VP: Donald. I do hope you'll reconsider to meet me on the debate stage. Because as the saying goes, if you got something to say, say it to my face pic.twitter.com/f6Fv67p1uh
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 30, 2024
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
"Say it to my face."
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Twisted Thoughts About the Border
An excerpt from Time -
The Border Is Not the Problem
By Dinaw Mengestu
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| A new U.S. citizen, leaving a 2018 mass naturalization ceremony in L.A., waves the flagMario Tama—Getty Images |
When my father arrived in America from Ethiopia in 1978, he was resettled, with the help of an immigration agency, to Peoria, Ill. He found a job working on the factory floor of a Caterpillar Inc. plant, and by the time my mother, sister, and I joined him two years later, he’d already found a two-bedroom apartment two blocks from the Catholic school my sister and I would attend.
It was a startlingly American childhood, made more so by the fact that we spent our weekends at a Southern Baptist church on the other side of town. My parents, raised in the Ethiopian Orthodox church, had never heard of Southern Baptists before coming to America. But every Sunday, there we were, in the front pews, the first and only Black family to have ever attended the church.
On a recent cross-country road trip, my wife and I decided to take our two children on a detour to Peoria. My family had left the city at the tail end of the 1980s recession, when unemployment hovered near 20%. I wanted to see if we could find Sharon, one of the members of the church my family had been especially close to. I hadn’t spoken to Sharon in at least 10 years. We arrived unannounced at her doorstep just in time to take her to lunch. It was the first and most likely the last time she would meet my family. On the drive to the restaurant, Sharon pointed out the Greek Orthodox church near her home.
“Your mom and dad tried to go there,” she said, “but the priest or pastor told them not to come back. He said they would be more comfortable somewhere else.”
When I told Sharon I had never heard that story before she didn’t seem surprised. She shrugged.
“That sort of thing happened a lot back then,” she said. “Your parents had a hard time fitting in.”
I was about to ask Sharon how they were able to do so at a Southern Baptist church, but she saw the question coming.
“Your mom and dad met with Brother Gene, and he saw that they were good people and told them they would be welcome in his church,” she explained. “Before you all came, though, he went around and called every single person. He said if anyone gave your family a hard time, they’d have hell to pay for it. And that was it. I don’t think anyone bothered you at all.”
It felt like a confession when Sharon told the story, and I suppose to some degree it was. If no one at the church ever told us to our face that we didn’t belong—if no one ever explicitly asked us to leave—it was because the good people of the church had been compelled, even threatened, into accepting us. Had they not been, it’s unlikely we would have ever lasted more than a week at the church.
Given the current apocalyptic narrative surrounding immigration, it’s hard to imagine the leader of a conservative Southern Baptist church making a similar kind of phone call today. Whether or not Brother Gene knew my parents to be good people, he knew they were refugees, and in the early 1980s, the political and cultural framework had yet to solidify into the often dehumanizing imagery that’s common today.
https://time.com/7004943/the-border-is-not-the-problem-dinaw-mengestu/
Olympians Managing Their Periods
An excerpt from the Telegraph -
How Olympians manage their periods
Both science and athletes themselves are challenging assumption that women are at a disadvantage when menstruating
By Fiona Tomas
Emily Campbell has a contingency plan in place if her period arrives on or in the days leading up to Aug 11, the date when she will become a two-time Olympian. Team GB’s only weightlifter in Paris, in keeping with true British spirit, will simply keep calm and carry on.
“Nine times out of 10, it’s mental,” says Campbell. “It’s just saying to your brain, ‘This isn’t convenient right now, but you’re going to be all right’. Maybe take a couple of paracetamol for the cramps. But it’s business as usual.”
Mindset might trump menstruation but periods can present nightmarish challenges for Olympians. Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith spent seven months planning for her cycle ahead of the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021. A year later, she pulled up with cramps in the 100 metres final at the European Championships and called for more research into how menstrual cycles can affect performance. “If it was a men’s issue, we would have a million different ways to combat things,” she said at the time.
