Well beam me up, Scotty, because I’m totally flying saucer-eyed right now! Thank you, thank you, we’ll be here all week. OK, let’s back up for a minute. National Topless Day is the brainchild of Rael, a former journalist and racecar driver who says aliens apeared to him on a hilltop on France in 1974 and told him that all life on Earth was created by extraterrestrials. Rael also claims the aliens told him that it was his divine mission to fight injustice- specifically, the skin justice of men being allowed to doff their tops in public while women’s watermelons must remain covered. Whatever you say, fella. In 2007, the space cult leader started www.go-topless.org, a site dedicated to rallying womankind to “FREE YOUR BREASTS! FREE YOUR MIND!” And believe it or not, there are women who have joined the cause, organizing topless protests and petitioning lawmakers to change the laws and make their states and cities officially “Top Free” (they’ve already succeeded in converting Columbus, Ohio, Portland, Oregon, Washington, DC and Austin, Texas, among other cities). They’re planning a “Historical Boob March” (their words, not ours) on Washington on August 26, 2012, but in the meantime topless advocates must content themselves with marching in boob-friendly locales each year on National Topless Day. (In uh, “top slave” locales like Los Angeles, protestors glue fake nipples over their own in order to prove a point. The point being that they also saw The Change-Up ). This past Sunday the Raelians and their compatriots gathered to celebrate their annual festival of funbags, and you bet there were photographers there to document the liberated love muffins. See the pics after the jump!
SMH at TSA: Timery Shante Nance is an African-American woman who has a thing about her hair. “I don’t use chemicals or straighteners,” she said. “It’s just my natural texture, and I wear it in a normal-looking puff.” Now she wonders, as some other black women evidently do, whether the Transportation Security Administration also has a thing about their hair. Ms. Nance is the second black woman I’m aware of within a month who says she was racially profiled when a T.S.A. officer insisted on publicly patting down her hair after she had already gone though a full-body scan without setting off any alarm. Ms. Nance was departing from the airport in San Antonio in late July. After she passed through the body scanner, she said, a female T.S.A. screener told her to stand facing her possessions. “You’re good to go, but first I have to pat your hair,” the officer told her, she said. “I’m like, pat my hair? O.K., I guess,” Ms. Nance said. But it wasn’t O.K. Ms. Nance, who had been visiting her husband at the Air Force base where he is stationed, was deeply embarrassed as other passengers stared at her, “as if I’d done something wrong.” She asked the screener why her hair was searched while others, including white women with ponytails or bushy hair, were simply waved through. “Is it just African-American women with natural hair who get the hair search?” she asked. The screener said no, “but if you have certain kinds of ponytail or bun, you have to get your hair patted,” said Ms. Nance, who is 30. “More black women are wearing their hair in a natural state,” she said. “It’s becoming more of the norm in business cities, for example. On the other hand, for black women, it’s been 40 or 50 years of needing to relax and straighten your hair, wearing weaves, things like that.” In other words, black women who choose to maintain their hair naturally can get some cultural pushback — including even from other African-American women who choose otherwise. In fact, Web sites like Nappturality.com, are popular among black women who share a sense of community, and some defensiveness, about wearing natural hair. Also, it seems that some women of all races are fascinated by natural hairstyles worn by black women and like to touch it. “Sometimes you feel like a circus act when your hair is in its natural state and people always come up to you and say, ‘Can I touch it? Oh, it’s a lot softer than it looks!’ ” Ms. Nance said. I asked around about this. Some young black women my wife and I know, including college students, readily agree that natural hair is a delicate issue. “Do not touch unless specifically requested!” one said firmly. We also have a friend, a white woman in her 30s who is a frequent international business traveler. She has a noteworthy mane of bouncy, curly brunette hair tumbling to her shoulders. “Do they ever ask to pat your hair down?” I asked her. “Never!” she said. So, have we now possibly isolated the problem? The T.S.A. goes to lengths to be culturally and even politically aware. Those with medical needs, for example, can bring on extra liquids and gels. Military personnel in uniform can pass through security without having to remove their shoes. Increasingly, the T.S.A. talks about a “multilevel” approach to security that adds better intelligence work, behavioral detection and more common sense to the checkpoint procedures, some of which have been derided as unnecessary “security theater.” Ms. Nance says she filed an online complaint but has not heard back from the agency. Natural ladies, have you ever been subjected to such TSA hair pat downs??? Source
