Twitter, the app, will soon starting looking around your home screen to see which other apps are there. In a blog post, the microblogging platform is announcing App Graph, which is just their way of finding out which apps you have on your phone. Twitter won’t be looking at your messages, or checking on your activity; they just want to … Continue reading
Don’t panic, but there’s a good chance that, at some point during his life, the furry ball of chaos you love deeply is going to get himself hurt. Probably while doing something stupid. Luckily, performing first aid on your dog is as easy as doing it on a human. Here’s how to prepare.
Twitter is starting a new program called App Graph that tracks all of the other apps people have on their phones. You might be wondering why Twitter cares if you’re a Candy Crush fiend or if you also use Instagram. It’s because Twitter follows the ABT school of sales: Always Be Targetin’.
Finally! It’s the time of year once more when Americans line up outside of major retail outlets at absurdly early hours in an effort to score the lowest prices on all manner of consumer goods. Looking for a washer/dryer on the cheap? How about a Sams…
Want to see a classic example of irony? Head to the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) website. The government security group has issued a public warning about Regin… you know, the extra-sophisticated malware that many suspect the US wrote…
It’s already cold, but you can feel the temperature inching down further and further. Not only doesn’t that mean it’s going to be snowy and miserable, but it also means the holiday season approaches with its various traditional meals and baked goods. It’s hard to stay in shape when all you want to do is hunker down and eat. If you have the willpower to keep up with running, then you likely want to try and find ways to make it more enjoyable than the arduous and almost painful task it is in the winter.
Layering is the only way to keep yourself warm, but you also want to listen to music. The Runphones Wireless are the perfect way to listen to tunes and simultaneously bundle up. It’s a sport-style headband that has wireless speakers inside to let you run to the beat. The speakers are rechargeable, and will give you 8-12 hours of music at full power. As it would be disgusting otherwise, this headband is machine washable, but it’s imperative that you remember to remove the speakers first, as they can only handle a little bit of water.
This is sort of a “one size fits all”, meaning it won’t fit those who are above 5’3” with short hair or those with a big head and thick hair. This is available in black, pink, gray, and sapphire (glorified blue) at a price of $99.99. These would also be useful for those who like to sleep with music, but don’t want to blare music out of a sound system that a significant other or neighbors could hear.
Available for purchase on ThinkGeek
[ The Runphones make cardio in the cold more enjoyable copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Hey, man, is that a MIDI guitar with amazing internal lighting effects? Well turn it up! Hot on the heels of the GTar and the Jamstik we present the Expressive, a guitar designed by Rob O’Reilly. The Kickstarter, which ends today, sold the guitars for about $450 and aims to ship in March. Does the world need another MIDI guitar? Sure. This model scans the fretboard to see where your… Read More
Black lives matter. Despite what we’re seeing in media headlines, the actions of our courts and legal system and police departments everywhere — black lives matter and black stories help shed light on history of race in America and beyond.
Stories and storytelling is one of the strongest ways to share diverse narratives within our communities and beyond. Next week, the National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC) will kick-off its annual appeal to create a fund to support black stories and black filmmakers. We know that there are stories out there that need the support of this 35-year-old organization. We know that people need to feel there are ways to share positive, educational, important stories about the lives and history of African Americans and Africans.
Hours after the Ferguson announcement, I sat writing this post, sleepless and dazed by the grand jury decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson. Despite my feelings of frustration, hopelessness, pain and anger, I believe with all my heart that I’m meant to be working with NBPC right here, right now. To help ensure that the story of what happened to Michael Brown, and has happened to thousands of others, no longer is reduced to sensational headlines and sound bites. And, that our community can find the empathy and desire to understand the impact this has had on our society as a whole and what’s next, after Ferguson. And, after the dust settles we can do more than a Facebook post that reads:
“Well, I’m not surprised.”
It still surprises me — every. single. time. — that media headlines and images flooding our television and computer screens are so sensational and unbalanced. Rather than a balanced display of images — painful and angry — we see constant barrage of the destruction from rioting. There is more happening in Ferguson and beyond than what our mainstream media would have us believe.
Here’s my hope, this trend of unarmed black men and boys being gunned down in our streets, neighborhoods, and stairwells (ie. Brooklyn #Pinkhouses) ends. That Americans start to take note of what is happening and do all that they can to make it stop. That all Americans, not just African Americans, take the time to break down what is happening and can find empathy rather than bigotry.
