This Has Become An Everyday Listen For My Daughter And I
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University of Houston’s Dr. Lovell Jones Talks STEM in 2010 video
Over the next few weeks I’ll be doing some work with the Intercultural Cancer Council, who is having their Biennial Symposium in Houston June 26-July 1. The symposium will focus on Minorities, The Medically Underserved and Health Equity.
I want to start by introducing you to Lovell Jones, PhD., founding co-chair of the Intercultural Cancer Council who launched the conference 25 years ago. Dr. Jones is a professor in the Department of Health Disparities Research at MD Anderson.
Take a look at this video where he talks about the importance of S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Education and getting children involved at a young age.
Donna Summer Dead — Disco Legend Dies After Battle with Cancer
Donna Summer – the Queen of Disco — died this morning after a battle with cancer … TMZ has learned.
We’re told Summer was in Florida at the time of her death. She was 63-years-old.
Summer was a 5-time Grammy winner who shot to superstardom in the ’70s with iconic hits like “Last Dance,” “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls.”
She continued her dominance in the ’80s with “She Works Hard for the Money” and “This Time I Know It’s for Real.”
Summer and her producer Giorgio Moroder defined the dance music era of the ’70s and influenced acts like Duran Duran and David Bowie to enter the genre.
Summer married Brooklyn Dreams singer Bruce Sudano back in 1980. They had two daughters together.
Bryan Stevenson TEDxTalks on injustice
Inspiring…thanks to Brooks Igo for originally suggesting this Talk to me.
Dick Clark Dies — Dead at 82
Update: Clark’s rep tells TMZ, the TV icon had been in St. John’s hospital in L.A. after undergoing an outpatient procedure last night. Clark suffered the “massive” heart attack following the procedure. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.
Dick Clark – famed TV producer, and “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” host — died from a massive heart attack this morning … TMZ has learned.
He was 82.
Details surrounding his death are unclear, but Clark had suffered a significant stroke in 2004 — forcing him to retire from his hosting gig at “New Years’ Rockin’ Eve,” which he created in 1972.
Ryan Seacrest took over in 2006. Dick has co-hosted the show ever since.
Before suffering a stroke, Clark told Larry King he suffered from Type 2 diabetes.
Clark has been married 3 times — and has 3 children from his first two marriages. He is survived by his current wife Kari Wigton.
“For now, Dick Clark … so long.”
Swedish minister of culture, black face, genital mutilation…hilarious right?
So when I saw the following photo, I was caught totally off guard by how blatantly racist the whole scene is.
Black cake, white teeth, a lot of smiling laughing faces in the crowd which look, without any context, like they are making a mockery of black women at the very least. Just looking at the photo, I totally missed that the head of the cake is of a real person.
The lady holding the fork is Swedish minister of culture Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth. She’s participating in the opening of an art exhibit at Stockholm’s Moderna Museet. The art is supposed to highlight the problem of female circumcision.
On the horrid video above, the artist is screaming as people cut the cake. It’s awful all around.
I get that art is supposed to be shocking, provocative and even offensive at times. But if the goal is to shine the light on genital mutilation and yet the whole conversation is about how racist it is, then the artist missed the mark.
Commentary on genital mutilation should elicit shouts of glee and giddiness. I saw the image on Facebook posted by Adrienne George Lind from the Black Women in Europe blog, and she says there are groups in Sweden who are lashing out against the event, especially the Minister of Culture’s participation.
Tupac Back to Life to Perform with Snoop, Afeni Shakur “thrilled”
Courtesy TMZ.com
Tupac‘s famously protective mother Afeni Shakur agrees with the rest of the planet — the rapper’s resurrection at Coachella this weekend … in the form of an incredibly lifelike hologram … was mind-blowingly awesome.
A rep for Afeni tells TMZ, she was absolutely positively THRILLED with Tupac’s virtual performance – when he appeared alongside Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg during the headlining show at Coachella last night … walking back and forth across the stage like he was actually present.
Afeni didn’t attend the performance — but we’re told she watched it unfold live on the Internet … but while it was thrilling, the entire experience was bittersweet.
The rep says Dr. Dre asked Afeni for approval to incorporate Pac into his performance — and she said yes. As a thank you, we’re told Dre made a donation to the rapper’s charity … The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation.
TMZ also spoke with Dre’s crewmate Daz Dillinger — who tells us, Nate Dogg was originally supposed to appear as a hologram as well, but the decision was made at the last minute not to use him. Nate got a video tribute instead.
Mary J. Blige — Burger King Chicken Ad Was Not What I Expected
Mary J. Blige says she never signed off on the controversial fried chicken ad that she shot for Burger King– at least not the version that was blasted on the Internet.
In a statement, Mary J. tells TMZ, “I agreed to be a part of a fun and creative campaign that was supposed to feature a dream sequence. Unfortunately, that’s not what was happening in that clip.”
The spot — which Burger King has since yanked from its YouTube site — features Mary singing about a new crispy chicken wrap. The ad drew tons of criticism on Twitter for playing off a stereotype about African-Americans and chicken.
Mary also says, “I understand my fans being upset by what they saw. But, if you’re a Mary fan, you have to know I would never allow an unfinished spot like the one you saw to go out.”
Burger King confirms the ad was released prematurely … “before all of the licensing and final approvals were obtained.” The fast food giant also says, “We would like to apologize to Mary J. and all of her fans for airing an ad that was not final.”
Burger King says the final … approved version will be released soon.
Trayvon Martin’s Parents Speak To Washington Post (video)
Loop 21 Runs Excerpts From Shawn Williams SPJ Address
TheLoop21.com published excerpts from my March 23rd address to the Society of Professional Journalists. The title they posted was Don’t Let Character Assassination Kill The Real Story.
I thought their choice of title was superb. Especially in light of the fact that when I wrote the speech, the latest attacks on Martin’s character had not reached the level we’re now seeing.
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