Is it just us, or does something not sound quite right with this? Via CNN : Two men have been jailed for four years each in northwest England for inciting disorder via social networking sites as rioting and looting erupted in London and other cities last week, police said Tuesday. The pair, who were arrested last week, were named by Cheshire Police as Jordan Blackshaw, 20, and Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, 22. Neither of their Facebook posts resulted in any rioting, a Cheshire Police spokeswoman said. Sutcliffe-Keenan had set up a Facebook page called “Warrington Riots” that urged rioters to gather in the northwestern town on August 10, while Blackshaw had created a page encouraging people to cause trouble in his home town of Northwich on August 9, the spokeswoman said. Residents and business reported the posts to police and the men were arrested before any disorder occurred, she added. Handing down their sentence at Chester Crown Court, Judge Elgan Edwards said he hoped it would serve as a deterrent to others. More than 1,300 people have been charged across England in connection with last week’s unrest, which led to widespread looting and damage. Five deaths have been linked to the violence. Many courts have used fast-track procedures to bring suspects to justice. Police and politicians have pointed to social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, as well as mobile messaging services, as tools used to organize looting and violence. Cheshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Phil Thompson said, “If we cast our minds back just a few days to last week and recall the way in which technology was used to spread incitement and bring people together to commit acts of criminality, it is easy to understand the four-year sentences that were handed down in court today. “In Cheshire, we quickly recognized the impact of the situation on our communities and the way in which social media was being used to promote and incite behavior that would strike fear into the hearts of our communities.” Prime Minister David Cameron told Parliament on Thursday that “when people are using social media for violence, we need to stop them.” The government was working with the police and intelligence services, he said, “to look at whether it would be right to stop people communicating via these websites and services when we know they are plotting violence, disorder and criminality.” What in the name of civil liberties?? Does that sound okay to you?
Get ready for some late night laughs on FOX! Starting Monday night comedian Rickey Smiley is bringing his hilarious morning drive time show from your car to your couch. The multi-talented radio personality, actor and recording artist spoke about “Dish Nation.” Dish Nation airs locally in Atlanta on WAGA Fox 5 at Midnight! For other cities visit DishNation.com Rickey Smiley broadcast live from our Atlanta Hot 107.9 studios! Watch Interview with Comedian Ricky Smiley on “Dish Nation”: MyFoxATLANTA.com
by Sarah Goodyear. The Just City from Ford Foundation on Vimeo . “The city is where we humans create culture.” So said Joan Clos i Matheu , executive director of UN-HABITAT, at an all-day Ford Foundation conference on “ The Just City ” yesterday. The room was packed with people who love cities and passionately believe in them. But the very theme of the day was an acknowledgement that the cities we… Broadcasting platform : Vimeo Source : Grist Magazine Discovery Date : 15/07/2011 20:52 Number of articles : 2
It is around this time every year that people begin to get severe cases of “career change iti-s” Though not everyone will participate we can begin thinking about it. If you are considering a career change here are 8 steps to help make it easier. 1. Do you really want to change careers? A career change is serious business. Only undergo one after careful consideration. We all have terrible stretches at work that make us want to resign, but they pass… and come back… and pass — well, you get the picture. Take some time off your current job and recharge. If you return to work feeling the same dread, apathy, or frustration as before, maybe a career change is right for you. 2. Take control. You’ve decided it’s time for a new career path , but you’re scared. That’s understandable; changing careers takes guts.You’re in charge. Be proactive. Don’t wait for things to happen to you. Make them happen. 3. Be practical. You want to herd sheep, make designer kites, or create energy drinks that cure the common cold? Hey, good luck. But make sure you can make a decent living. 