Maybe a sense of upliftment by watching others in much more dire circumstances than our first world problems. If I'm really lucky, I've helped start unquenchable urge in those of you who are in a position to do something about it...to do so. My goal here is to provide, comment, and illuminate situations that may slip through the cracks of our daily lives. The kind of things we see a headline about but never click the article because its too long, we're too busy, or it's too depressing. By breaking it down into more digestible chunks, I hope to get the important points across and leave the biased fluff behind. On that note, here we go...
The Supreme Court of the United States is MIA
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| SCOTUS is like a 3 legged table right now (Photo: ww2.kqed.org) |
The death of Antonin Scalia has left the court effectively crippled. With 4 liberal judges and 4 conservative leaning ones, the court is literally unable to come to a decision on some of its most important cases. The usual procedure when the court can't make a decision, is that the lower court's decision is upheld and no precedent is deemed to have been set. In plain English, its like the Supreme Court never heard the case and the lower court's verdict stands. One case already kicked back would have allowed non-union workers to avoid paying union dues, cutting off a major source of funding for organized labor. A long term goal for conservatives who believe unions have become too powerful and get in the way of growing businesses.
Why does it matter?
An ineffective Supreme Court means Congress and the local courts have more power than ever since many of the cases now being heard might never make it back to the court. Whether this is what Republicans wanted when they refused to consider Merrick Garland to replace their conservative hero, the late Antonin Scalia, is up to interpretation. What isn't in question, is that the power structure of the United States, which is built on each branch of government having the power to check the other 2, is now severely out of balance. More power than ever rests in the hands of a Congress that seems more concerned with party loyalty and partisan power than following the Constitution. State rulings on labor, civil rights, and abortion have been notoriously partisan and will leave millions of people essentially stuck with whatever decision has already been made unless the plaintiffs have deep pockets. Something most people obviously don't have.
What can I do about it?
Find your representative in the House
http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
Find your Senator
http://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/
Tell your friends to do the same and remind them who put them in "power." Republicans have seemingly mastered the art of using their votes to take out anyone who doesn't stick to the script. Ask Eric Cantor. Remind these folks that the ultimate power lies with you and they can be fired just like anyone else for not doing their jobs.
The Women of ISIS are not looking for "Jihotties"
There seems to be a myriad idiotic narratives about why young women are joining ISIS. The most misogynistic one, and the most insulting in my opinion, is the idea that these women join the most despotic terrorist group in the world...because they're looking for dick. Comedians use it for cheap laughs but it's honestly how investigations are run almost every time an underage western girl takes off for Syria. As if she's infatuated with suicide bombers like they're the ISIS version of the Backstreet Boys. It never occurs to the usually male investigators that just like young men that go to fight, they're actually true believers who are just as dangerous as their male counterparts. In the "west", as they call it, we've been socialized to treat women as the fairer sex, which usually means seeing their intelligence as an aberration, rather than the norm. Usually because we assume they think like we do...which is usually about sex. It's something ISIS counts on when using women to carry out their attacks.
Why does it matter?
Because underestimating someone because of a stereotype is dangerous and stupid, especially when those stereotypes are used against you again and again and again. History is littered with women weren't frail, emotional, or weak willed. Though these women have decided to walk down a much darker path, respecting their decision, and holding them accountable for it would make spotting potential attackers much easier instead of relying on profiles that don't work.
What can I do about it?
As Joe "the Black Eagle" Madison says, "read with a third eye and listen with a third ear."
Strange behavior is strange behavior no matter what race, gender, or nationality someone is. If you see something, say something.
MASE??
A long standing mystery about the identity of the New York Knick player in Biggie's "I Got a Story to Tell" has finally been solved!
If you don't know the song I'm talking about...unsubscribe immediately.
or just watch this.....
One of the few stories on wax that was verified by multiple NBA players and rappers in Big's inner circle to be true. It was also one of the best kept secrets in the industry until Fat Joe finally spilled the beans this week.