While many of us sat in disbelief at the results of the Grand Jury in Ferguson this week; others sat, satisfied in their belief that justice has been served. They believe that Michael Brown committed a “crime” and got what he “deserved” and the riots that happened in Ferguson, Oakland and other parts of the country have set the black race back by decades.
African American rights have been set back, of that, I’m sure, but it’s not because of rioting. I find that particular criticism about rioting setting back a race particularly scary and confusing. Especially as my mind flickers back to memories of white sports fans rioting after major professional and college sports teams wins/losses, think San Francisco, Boston, and Vancouver to name just a few.
In their statement, Michael Brown’s parents ask:
Join with us in our campaign to ensure that every police officer working the streets in this country wears a body camera. We respectfully ask that you please keep your protests peaceful. Answering violence with violence is not the appropriate reaction. Let’s not just make noise, let’s make a difference.
After the George Zimmerman verdict came, through my heart flat-lined. At that time, I’ll be honest — I believed justice would prevail. When it didn’t and George Zimmerman went free I hoped things would change. I saw the confusion and anger expressed by so many and thought we can get through this and perhaps we’ll be stronger as we realize just how fragile race relations are in America in 2014. I realize today, I did nothing after Trayvon Martin was killed to educate myself on what’s been happening and the clear breakdown in our legal system across the country. It all felt too big and like many I thought, “What can one person really do anyway?”
But this week, after the Grand Jury decision not to indict Darren Wilson, I’m feeling more focused and motivated to take action. I believe that even one individual can make a difference. I’ve studied and worked in the communications field for 20 years and understand the power, positive and negative, of media. I’ve watched people moved to tears by the power of film and documentaries. In 2012, I was at a Sundance Film Festival screening, when an audience gave Sam Pollard and Slavery by Another Name a 5 minute standing ovation.
The morning after the Ferguson Grand Jury reached its decision, despite only a few hours of sleep, it helped waking up knowing I was heading to Harlem to help launch NBPC‘s Annual Appeal. It helps knowing NBPC‘s work has inspired and helped hundreds of black filmmakers to share their stories with the world. And, thus, has helped millions to better understand the complexity of race relations over the centuries. I believe the more we can empower these diverse voices, the closer we’ll come to equality for all in our amazing country. Will this time in its history be a blemish looked back on with sadness? Indeed. But, I believe we can change. Because, black lives matter, black stories matter, and being black should not be a death sentence.
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Donna Hardwick runs On and On Marketing & Communications a boutique agency specializing in social issue campaigns. One of her clients is the National Black Programming Consortium.
“Every single letter of the alphabet is needed to have a kosher Torah. If any letter is missing then the Torah is not kosher. This means that any member of our community that is missing (incarcerated) must be returned in order for the community to be whole,” My friend and Rabbinical student, Greg Metzger said to me.
He said these words and more while trying to recruit me for his Judaism and recovery program at California Institution for Women prison in Chino, Calif. He made such a passionate plea for my help I couldn’t say no. I also have a soft spot for the neglected and society’s unwanted because I was one myself.
I remember my first visit to CIW. I stood nervously in front of the metal detector at check in waiting for the gruff prison guard to clear me in the system. I was dressed in my best Orthodox Jewish wear (long black skirt, long sleeve white top and black beret to cover my hair).
After a half an hour I was finally cleared and stepped through the metal detector with just my sunglasses and Drivers License in hand (I had to lock my purse and other belongings up). Greg, myself and two other volunteers passed through the antiseptic lobby to the heavy double doors that opened to the prison yard.
The doors shut behind me with a loud and quick bang. The combination of the dead-of-summer-107-degree heat and the sad fenced-in yard filled with dead, brown grass made a wave of panic come over me. It didn’t help that Greg told me the reason why visitors were not allowed to wear blue to the prison.
“We don’t wear blue because the inmates wear blue and when the buzzer goes off for whatever reason all the inmates have to drop to the ground and those who are left standing who are wearing blue are shot,” Greg said very matter of fact.
