The Texas news anchor known for lessons on empathy and equality is back, this time offering advice for the administrators at Flower Mound High School.
WFAA anchor Dale Hansen dedicated his Feb. 24 “Dale Unplugged” segment to what happened at a Feb. 13 boys basketball game between Flower Mound and Plano East Senior High, and the way the community reacted to the incident.
Two students in Flower Mound’s bleachers held up signs that said “White” and “Power.” The school administration initially claimed the “white” sign just represented the school’s colors and that the “power” was usually held up as part of “Jaguar Power.” They said there was no racist intent.
Parents added that the media and Twitter community were blowing the incident out of proportion, that the kids had five signs and just randomly grabbed two and it was an unfortunate coincidence that the two they chose read “White Power” when held together.
A subsequent investigation into the incident led school administrators to ban signs at games, according to WFAA.
Theodore Hesburgh a visionary president who transformed Notre Dame
During his 35-year tenure as University of Notre Dame president, the Rev. Theodore Hesburgh carried through on bold ideas that supporters say reshaped a college known mostly for its football team into a prominent academic institution.
The Rev. Hesburgh died Thursday night at age 97 on Notre Dame’s South Bend, Ind., campus, according to the university.
The Rev. Hesburgh, who became president in 1952, is credited with a number of accomplishments, including the decision to admit women students in 1972 and building the university’s endowment from $9 million to $350 million when he stepped down in 1987.
He also was a leader in the civil rights movement and on other social issues, including immigration reform and peaceful use of atomic energy. He was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Lyndon Johnson in 1964, and a Congressional Gold Medal in 1999.
“When he became president, (Notre Dame) was a small school known for football primarily. I don’t think anybody would say it was among the top universities in the country,” said the Rev. John Jenkins, Notre Dame’s current president “But he envisioned a truly great Catholic University. What Father Ted gave Notre Dame was a real, bold vision in so many ways.”
The Rev. Hesburgh recruited additional faculty members and felt building the endowment would enhance the school’s academic credibility, Jenkins said. “He said many times … the best universities have the biggest endowments,” Jenkins said.
During the Rev. Hesburgh’s time as president, the school grew from less than 5,000 students and 389 faculty members to 9,600 students and a faculty of 950.
He faced opposition as he championed the idea of turning Notre Dame into a coed university.
“We look back on that and it seems obvious,” said Jenkins, a Notre Dame undergraduate in the 1970s. “But at that time there was opposition.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-theodore-hesburgh-dead-20150227-story.html
https://twitter.com/DaLegendaryBoss/status/571502665307320320/photo/1
go Mr. President
https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/571304231275237376/photo/1
The House has passed a stopgap bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security for seven days.
Because the Senate has already agreed to a similar measure, it heads to President Barack Obama for his approval.
Earlier Friday, a bill to fund the department for 3 weeks failed in the House
GOP= MAJOR FAIL
Charles M. Blow @CharlesMBlow · 2h2 hours ago
A one week extension of funding for #DHS?! This is not a payday loan. This is the security of the country.
David Sirota ✔ @davidsirota
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EXCLUSIVE: Christie settles ExxonMobil lawsuit for pennies on dollar after ExxonMobil donated $1.9M to Christie’s RGA http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-settles-exxonmobil-case-after-oil-giant-gave-rga-big-cash-1830752 …
10:38 AM – 27 Feb 2015
That’s how these MOFOs have been functioning since 2009. PATHETIC
elections have consequences
https://twitter.com/phillydotcom/status/571471850313674752/photo/1
Variety ✔ @Variety
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Leonard Nimoy To Be Honored By Syfy with Marathon http://bit.ly/1GzvelF
3:49 PM – 27 Feb 2015
Leonard Nimoy to Be Honored by Syfy With Marathon
Syfy will honor the late Leonard Nimoy with a five-hour programming salute on March 1 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. The marathon will start with his role in an episode of the original “Twilight Zone” se…
https://twitter.com/dougmillsnyt/status/571372163476934656/photo/1
https://twitter.com/NerdyWonka/status/571452078431739906/photo/1
I <3 PRESIDENT OBAMA,
https://twitter.com/TheObamaDiary/status/571447229673807872/photo/1
LOVE IT
https://twitter.com/TheObamaDiary/status/571441937754030081/photo/1
AG Holder’s portrait was done in 2009.
https://twitter.com/TheObamaDiary/status/571437902678384641/photo/1
What a beautiful SIGHT to BEHOLD.
