Youth hockey coach says he was criticized by racist parents

A Pakistani-born Canadian Muslim, Talha Javaid who uses his own money to help aspiring hockey players better their game, is fuming after he says a parent criticized him and suggested he shouldn’t be teaching because he’s not white.

—New research confirms self-reported suicide attempts on the rise for Black teens—

Javaid, a respected hockey youth coach in the Windsor-Detroit community, says he was appalled when he received a bitter and rather racist text message on Oct. 9, slamming him with xenophobic messaging about his efforts to teach white kids hockey.

“I was like, ‘What. The. Hell,’” he told Yahoo Sports Canada about the text message. He explained that the message began with, “I’m not a racist but…”

However it was filled with racist messages. He posted about the hurtful text saying,

“man imagine waking up on a friday and essentially being like “yooo, im gonna go be a racist ass muppet today and tell someone they shouldnt coach hockey because they’re not white, cant wait!!”

man imagine waking up on a friday and essentially being like “yooo, im gonna go be a racist ass muppet today and tell someone they shouldnt coach hockey because they’re not white, cant wait!!” pic.twitter.com/cNYEbsMB8t

— Talha (@flowseidon65) October 11, 2019

The 23-year-old hockey player and youth coach checked his phone, he stopped in his tracks.

Even more upsetting, Javaid said he and a close friend use their own funds to pay for ice time, just to host free clinics so they can teach kids critical skills to play hockey. Javaid and his best friend Sebastian Nystrom teach kids ages five to eight in East Lansing Michigan.

And while the sessions are totally held because of Javaid’s big heart, one father named Chase tore into the Javaid for daring to teach his son since he practices the Muslim religion.

Chase said he doesn’t “feel comfortable” and believes Javaid’s faith will have some influence on his son Riley.

Insinuated that hockey,, a predominately white sport traditionally doesn’t include people of color.

“Tradition is coded language for whiteness and the way things have always been,” said Dr. Courtney Szto, assistant professor at the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University and assistant editor of the Hockey in Society blog. “And a Muslim coach throws a wrench into the whole thing. It doesn’t jive with our dominant narrative of who gets to participate in that culture.”

Despite the nasty message, Javaid said he has been inundated with community support, even from white people.

Stanley Cup champion and Hall of Fame goalie Grant Fuhr tweetd his support out of Javaid after hearing about the incident

There are no words for a moron like that. https://t.co/01CmxG7DmM

— Grant Fuhr (@grantfuhr) October 12, 2019

Javaid is one of a small fraction of people of color who play ice hockey in the region. He’s been a avid player since he was a tot, learning how to play that game thanks to a program called “Fajr Quran Hockey” (FQH) at his mosque.

The 23-year-old manages to give back to his community and balance being a full-time economics student at the University of Windsor.

—Penn State confiscates t-shirts from players showing support for Jonathan Sutherland after racist letter—

Sadly, Javaid said racism and discrimination is something he has endured for years.

“After Trump was elected, one of the guys on my rec team told me he didn’t want a Muslim guy being his captain,” Javaid recalled. “I told him ‘this is a you problem.’ I had the most points on the team and he had like two. I got the playing time I deserved, and I didn’t even bring it up with the coach.”

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Report: Russian Internet Trolls Targeted African American Voters More Than Any Other Group

The bipartisan U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee has concluded that Russian trolls used the Internet—specifically Facebook—to influence African American voters during the 2016 presidential election.

Its new report, released earlier this week, states that the Internet Research Agency, a front for a Russian troll farm, used social media to post subtly racist content to incite conflict within the black community.  Thousands of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube accounts were created with the aim of harming Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and supporting the election of Donald Trump.

“By far, race and related issues were the preferred target of the information warfare campaign designed to divide the country in 2016” the report stated. ″(N)o single group of Americans was targeted by IRA information operatives more than African Americans.”

The Russian posts and ads mirrored social justice movements that were already prominent in the black community like “Black Lives Matter” with the goal of creating a negative response from other ethnic groups.

Social media companies like Twitter and Facebook have come under fire from politicians and activists about their roles in the election interference in 2016. The social media giants have been scrutinized about their lack of control and policing of their platforms in ridding bad actors.

Facebook and Twitter said they removed thousands of troll accounts leading up to the 2018 elections. “Through ongoing analyses and investigations, we continue to build on our contextual understanding of these networks of accounts to improve our ability to find and suspend this activity as quickly as possible in the future,” Twitter’s director of public policy Carlos Monje Jr. told NBC News.

In 2016, Facebook users engaged over 11.2 million times with a page called “Blacktivist,” which was actually a troll account from Russia targeting African American voters. Almost all of the account’s YouTube content involved violent acts against black men, the report stated.