The panic got worse as we walked to the trailer where all the Jewish women in the prison and the Rabbi who works at the prison hold their Shabbat services and Torah study. The panic was about being locked into a place and not being able to get out. I calmed myself down by saying to myself that I am here for a purpose, to help Jewish alcoholics and drug addicts and that I can, in fact, leave.
The prison smelled like urine, feces and bad cafeteria food. For the most part the yard was empty and I asked why.
Apparently, women were going out into the yard and committing suicide. There seemed to be no hope at this place; just lost souls doing their time while being treated inhumanely.
We finally reached the little brown trailer and walked in. Thankfully, it was air-conditioned. The Rabbi who worked at the prison was leading the women in Torah study discussion. The portion of the Torah that they were studying was about being cursed for the crimes you commit. Ironic, yes, but it was right before Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur so all Jews were getting ready to ask for forgiveness from their sins.
There was a group of about 20 women who were either Jewish or converted to Judaism. The women were of various nationalities and their crimes ranged from armed robbery to murder. They all wore yarmulkes and prayer shawls. They call themselves the B’not Or — women of light.
A heated discussion came about when one of the inmates was adamant that the Jewish people are the chosen people while another woman thought that was really arrogant of her.
What I felt from these women was hope and faith. Their connection to God and to Judaism meant the world to them and I can understand why. In a place with so much despair, this little trailer was a respite.
After Torah study we went into the larger room to facilitate the Jewish recovery meeting. All of the Jewish women and a few more joined us as Greg and I took them through a workbook. After going through the workbook we talked with the women individually about their resentments, fears and struggles.
I’m getting to know these women and they all have heart-breaking stories of drugs, alcoholism, poverty and domestic abuse. I think many Jews believe we’re immune to these issues but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The Judaism recovery program used to be in nine other prisons but lost the funding. It is hard to raise money to help Jewish inmates transform their lives when there are puppies and sick children that are more appealing.
I’ve done a lot of charity but this experience by far has been the most rewarding. To see lives transform and the human spirit lifted is a gift. It is my mission to help Greg bring back all the missing letters of the alphabet so that our community can be whole.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Need help with substance abuse or mental health issues? In the U.S., call 800-662-HELP (4357) for the SAMHSA National Helpline.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:6
The names Wilson and Brown are such ordinary all-American names. Now they are forever linked in a piece of American history that will become a part of a trivia quiz, even though the most archetypal of American struggles connected them. One is a policeman; the other a boy. One is alive; the other is dead. One had a gun; the other did not. One had the protection of the “law,” the other did not.
Heavy hurts will begin to subside. People will try to remember the names of all the black men killed by all the police. We won’t be able to do so, so many are there.
What meaning can we make of our amnesia, our trivia games, our all American struggles with each other? We can start with Zechariah’s words to Zerubbabel. We are more a nation that believes his promise than not. Our beliefs are not yet fully available to our laws, and thus the cultural incompetency of our legal system. We teach our children: use your words, not your fists. We say to ISIS that violence resolves nothing. We say to each other “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit.” What does that mean in a world where law enforcement lags behind its cultural and religious consensus?
It means that we are reaching. That we are not there yet. That more is going on underground than above ground. Today is one of those days, those in between days, when more is going on underground than above. More is pre conscious or un conscious or sub conscious than conscious. We could pray with the two Z’s and try to mean it. We want spirit to prevail over might and power. We want to be better than we are. Especially white people, like me, want to be better than we are.
In New York, right after the verdict was announced, we gathered in Union Square and walked the long walk to Times Square, some back to Washington square. We have squared this route more than once, the square of the Union, the Times, the founder. Many had the energy to yell. I did not.
When I got back to the church, which is at the South End of Washington Square, one of our board members was there. She wanted the church to “open up.” With tears staining her mascara, she remembered her UCC youth group taking her on a two-week immersion from Iowa to Chicago in 1963. Andy Young was the youth leader then. She had a roommate who taught her that “white people see the world completely differently than black people.” As we talked on the steps of the church, well-dressed black people rushed by, in the middle of the street, carrying bags with anger, showing us that they didn’t feel safe on their own streets. Jane and I felt safe. Then again, we are white and get protection from might and power.
Spirit of the Living God, you who are stronger than might or human power, help us. Help us soon. Get us off our well worn path of cultural incompetency and complete the hopes of our nation. All of them. Amen
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