Obama Foundation Hints At Library’s Likely Site
AP | By Josh Lederman
Posted: 02/26/2015 4:40 pm EST Updated: 02/26/2015 4:59 pm EST
WASHINGTON (AP) — The foundation developing Barack Obama’s future presidential library has commissioned polling in Chicago to determine whether residents support building it on the South Side, people close to the foundation said, in the clearest sign to date that the library likely will go to the University of Chicago.
Two Chicago schools and one each in New York and Honolulu are in the running for the library and presidential museum, and Obama is set to pick a winner within weeks. But recently, the focus has shifted decidedly to the University of Chicago’s bid – and a public spat with a conservation group over the elite school’s proposal to build on city park property.
Aiming to counter the vocal opposition from park advocates, the Barack Obama Foundation earlier this month enlisted a prominent Democratic pollster who worked on both of Obama’s presidential campaigns. Cornell Belcher of the polling firm Brilliant Corners surveyed more than 600 Chicagoans on the South Side to gauge their opinion on the library and the use of park land, said the individuals, who weren’t authorized to discuss the poll publicly and requested anonymity.
There were no indications the Obama foundation polled in the other three communities being considered, driving further speculation that the competition is a done deal for the University of Chicago, where the first lady worked and the president once taught law.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/26/obama-foundation-poll_n_6763802.html?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067
Chauncey De Vega wrote about Mr. Nimoy
…………..
FRI FEB 27, 2015 AT 03:22 PM PST
‘Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations’: A Black Man’s Goodbye to Leonard Nimoy
bychaunceydevega
I mourn thee Mr. Nimoy.
Once again, we measure our own time in this life relative to those who we respect and idolize and how the latter inevitably leave us in our and their mortality.
Star Trek means a great deal to me. I love and continue to love Star Wars. The Trilogy is my childhood love that I grew to appreciate more as an adult. Star Trek is a childhood crush that developed into a more mature love. Both will be with me forever.
Trek has also guided me through those moments where childhood innocence was lost. I quoted Mr. Spock and his plain statement of fact and loyalty when I have the eulogy at my “brother’s” funeral. I watched the original Star Wars Trilogy in a marathon session the night before my father’s funeral. I was in my early twenties for my first major loss; I was in my thirties for my second major loss. Trek and Star Wars were appropriate comforts for each moment in my life.
Leonard Nimoy, the “mulatto”, “half-breed”, human-Vulcan second in command on classic Star Trek is one of the greatest and most iconic TV (and film) characters of all time. It was perfect that Leonard Nimoy a Jewish-American brother would play Mr. Spock a half-human half-Vulcan character on Star Trek.
In all, Mr. Spock and Leonard Nimoy are Titans of global popular culture.
For those of us born on the other side of the colorline–in the chocolate part of town–Spock’s wisdom and the Vulcan way affirmed something we always knew about our contributions to America’s “mulatto” culture. Black American culture is American culture. We have given many gifts to America–most of them unacknowledged and not returned in kind. Moreover, America’s diversity is her greatest strength. Our forward thinking white brothers and sisters know this to be true. Other enlightened people of color know this to be true. Our gay and lesbian and transgendered brothers and sisters know this to be true as well.
When the appropriate moment avails itself, I instinctively greet people with Mr. Spock’s iconic hand gesture, pinky and fourth finger together, index and middle finger together, both separated in a “V”, and the thumb also extended. We say “live long and prosper” while making this gesture.
There is a deeper meaning that those outside of Star Trek fandom may not be aware of.
Spock’s gesture is an embodiment of the Vulcan belief in logic and what is known as IDIC–“infinite diversity in infinite combinations”.
Spock elaborated on the philosophy of IDIC in more detail during the classic Trek episode “Is There in Truth, No Beauty?”