Historically, the contraceptive pill has been a trusted method among sportswomen to limit the impact of their period on performance, with a quarter of respondents in this year’s BBC Elite British Sportswomen’s Study admitting to manipulating their monthly bleed. But amid a rise in cycle-tracking apps and small steps forward in menstrual health research, periods are starting to be hailed as a superpower.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2024/07/29/how-olympians-manage-their-periods/
Monday, July 29, 2024
Why Not Her?
An excerpt from Time -
Kamala Harris and the Inevitable Return of ‘Not That Woman’
By Belinda Luscombe
Americans are, for only the second time in history, standing at the brink of that undiscovered country: the one where a woman is in charge. Perhaps now Sri Lankans (the first citizenry to elect a female national leader) will stop snickering. Perhaps the U.S. will finally win some respect from the Finns, who have elected four female leaders already. Maybe the largest economy in the world could catch up with Pakistan—currently ranked 142 of 146 countries for gender inequality—and vote in at least one female leader.
But don’t bet on it.
When the popular Christian author and podcaster Jen Hatmaker posted her support for Kamala Harris on social media, the reaction from her largely female following was swift, large, and familiar. There was plenty of cheerleading, with a liberal dose of LFGs (Let’s Freaking Go). And then there was the other refrain: Not her.
“I’m all for a woman, but definitely not her!” wrote one follower. “KH is the last person I want to think of as the first woman POTUS,” wrote another. “I would love a strong woman in office that is qualified to improve things for ALL hard working Americans,” began yet another. For women old enough to have lived through previous election cycles that flirted with electing a female head of state, these sentiments were as predictable as arthritis. And about as welcome.
Every time a woman draws near to getting the top job, it occurs to a certain percentage of voters, male and female, that while they, of course, are deeply committed to female leadership, they simply cannot countenance the particular female who is vying for leadership on that occasion. This was true, memorably, of people’s reaction to the candidacy of Hillary Clinton. And to Elizabeth Warren during the 2020 primary race. But it’s not limited to one side of the political divide. People felt that way about Nikki Haley—that she was uniquely wrong for the job. People really felt that way about Sarah Palin. (Although in that case they may have had a point.)
~~~~~~~~~~
It’s 2024, so a lot of women are hoping we are past the era where a woman’s candidacy can be dismissed because of the way her face looks, or because she was tough on her staff and once ate salad with a comb, or because she was insensitive about her ancestry, or because her spouse with an Italian name didn’t want to release his tax returns. These used to be mountains in the way of women’s electoral path, but time and perspective have (please God?) restored their molehill status.
~~~~~~~~
More difficult to surmount than any of these, however, is the fatal character flaw of being just plain unlikable. Unlikability is a difficult trait to diagnose, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that in women, it’s usually comorbid with assertiveness and ambition. Academic studies have actually discovered the formula behind this phenomenon: the closer a woman gets to power, the less likable she is. In 1984 an aide to then Vice President George H.W. Bush called Geraldine Ferraro “too bitchy” after the VP candidates debated. It hasn’t changed much. Haley was accused of being rude, unnecessarily combative, and “a little too aggressive” during primary debates. Her opponent Ron DeSantis, meanwhile, was “sharp and feisty.” Donald Trump said that "Nikki suffers from something that's a very tough thing to suffer from: She's overly ambitious." This from a guy who sought—and won—the presidency after making his name by firing people on TV.
https://time.com/7004186/kamala-harris-not-that-woman-female-candidate/
Kamala Harris is Kamalot
From New York Magazine -
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| On the Cover: Photo-illustration by Joe Darrow for New York Magazine. |
https://nymag.com/magazine/toc/2024-07-29.html
Sunday, July 28, 2024
Finland vs. the United States
An excerpt from CNBC Make It -
28-year-old who left the U.S. for Finland: What work is like in the world’s happiest country—‘they essentially force you to take a vacation’
By Jade Ventoniemi, Contributor
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| Here I am at my old office.Photo: Jade Ventoniemi |
I’ve been living in Finland, the world’s happiest country, for five years now. I think one of the secrets to the happiness of the Finnish people is the country’s work culture.
Getting work here as a foreigner can be tough, but I’ve been fortunate to have two different corporate jobs in Finland. One job was at a start-up software company with under 50 employees, and the other was at a manufacturing company with over 500 employees.