Why does this matter?
If you're aren't a Biggie fan or a Knicks fan...this isn't for you anyway. If you are, do I really need to say it? Mase and Big are probably laughing at all of us losing our minds over something they probably squashed years ago.
What can I do about it?
Laugh! Laugh and remember the joy both these men brought into your lives musically and on the basketball court. RIP Mase and BIG...
...Til next week!
Why does it matter?
An ineffective Supreme Court means Congress and the local courts have more power than ever since many of the cases now being heard might never make it back to the court. Whether this is what Republicans wanted when they refused to consider Merrick Garland to replace their conservative hero, the late Antonin Scalia, is up to interpretation. What isn't in question, is that the power structure of the United States, which is built on each branch of government having the power to check the other 2, is now severely out of balance. More power than ever rests in the hands of a Congress that seems more concerned with party loyalty and partisan power than following the Constitution. State rulings on labor, civil rights, and abortion have been notoriously partisan and will leave millions of people essentially stuck with whatever decision has already been made unless the plaintiffs have deep pockets. Something most people obviously don't have.
What can I do about it?
Find your representative in the House
http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
Find your Senator
http://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/
Tell your friends to do the same and remind them who put them in "power." Republicans have seemingly mastered the art of using their votes to take out anyone who doesn't stick to the script. Ask Eric Cantor. Remind these folks that the ultimate power lies with you and they can be fired just like anyone else for not doing their jobs.
The Women of ISIS are not looking for "Jihotties"
 |
| They're definitely looking for something warm, long, and hard... |
There seems to be a myriad idiotic narratives about why young women are joining ISIS. The most misogynistic one, and the most insulting in my opinion, is the idea that these women join the most despotic terrorist group in the world...because they're looking for dick. Comedians use it for cheap laughs but it's honestly how investigations are run almost every time an underage western girl takes off for Syria. As if she's infatuated with suicide bombers like they're the ISIS version of the Backstreet Boys. It never occurs to the usually male investigators that just like young men that go to fight, they're actually true believers who are just as dangerous as their male counterparts. In the "west", as they call it, we've been socialized to treat women as the fairer sex, which usually means seeing their intelligence as an aberration, rather than the norm. Usually because we assume they think like we do...which is usually about sex. It's something ISIS counts on when using women to carry out their attacks.
"Insurgent groups in Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa have used female suicide bombers as both a shock tactic and a strategic asset for decades. Two women detonated suicide bombs on the Moscow metro in March 2010, killing 40 people. The Al-Qaeda-linked Caucasus Emirate claimed responsibility for the attack." -- Jack Moore, Newsweek.com 11/18/15.
Why does it matter?
Because underestimating someone because of a stereotype is dangerous and stupid, especially when those stereotypes are used against you again and again and again. History is littered with women weren't frail, emotional, or weak willed. Though these women have decided to walk down a much darker path, respecting their decision, and holding them accountable for it would make spotting potential attackers much easier instead of relying on profiles that don't work.
What can I do about it?
As Joe "the Black Eagle" Madison says, "read with a third eye and listen with a third ear."
Strange behavior is strange behavior no matter what race, gender, or nationality someone is. If you see something, say something.
MASE??
A long standing mystery about the identity of the New York Knick player in Biggie's "I Got a Story to Tell" has finally been solved!
If you don't know the song I'm talking about...unsubscribe immediately.
or just watch this.....
One of the few stories on wax that was verified by multiple NBA players and rappers in Big's inner circle to be true. It was also one of the best kept secrets in the industry until Fat Joe finally spilled the beans this week.
If you're aren't a Biggie fan or a Knicks fan...this isn't for you anyway. If you are, do I really need to say it? Mase and Big are probably laughing at all of us losing our minds over something they probably squashed years ago.
What can I do about it?
Laugh! Laugh and remember the joy both these men brought into your lives musically and on the basketball court. RIP Mase and BIG...
...Til next week!