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/02/27/1367485/–Infinite-Diversity-in-Infinite-Combinations-A-Black-Man-s-Goodbye-to-Leonard-Nimoy
FRI FEB 27, 2015 AT 11:16 AM PST
Obamacare lawsuit architect: It will be Obama’s fault if millions lose insurance
byJoan McCarter
Now even one of the architects of the lawsuit that could cripple Obamacare is joining the let’s blame Obama when millions lose their insurance. This is the line of defense from Republicans who hope it will deflect attention away from the fact that they brought this lawsuit in the first place, and that they have absolutely no plan for a legislative solution. But to have it come from one of the architects of the case is unbelievable.
[I]f the administration isn’t drawing up a contingency plan—and HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell insists there is no administrative fix to avoid the “massive damage” that would arise from ending subsidies—or at least a way to ease the transition, opponents say the chaos will be the White House’s fault.
“If they”re not looking at some kind of contingency plan, I think that’s irresponsible. It’s kind of like hostage-taking,” said Jonathan Adler, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University and one of the architects of the legal challenge.
He’s ready to tear down the whole structure of the law, to throw millions of people off of their health insurance because of a GOP vendetta against the law and the president who created it, and it’s the president who is irresponsible?
Here’s an alternative contingency plan for Adler—talk your clients into dropping this ridiculous lawsuit.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/02/27/1367404/-Obamacare-lawsuit-architect-It-will-be-Obama-s-fault-if-millions-lose-nbsp-insurance
https://twitter.com/RobTornoe/status/571407148544086018/photo/1
https://twitter.com/NBCNightlyNews/status/571409855392681985/photo/1
https://twitter.com/TheObamaDiary/status/571448521225850881/photo/1
Aretha Franklin Literally Sings Eric Holder’s Praises at Portrait Unveiling
http://www.mediaite.com/online/aretha-franklin-literally-sings-eric-holders-praises-at-portrait-unveiling/
I look at A.G Holder and I can tell he’s disappointed that he couldn’t fix this broken judicial system of ours. The obstruction and malicious campaign to ascribe negative intent and to demonize him, greatly frustrated his efforts. And I’m sure frustrated him. There were times he looked like he might wallop one of these right-wing nuts and their evil agents if he could. And who could blame him; But in the end, it simply isn’t worth his health.
I hope he takes a well-deserved rest; goes somewhere fun and relaxing with his wife, and then come back stronger as a private driver of positive judicial change. Hopefully no longer burdened by the restrictive structure and nature of his office as the first black Attorney General.
https://twitter.com/ABC/status/571410801967243264/photo/1
We got you Mr. POTUS!
Rik, check email.
Eric Boehlert @EricBoehlert
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SNL’s 11-min ode to Star Trek; the longest sketch in SNL history;
#Nimoy
3:42 PM – 27 Feb 2015
https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/status/571456619378286592/photo/1
https://twitter.com/Ethan_Anderton/status/571392084202168320/photo/1
Laura Tilley @elleveetee
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Leonard Nimoy ensured that Nichelle Nichols would receive equal pay to himself and George Takei. No easy feat in the ’60’s.
1:16 PM – 27 Feb 2015
The media truly is PATHETIC! From the time I got up this morning until now, watchingPolitics Nation, folks are sitting around yammering about the color of a fucking dress.
DISTRACTION MUCH, while the GOP continues its SELF-DESTRUCTIVE ACTS OF OBSTRUCTION and ANTI-AMERICAN shenanigans!
It’s that good old shiny object phenomena Ametia, circa shallow-social-media-driven society 2015.
It’s been used rather successfully to distract from the most egregious devastation and dismantling of of our democracy by our bought and paid for media, all at the bidding of the corporations and oligarchs who own them and want to own us and the country.
BREAKING: House fails to pass short-term extension to fund Homeland Security; funding set to expire at midnight http://nbcnews.to/1JWqTOX
Uh uh UH! Boehner needs his ASS WHIPPED.
https://twitter.com/3ChicsPolitico/status/571434209450917888
Bow Chicka Bow Wow!
so handsome
Chicas
Can one of you do a thread on this handyhead, bootlicking negro? Pls rip her ass a new one?
