Air Lines flight home from the wedding of a childhood friend. A man fell ill and a call went out for medical help. But when Cross tried to come to his aid, a flight attendant dismissed the young, black doctor. "We are looking for actual physicians or nurses," the flight attendant said, according to Cross. The story, shared via Facebook, triggered thousands of comments, and an outpouring of stories from minorities and women who had faced skepticism from people who didn't think they looked like doctors.

Now, Cross's experience has helped trigger changes in Delta policy. As of Dec. 1, the airline has stopped requiring medical professionals to furnish credentials before assisting passengers.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/12/20/a-black-doctor-barred-from-helping-on-a-flight-gets-an-apology-and-triggers-a-policy-change/?hpid=hp_hp-more-top-stories_doctorflight-0450pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.ea0fa3b8e4dd

Straight No Chaser - "Mary, Did You Know?" (live, acoustic)

Color in Hollywood

From the New York Times -

What It’s Really Like to Work in Hollywood*
(*If you’re not a straight white man.)

The statistics are unequivocal: Women and minorities are vastly underrepresented in front of and behind the camera. Here, 27 industry players reveal the stories behind the numbers — their personal experiences of not feeling seen, heard or accepted, and how they pushed forward. In Hollywood, exclusion goes far beyond #OscarsSoWhite. (Interviews have been edited and condensed.)

By MELENA RYZIK

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/02/24/arts/hollywood-diversity-inclusion.html

Bill Maher Just Broke His Silence to Address Donald Trump

Homemade Butter | How To Make Butter Using A Kilner Butter Churner

Available for purchase at the Grommet and Amazon.

So True

From Vulture -

The 10 Essentials of Any Hallmark Christmas Movie
By Brian Moylan

http://www.vulture.com/2016/12/hallmark-christmas-movie-essentials.html

Celebrating Stevie Wonder

From Slate -

Love’s in Need of Love Today
Introducing Wonder Week, a toast to Stevie’s greatness—and a reminder to appreciate the artists who inspire you, while they’re still around to hear it.
By Jack Hamilton

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/wonder_week/2016/12/introducing_wonder_week_slate_s_celebration_of_stevie_wonder_and_all_the.html

~~~~~~~~~~

WONDER WEEK
The Greatest Creative Run in the History of Popular Music
It’s Stevie Wonder’s “classic period.”
By Jack Hamilton

https://redux.slate.com/cover_story/2016/12/the-greatest-creative-run-in-the-history-of-pop-music.html

Serena

From the Undefeated -

http://media.video-cdn.espn.com/motion/2016/1215/dm_161215_UNDEFEATED_SUNDAY_SERENA/dm_161215_UNDEFEATED_SUNDAY_SERENA.m3u8

Great Kitchen Gadgets Under $50

http://www.businessinsider.com/innovative-kitchen-gadgets-cook-gifts-chefs-2016-12

This animated map shows how radically a high-speed train system would im...

Countering Biases

Greater Challenges

An excerpt from the Washington Post -

He’s going home for Christmas. But most people at his prestigious college have no idea what he’s facing there. 
By Valerie Strauss

Here is a new, personal and moving piece by Wood that reflects not only his own experiences but that of millions of other students who come from impoverished backgrounds.

By Zachary Wood

On Thanksgiving Day, my uncle, who’s 48, asked me if I could help him find a job. My dad, who works late hours to ensure that I attend college, was at work, so I was the only one around who could assist him.

While we worked together, he kneeled on the floor and I sat on the pile of luggage that had formed in the living room as my family gathered for the holiday.

He didn’t have a résumé, or email, and he didn’t know how to use a computer to fill out online job applications. So we had to start from square one. We began by looking at job descriptions online. For many of the jobs, I had to read the descriptions aloud to him because he couldn’t read some of the vocabulary. After looking through 43 job postings, we narrowed the pool down to a list of 10.

But before we applied, I had to set up his email account and show him how to use it.

After setting up email for him, we began working on his resume. He had never used Microsoft Word before and did not know what a resume should consist of, so the process was tedious. I figured the best way to proceed would be for me to ask him questions about previous experiences and qualifications. As he described each of his previous jobs and credentials, I tried to organize them into coherent sections. After editing what I’d written, he read over it and we began filling out job applications.

As an African-American college student from a poor family, I frequently have to help my family navigate tasks that students from upper-income backgrounds don’t need to explain to their families. But I’m not the only one.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/12/17/hes-going-home-for-christmas-but-most-people-at-his-prestigious-college-have-no-idea-what-hes-facing-there/?utm_term=.5a8e55fa4342&wpisrc=nl_most-draw7&wpmm=1

Real Live Cave Music: Marvel at the World's Largest Instrument

GOING IN STYLE - Official Trailer

All-New "DuckTales" Cast Sings Original Theme Song | Disney XD

Lost History

From the Undefeated -

This doctor’s prescription for the game changed tennis
Dr. Robert ‘Whirlwind’ Johnson helped shape the careers of tennis greats Arthur Ashe, Althea Gibson and others  
BY KELLEY D. EVANS

http://theundefeated.com/features/this-doctors-prescription-for-the-game-changed-tennis/