I quickly found that their approach to things like vacation time, parental leave and benefits differed from the US. There are a lot of aspects of work life here that I appreciate, but there was a lot that surprised me and took some time to adjust to.
In the last year, I took what I learned, launched my own marketing firm and started working for myself. These are a few things that stand out to me about corporate life in Finland:
Many workplaces are flexible and allow employees to choose a schedule that fits their lifestyle.
In Finland, typical office hours go from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. One small culture shock I experienced early on is that when workdays often start so early, some people start going to lunch around 11 a.m. Another surprise was how dark it is during the winter when you arrive and when you leave the office.
For many corporate jobs, the work week is 37.5 hours. Overtime hours are not paid in salary, but in corresponding time off. So, if you work a lot one week, it’s normal to do less the next week or take more vacation days.
If you have an appointment or some obligations for your children during the work day, that can be considered paid time off. In Finland, you’ll often get paid double if you work on Sundays.
It feels like, in Finland, managers and bosses respect employees’ time off. If it’s after 4 p.m., people do not expect their colleagues to respond to an email or answer their work phone. The flexible hours are meant to allow people to have more time in the evenings for hobbies, activities and picking up kids from school.
The Tallest Man Who Ever Lived
An excerpt from Factinate -
Gargantuan Facts About Robert Wadlow, The Tallest Man Who Ever Lived
The Tallest Man On Earth
He might have been almost 9 feet tall, but Robert Wadlow was a gentle giant known for his quiet manner and easy smile. Unfortunately, the world isn’t made for people that tall and he often struggled with finding accommodations for his great height. Health issues plagued him from the start and he lived only 22 years—but he still managed to make the most of it.
1. He Was A Regular Newborn
The average newborn weighs roughly 7-8 pounds at birth. When Robert was born, he weighed 8.5 pounds—perfectly within acceptable range. At birth, his mother, Addie, and his father, Harold, had no reason to suspect anything was strange about their bouncing baby boy, the first of five children. But while babies always grow fast, Robert Wadlow's family was in for an enormous shock.
2. He Grew Over A Foot In 6 Months
Addie and Harold might have started wondering if Robert’s growth was normal by the time he was six months old—at which point he was the size of the average two-year-old. He also weighed around 30 pounds, which was quite the weight for his mother to be carrying constantly. Fortunately, he began to walk at 11 months, at which point he was over 3 feet tall—and his growth just escalated from there.
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| Flickr, Paille |
3. He Outgrew His Father
Robert’s father Harold was 5’11", which is a totally respectable height, and actually a little taller than the global average. By the age of eight, however, Robert had outgrown his own father and had been wearing clothes meant for teenagers since the age of five. His elementary school even had to custom build a special desk for him so he could actually sit without his knees ending up somewhere around his ears.
But his massive height wasn’t all bad; with it came a terrifying physical strength.
Being a Bookworm Comes With Great Advantages
An excerpt from Your Tango -
People Who Grew Up Reading A Lot Usually Have 11 Unique Advantages Over Everyone Else
Being a bookworm includes some pretty impressive benefits.
By Marielisa Reyes
Growing up, if you were often called a bookworm, you probably spent hours every day reading and were often told that "all that reading would make you go blind.'"
Regardless, your love for literature never went away, and now that you're much older your mind has likely benefited from it. That's why you likely have some very unique and specific advantages over other people.
Here are 11 unique advantages people who grew up reading a lot have over other people
1. They challenge their own assumptions
Safi Erneste / Pexels
People who read tend to question their own assumptions, and it's not surprising when you understand why. They spend every day reading about other people's perspectives, exploring the "whys" and the "hows" of different characters.
Because of this, they unconsciously think about their own assumptions and, additionally, their reality. They question why they think the way they do, and how their way of thinking is influenced by others. And that level of contemplation eventually leads them to challenge themselves.
2. They see all possibilities
People who read frequently don't just see one possibility; rather, they're able to look at a situation and see all possibilities due to their ability to think outside of the box.
Reading sparks creativity in them, allowing them to unconsciously look at situations from different perspectives. These perspectives give them the chance to broaden their horizons, which is an amazing superpower to have.
https://www.yourtango.com/self/unique-advantages-people-who-grew-up-reading
Black Travel Influencers
An excerpt from Travel-Noire -
5 Underrated Black Travel Influencers You Need To Follow Now
While many Black travel influencers have gained well-deserved recognition, others with meaningful stories deserve a wider audience.