Leading Black Activist, Ministers Say ‘Congressional Black Caucus Should be Absolutely Ashamed’ for Boycott of Netanyahu Speech
http://www.algemeiner.com/2015/02/27/leading-black-activist-ministers-say-congressional-black-caucus-should-be-absolutely-ashamed-for-boycott-of-netanyahu-speech/
A prominent leader of the black Christian community on Thursday, along with leading black ministers, lashed out at the Congressional Black Caucus for its boycott of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming address to Congress on March 3.
“The Congressional Black Caucus should be absolutely ashamed of themselves and these black ministers are standing to oppose them,” said Star Parker, founder and president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education, a public policy think-tank. ”We want the Israeli Prime Minister to know that he is welcomed here by the black Christian community.”
“Israel has had to fight for survival every single day since its founding and it is a sign of ungratefulness that the Congressional Black Caucus is not supporting Prime Minister Netanyahu as the Jewish community stood by us throughout the Civil Rights Movement,” she added. “They financed Dr. Martin Luther King. They helped found the NAACP. Two Jewish youth even died in Mississippi trying to help the black community.”
Parker made the comments during a press conference in Washington where leaders of the black Christian community gathered to voice support for Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Ministers who delivered statements at the event included Bishop David A. Richey of the Gulf Coast Christian Center in Mobile, Alabama, Pastor Levon Yuille of The Bible Church in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Pastor Cecil Blye of More Grace Ministries in Louisville, Kentucky, Pastor Dexter D. Sanders of the Rock Center for Transformation in Orlando, Florida and Rev. Ralph Chittams, Sr. of the Forestville New Redeemer Baptist Church in District Heights, Maryland among a number of others.
Leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus said their position on Netanyahu’s speech, which will address the Iranian nuclear threat, is an act of protest against US House Speaker John Boehner, who invited Netanyahu to address Congress without giving much advance notice to the White House. Boehner admitted earlier in February that he made a politically calculated decision to inform the White House on the morning of his invitation to Netanyahu, fearing “interference” by President Barack Obama.
“A prominent leader of the black Christian community…”
She is?
Anyone who physically fits the bill, (in this instance a dark tan), unburdened by conscience, lacks a core and purely motivated by greed and delusions of grandeur, can easily answer to, fill any position and be whatever the heck the GOP and its cohorts want them to be — for a day, a minute, a few months, a few years, however long, – for a few dollars and a bit of notoriety.
Doesn’t really take much to find a willing flunky.
Done!
Leonard Nimoy, Spock of ‘Star Trek,’ dies at 83
Leonard Nimoy, known for playing the Starship Enterprise’s Spock, has died. The character was the ultimate outsider, a trait the actor said he understood well.
Read more » http://link.washingtonpost.com/548289943b35d072688b4aaa2bxd8.7scu/VPCqwsPoCsU_2j_5A81be
GOP lawmaker pondered Eric Holder’s arrest
02/27/15 11:20 AM—UPDATED 02/27/15 11:28 AM
By Steve Benen
Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), currently wrapping up his first full month as a U.S. congressman, is already well on his way to making a name for himself.
For example, at his first town hall meeting last week, the Georgia Republican fielded a question about vaccinations. Loudermilk, looking his wife, told his constituents, “Most of our children, we didn’t immunize. They’re healthy. Of course, home schooling, we didn’t have to get the mandatory immunization.” Loudermilk, by the way, is the chairman of a House Science subcommittee.
Oh my.
Just as amazing, though, was the Georgia lawmaker saying that some House Republicans had discussed the prospect of Attorney General Eric Holder getting arrested at last months’ State of the Union address.
“There was a discussion before the State of the Union of, because of holding Eric Holder in contempt, what role will the House play if he shows up on the House floor for the State of the Union because he’s been held in legal contempt of U.S. Congress,” Loudermilk said. “And there was a discussion, ‘Will the Sergeant-at-Arms arrest him?’ But they checked with some of the attorneys and they said some other things were going on.”
He didn’t specify what those “other things” might be that prevented the arrest of the nation’s chief law enforcement officer.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/gop-lawmaker-pondered-eric-holders-arrest
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Says Detroiters Are Going To Need a White Man to “Save Them”
By Victor Ochieng
In a yet-to-be released documentary, former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick says that the people of Detroit “are going to be begging for a White savior” to pull them out of their socioeconomic problems.