4. Be committed. Don’t be one of those people who set out to change careers, and then give up when things get a little tough. You have to be determined to make the change work. So promise yourself you’ll accept nothing short of success — no matter what setbacks come your way. 5. Figure out what you want to do. Research, research, research. Get on the Internet and start learning as much as you can about the careers you’re interested in. Read relevant trade papers and magazines. Immerse yourself. Find out the necessary skills and qualifications related to your possible career choices. [Editor’s note: See this section of Quint 6. Hear it straight from the horse’s mouth. Get out there and find people who are doing what you want to do. Talk to them about the negative and positive aspects of that career. Find out the truth — the good, the bad, the ugly. Tell them not to pull any punches or sugarcoat anything. 7. Figure out how you will do it. So you’ve decided on a career choice. But don’t expect to start herding those sheep right away. You have to do a little planning first. How will you support yourself during your career change? 8. Learn how to do it. If you’ve already mastered the job skills related to your new career, you’re ready to go live. Otherwise, find out the educational or training requirements of your career choice and prepare to get up to speed. For example, if you want to be a doctor or a lawyer, you’ll need an advanced degree from a college or university. If you want to write, you may have to take classes or attend workshops. There are links on this very page from Monster.com . Now is as good a time to start to looking. Good luck and happy job hunting. Related Stories 7 Ways To Become Financially Responsible 8 Cities to See Before You Die Iyanla Vanzant: “Duck Behind God, When The Crazy Starts Flying”
‘To see this type of tour come together … it’s a great experience,’ Ross says. By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway Rick Ross Photo: Getty Images Lil Wayne knows how to throw a party. For his first concert run since being released from prison late last year, the New Orleans MC invited a slew of acts along for the outing, from his prot
‘To see this type of tour come together … it’s a great experience,’ Ross says. By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway Rick Ross Photo: Getty Images Lil Wayne knows how to throw a party. For his first concert run since being released from prison late last year, the New Orleans MC invited a slew of acts along for the outing, from his prot
Sadly, as we expected, things have gone from bad to worse for the people of Japan. An explosion rocked another nuclear plant in northeastern Japan earlier today, causing authorities to issue another evacuation warning. Soldiers and officials along a stretch of Japan’s northeastern coast warned residents that the area could be hit by another tsunami Monday and ordered them to higher ground. But the Meteorological Agency said there was no risk of another deadly wave. The warning came as an explosion rocked the nearby Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. The blast was felt 30 miles away by Associated Press journalists in the coastal town of Soma, where residents fled the town for safety after being herded quickly through muddy, debris-strewn streets. TV footage showed a massive column of smoke belching from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant’s No. 3 unit, about 125 miles north of Tokyo. Japanese officials said they believe it was a hydrogen explosion similar to an earlier one at a different unit in the facility. The problems at the plant stem from failed cooling systems caused by damage from Friday’s earthquake and tsunami. More than 180,000 people have evacuated the area, and up to 160 may have been exposed to radiation. Before the power plant blast, sirens around Soma, which was battered by Friday’s tsunami, went off and public address systems ordered residents to safety. Farther south along the coast, helicopters flew over coastal communities warning residents to head to higher ground. In Sendai, the biggest city in the area, police announced warnings on a public address system. In Tokyo and elsewhere, authorities began rolling blackouts to conserve power as they tried desperately to stabilize the nuclear reactors at risk of meltdown in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. The disasters sent Tokyo’s stock market plunging as it opened, raising fears of a steep economic toll on top of the already overwhelming human suffering. The planned blackouts of about three hours each in Tokyo and other cities are meant to help make up for the loss of power from key nuclear plants. Trade Minister Banri Kaieda said Sunday that the power utility expects a 25 percent shortfall. Some 1.9 million households were without electricity, but many people were without even more basic necessities. At least 1.4 million households had gone without water since the quake struck, and food aid was slow in reaching many areas. And the death toll keeps rising . And they’re expecting snow this week, which will make the situation even tougher for survivors and rescue workers… SMH.