By Faith Katunga
The travel industry is constantly changing, and hearing new voices from across the world helps us better comprehend other cultures. While many Black travel influencers have gained well-deserved recognition, numerous talented individuals with meaningful stories and insights deserve a wider audience. And so, here, we spotlight five underrated Black influencers who are making waves in the industry and should be on your radar.
Kesi Irvin (@kesitoandfro)
Brian McIntosh (@whereintheworldisb)
Saturday, July 27, 2024
71 Fascinating Charts - You're Guaranteed To Learn Something
An excerpt from Buzzfeed -
71 Charts That Will Teach You So, So, So, So, So Much Interesting Stuff
Learn a whole bunch of stuff in half the time it takes a man to use the bathroom.
by Mike Spohr, BuzzFeed Staff
1. This chart shows how much money one person needs to make to live comfortably in each US state...and yeah, things have gotten expensive.
2. To drive home just how expensive things have gotten, look at this chart showing fast-food inflation over the last decade.
3. If you're being honest, you're probably a little foggy on the difference between a second cousin and a first cousin once removed. This napkin explains it all!
6. This important chart tells you how you can know when someone has spiked (or otherwise tampered with) your drink.
7. This chart has some terrific advice on how to stay calm (and let's be real...we ALL need this right now).
A Question For President Ford
President Gerald Ford's in 1989 when asked for advice on how a woman could become president pic.twitter.com/ZfSFT14gRS
— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) July 25, 2024
https://x.com/historyinmemes/status/1816463411812966774?s=51&t=oAqSVbyKyZJD4ZXw2lq-WQ
6 Black Miss Americas Reunite
An excerpt from People -
6 Black Miss Americas Gather for the First Time and Reflect on Winning: 'Grateful to Be Part of History'
All of the previous Black Miss Americas were honored at this year's National Urban League Conference's Women of Power Awards
By David Chiu
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| Six Black Miss Americas reunite for the first time. Photo: Jared Lyons/National Urban League |
History was made at this year’s National Urban League Conference’s Women of Power Awards luncheon on Thursday, July 25, when six of the nine Black Miss Americas gathered for the first time as part of a special tribute.
Held in New Orleans on its 20th anniversary, the Women of Power Awards, hosted by CBS News national correspondent Michelle Miller, honored all the nine Miss America winners. They include Vanessa Williams (1984), Dr. Debbye Turner Bell (1990); Kimberly Aiken Cockerham (1994); Erika Harold (2003); Ericka Dunlap (2004); Caressa Cameron-Jackson (2010) and Nia Franklin (2019).
Williams, the first Black woman to win the Miss America crown four decades ago, wasn’t physically present at the awards ceremony because she is currently in the U.K. for her role in the upcoming stage musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada.
Despite not being present physically, she delivered a video message expressing gratitude for the honor bestowed on her and her Miss America colleagues.
https://people.com/6-black-miss-americas-gather-for-the-first-time-reflect-on-winning-8684660
Gotta Love Vinny
Needed this laugh….amazing story 🤣 and it’s so Jersey pic.twitter.com/875KgVGw3a
— Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) July 26, 2024
https://x.com/wutangkids/status/1816629877316944026?s=51&t=oAqSVbyKyZJD4ZXw2lq-WQ
Today is a Gift
This line hits different 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/lY1eRsmSMx
— UpSkillYourLife (@UpSkillYourLife) July 26, 2024
https://x.com/upskillyourlife/status/1816730169308028984?s=51&t=oAqSVbyKyZJD4ZXw2lq-W
How History is Recorded
“You don't expect the people who came to invade us to write the truth about us.” ~ Miriam Makeba #WakeUpEverybody✊🏿 pic.twitter.com/fvN7Rfxqj0
— Mzilikazi wa Afrika (@IamMzilikazi) July 27, 2024
https://x.com/iammzilikazi/status/1817105530319421820?s=51&t=oAqSVbyKyZJD4ZXw2lq-WQ
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