The 44-year-old former mayor made the comment before going to prison to serve a 28-year jail term over corruption charges. His comment also came before Detroit appointed a new mayor, who ended up being White.
Kilpatrick said the racial statement during a private interview for KMK, A Documentary of Kwame Kilpatrick, a film produced by Tim and Tobias Smith, father and son. The documentary is set to premier on April 3, 2015.
………….
The people, the indigenous people of the city of Detroit are going to be begging for a savior, and that savior is not going to be black,” Kilpatrick says in the movie. “Some of the blackest people in town are going to say, ‘Hey, we need a white man.’”
In the interview, Kilpatrick talked of the “white savior” when making comments about Mike Hamlin, a Detroit-based activist and author who mentioned strategic machinations by some white supremacists to create a general feeling that blacks are inferior to whites and thus can’t run an economy on their own.
The strategy Hamlin referenced includes a study carried out in 19th century that asserted that it is okay to have black people as slaves. He asserted that such studies are part of a wider scheme to make blacks look inferior. The idea is that white supremacists are out to malign black leadership, whether it’s Kilpatrick or Barack Obama, as long as they achieve their ultimate goal.
“They were hopeful that the city would collapse because they wanted to prove … that blacks couldn’t govern,” said Hamlin.
This idea doesn’t just apply to Detroit; it’s meant to cover the whole of the U.S. and the world.
http://yourblackworld.net/2015/02/25/former-detroit-mayor-kwame-kilpatrick-says-detroiters-are-going-to-need-a-white-man-to-save-them/
Agree that there’s a deep culture of the white man’s ice is always colder in our society; But please let’s not confuse or lump together the real travails of the first black President with the self-inflicted wounds of a corrupt and sloppy Kilpatrick.
Has Any Employer Ever Told a White Woman How to Wear her Hair?
by G. Brown
There is still a lot of fallout from Giuliana Rancic’s disrespectful remarks about actress/singer Zendaya’s dreadlocks at the Academy Awards. E!’s Fashion Police host Rancic said “I feel like she smells like patchouli oil or weed.”
Rancic apologized, but her sincerity is questionable as sources say Rancic did three takes of the segment and was warned by cohost Kelly Osbourne not to make fun of Zendaya’s hair. Osbourne is threatening to leave the show.
Today, Beyoncé’s sister Solange got in the conversation saying she’s been bullied by the same show which made fun of her natural hair. Solange tweeted
http://yourblackworld.net/2015/02/26/has-any-employer-ever-told-a-white-woman-how-to-wear-her-hair/
In a country where the first black First Lady has been so maliciously dehumanized, called every vile racial slur, depicted as a monkey and every offensive racial stereotype to pretty much crickets, I find myself unable to get worked up over Juliana Rancic suggesting that some young celebrity making a red carpet fashion statement in locs, might have hair that smells of patchouli and weed.
Not when the recently dead lead of the very same t.v show has viciously slandered – and in the most racist and demeaning ways – both the President and First Lady, and so many other people, to much cheers and cries of lighten up, it’s just a joke, by some of the very same people all offended now by the patchouli and weed comment.
Who decides what’s offensive and what’s not; when to react and when not; and who can be offensive, and who can’t; and who they can be offended without repercussion, and who and what shouldn’t be the butt of these sometimes offensive other times not, offensive jabs.
Hair in locs/braids might smell of patchouli and weed: offensive.
Black First Lady depicted as monkey, tranny: not offensive.
Please delete this. Had edited post, but didn’t realize this posted. Thanks-
In a country where the first black First Lady has been so maliciously dehumanized, called every vile racial slur, depicted as a monkey and every offensive racial stereotype to pretty much crickets, I find myself unable to get worked up over Juliana Rancic suggesting that some young celebrity making a red carpet fashion statement in locs, might have hair that smells of patchouli and weed.
Not when the recently dead lead of the very same t.v show has viciously slandered – and in the most racist and demeaning ways – both the President and First Lady, and so many other people, to much cheers and cries of lighten up, it’s just a joke, by some of the very same people all offended now by the patchouli and weed comment.
Who decides what’s offensive and what’s not; when to react and when not; and who can be offensive, and who can’t; and who they can offend without repercussion, and who and what shouldn’t be the butt of these sometimes offensive other times not, offensive jabs.
Hair in locs/braids might smell of patchouli and weed: offensive.
Black First Lady depicted as monkey, tranny: not offensive.
We’ve got to be consistent with our outrage.
So What’s Byron Allen’s $20 Billion Lawsuit Against Comcast, Time Warner, Al Sharpton & the NAACP all About?
By Sergio | Shadow and Act
February 26, 2015 at 12:15PM
And why is he calling out Rev. Al Sharpton? Well the answer is both easy and complex, as you will see.
What has basically happened is that, TV producer and mogul Byron Allen, through his production company Entertainment Studios, along with the National Association of African-American Owned Media (NAAAOM), has filed a $20 billion (that’s B as in billion) discrimination lawsuit against Comcast, Sharpton, Time Warner Cable and other civil rights groups, including the NAACP and the Urban League.
According to the lawsuit, Allen accuses Comcast of racism and claims that his production company, which owns 8 digital channels, has been intentionally unable to secure distribution on cable systems that are owned by Comcast and Time Warner.
Allen and the group have filed also filed a $10 billion suit against AT&T and DirectTV.
His lawsuit alleges that “one hundred percent African-American-owned media has been shut out by Comcast. Of the approximately $11 billion in channel-carriage fees that Comcast pays to license television channels each year, less than $3 million is paid to 100 percent African-American-owned media.”
The lawsuit furthers claims that “Comcast paid Sharpton and his National Action Network (NAN) more than $3.8 million in donations and as salary (reportedly $750,000 a year) for the on-screen television-hosting position on MSNBC.” And Allen also claims that the NAACP and the Urban League, in effect, were paid off by Comcast as well.
http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/so-whats-bryon-allen-20-billion-lawsuit-against-comcast-all-about-20150226
Dale Hansen’s speech on racism is pure dope!
This is the 2nd time I’ve seen something so powerful. The first time was when the police commissioner in Wolfeboro New Hampshire called Potus a n****r and refused to resign. The folks in Wolfeboro New Hampshire WASN’T having it.
Sean Hannity Blasts Singer John Legend for Making “All Things Political”
By Yhanick Scott
John Legend is being heavily criticized by Sean Hannity, who believes the singer should not have said anything about voting rights during his acceptance speech at the Oscars, since he knows nothing about politics.
The conservative Fox News television host highlighted Legend’s speech as an act of “[making] all things political,” and he felt it was incorrectly of Legend to “equate the Voting Rights Act with showing an ID to get to vote so we can keep honesty and integrity in our elections.”
Here is some of Legend’s acceptance speech for winning the Best Original Song category for “Glory,” a song he collaborated with Common on for the civil rights film, Selma:
“We wrote this song for a film that was based on events that were 50 years ago, but we say that Selma is now, because the struggle for justice is right now. We know that the Voting Rights Act that they fought for 50 years ago is being compromised right now, in this country, today.”
Hannity pointed out that this wasn’t necessarily an attack on Legend, as he likes him as a musician, but feels he was meddling in an area he had no business being in and was misinforming others.
After further examination, however, it was found that Legend was actually right about the Voting Rights Act and that Hannity’s criticism was a bit misguided.
A key provision in the Voting Rights Act was shut down in 2013 due to a Supreme Court ruling in the case of County v. Holder. It is now required by states known to have a history of racially discriminatory voting practices to first get clearance from the Department of Justice before making any adjustments to their election rules.
http://yourblackworld.net/2015/02/26/sean-hannity-blasts-singer-john-legend-for-making-all-things-political/
https://twitter.com/VanityFair/status/571031989022793728/photo/1
Josh at Kobe Japanese Steakhouse
I LOVE these places. Love them
House Speaker forgets how leverage works
02/27/15 08:00 AM
By Steve Benen
As his weekly press conference was getting underway yesterday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), before he starting making odd kissing noises, tried to argue that Democrats are responsible for the Homeland Security mess his party created.
“I just think it’s outrageous that Senate Democrats are using Homeland Security funding for blackmail to protect the actions of the president,” the Speaker argued.
Boehner shouldn’t use words if he doesn’t know what they mean; it ends up being embarrassing for him and annoying for everyone else. In this case, Republicans are holding DHS funding hostage and Democrats aren’t prepared to pay the ransom. In English, that’s not what “blackmail” means.
But with 16 hours remaining until Homeland Security funding expires, it seems Boehner doesn’t know what “leverage” means, either.
House Republicans are floating a plan to delay a possible shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security by voting on a short-term measure to keep the agency funded and continue their immigration fight into next month.
GOP House members met behind closed doors late Thursday to plot a plan forward, even as the Senate prepared to approve a “clean” DHS bill not tied to measures that would halt the president’s executive actions on immigration.
As recently as Wednesday, the Republican Speaker said the House wasn’t prepared to do anything until the Senate acted. So, the GOP Senate leadership prepared its own spending bill, which it would pass today and send to the House to avoid a shutdown.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/house-speaker-forgets-how-leverage-works
Why Choosing to Home-school is So Different for Black Parents
Home-schooling is on the rise in the US and one minority is helping the number to grow quickly. There are currently 220,000 black children who are home-schooled and that number is climbing every day. One of the main reasons that parents are keeping their kids out of the public school system is because of racism from other students and teachers. They also do not want their children to get caught up in stereotyping because it can lead to poor academic results.
As much as we would like to say that racism and stereotypes are a thing of the past that statement would be completely false. Black students suffer more than any other race. When young children are in public schools they are often made to feel like they are never going to be successful because of the stereotypes that people like to tell them about such as the stereotype that black children don’t work as hard and do poorly in school. Unfortunately when they are told things like this they start to believe it and end up giving up on trying because they feel like they aren’t going to do well anyway. This is a sad truth in public schools and one of the reasons that black families are teaching at home more often.
Depending on the area that they live in some students may be the only black students in their class. This puts the focus on them entirely and can make for a very uncomfortable education. Boys have the most trouble as they are the ones who are critiqued and harassed the most. This of course is not true for all schools, but the majority of public schools have some kind of racism floating down the hallways. White students do not have to deal with this and they are home-school for reasons such as they are being bullied by other students, their parents feel that the school system is not adequate, or for religious reasons.
Temple University faculty member Ama Mazama says that when people hear that a black student is being home-schooled they think it is for the same reasons that white people home-school their children but that is far from the truth. She says that the schools should look at the reasons why black children are being pulled from their schools. When a black child is suffering from racial injustice there usually is not much done. The injustice continues and the student becomes more and more withdrawn. The school is basically taking away their right to a good education. This is why so many black parents feel that teaching their children at home is a much better option
http://www.theblackhomeschool.com/2015/02/24/why-choosing-to-home-school-is-so-different-for-black-parents/
Police Arrest Black Man for Trespassing Multiple Times at Store Where He Works
In Miami Gardens, Florida, a convenience store owner named Alex Saleh gave a black man named Earl Sampson, who has mental health problems, an opportunity to come work for him at his store.
As radio hosts for ‘This American Life” learned while interviewing Earl and Alex, Earl would routinely get arrested at the store, even though he worked there.
Once Alex says he asked Earl to do something outside, but Earl never returned. When Alex went looking for Earl, he says he found only a dust pan. When Earl arrived at work the next day, he told Alex that he’d spent the night in jail for trespassing. You heard right: Earl had been arrested for trespassing at the store where he worked. That happened two more times within the same month.
http://breakingbrown.com/2015/02/police-arrest-black-man-for-trespassing-multiple-times-at-store-where-he-works/
https://twitter.com/Interior/status/570988559349485568/photo/1
SMGDH
SCOTT WALKER: PROTESTS PREPPED ME FOR ISIS
Gov. Scott Walker says he is ready to deal with global terrorism because he has handled protesters in his own state of Wisconsin. Addressing the crowd at CPAC on Thursday, the Republican described how his record of calling in the Wisconsin National Guard to combat labor union demonstrations has readied him to fight Islamic extremists: “If I can take on 100,000 protesters, I can do the same across the world.”
http://elink.thedailybeast.com/4e555ee3e018bee76c3458202bw0r.3qvw/VPBsq0mOzqEnAbfPBb6bb
Good Morning Everyone
Good Morning, Rikyarh & Everyone.
Rikyrah, how are you feeling? Are you chillin’?
Doing well, Ametia.
Morning, everyone.