The social media giants are now more aware of the potential risk and vow to be much better during the 2020 presidential election cycle. “We have stepped up our efforts to build strong defenses on multiple fronts…We have also invested in technology and people to block and remove fake accounts; find and remove coordinated manipulation campaigns; and bring unprecedented transparency to political advertising.” Facebook said in a statement.

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New research confirms self-reported suicide attempts on the rise for Black teens

New research shows a disturbing trend in Black teens: their suicide attempt rates are going up, while suicide rates in other groups continue to diminish.

According to a new study released on Monday by researchers at the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University, there is a growing crisis of suicide attempts among Black high school students.

Michael A. Lindsey PhD, MSW, MPH, who is the executive director of the McSilver Institute and the Constance and Martin Silver Professor of Poverty Studies at NYU Silver School of Social Work is the lead researcher on the study along with YunYu Xiao. The two uncovered that self-reported suicide attempt rates for Black adolescents rose 73% over the study period of 1991-2017. By comparison, self-reported suicide attempt rates fell 7.5% in white adolescents.

“Further research must be done into why traditional precursors to suicide attempts, such as thinking about it or making plans, are decreasing while actual attempts are going up. It’s important that we identify the signs before young people attempt to end their lives,” said Lindsey.

READ MORE: Too many of our babies are killing themselves – Here’s what we can do about it

“Youth suicide is very real and must be addressed,” said New York State Senator David Carlucci, Chair of the NYS Senate’s Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Committee. “The numbers are staggering among Black youth, and just one life lost is one too many. We need a task force to specifically investigate the causes of Black youth suicide.”

To that point, the findings, which were published in the November 2019 issue of Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, also uncovered:

• Self-reported suicide attempts increased at an accelerating rate in Black female teenagers as well, even as overall female suicide attempts declined.
• There was a significant increase in injuries from self-reported suicide attempts in Black male teenagers.
• A surprising dynamic in the relationship between self-reported suicide thoughts (ideation), plans and attempts was revealed: ideation and plans decreased while actual attempts increased.

READ MORE: N.C. schools investigated after Black student uncovers racist group chat

“The number of Black youth who are tragically taking their own lives is rising at an alarming rate, and that is why I sponsored legislation to establish a Black Youth Suicide taskforce here in New York State,” says New York State Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre of the 11th Assembly District.

Judge Ronald E. Richter, CEO and Executive Director of JCCA and former Commissioner, NYC Administration for Children’s Services, agrees, urging the need for to urgently address these findings.

“The McSilver Institute’s findings of increased suicide attempts and self-injury among Black young adults are important and tremendously concerning, particularly for those of us who work in New York’s child welfare community where Black families are chronically, disproportionately overrepresented,” said Richter.

READ MORE: Humiliated after period shaming, Kenyan girl commits suicide

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide was the third-leading cause of death in 2017 among Black youth ages 15-19.

---

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit The Suicide Prevention Resource Center for additional resources.

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Billy Porter serves comedy on ‘Saturday Night Live’ trolling Democratic Presidential contenders

In all his fabulousness, Billy Porter appeared on Saturday Night Live in a skit that served up some realness that was a parody to CNN’s recent LGBTQ Town Hall.

—Man who claimed sexual relationship with Sen. Kamala Harris has backtracked—

The Emmy award-winning Pose actor called out ballroom categories like his fierce character Pray-Tell, except this time it was al about laughing at the ridiculousness of faux Democratic Presidential contenders who were portrayed as aloof and a little uniformed about gay issues.

“He might live in the projects, but ladies, he ain’t no project,” Porter said as he called out Cory Booker, who was played by Chris Redd.

Moderated by Anderson Cooper who was played by Alex Moffa, he asked Colin Jost aka Pete Buttigieg about criticisms about not being “the right kind of gay.”

“There’s no wrong way to be gay, unless you’re Ellen this week,” Jost’s Buttigieg said about the criticism Ellen received in real life when a picture surfaced of her talking and laughing with former president George Bush, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

But Porter’s exaggerated call out to Elizabeth Warren, played Kate McKinnon is really a belly buster.

“Warren-ing, warren-ing,” Porter said as McKinnon dashed out with the same “extraness” Warren is known for.

“Y’all know I’m not a lesbian, but all the ingredients are there,” McKinnon’s Warren said.

Lin-Manuel Miranda stopped by as a little “Easter Egg” appearance as Julian Castro.

“From the house of urban deliciousness, it’s Julian Castro,” Porter said.

“First of all, I apologize for not being gay. But I promise to do better in the future,” he said as Castro.

—Elizabeth Warren reportedly courting Andrew Gillum as VP pick—

Woody Harrelson also came back to the stage as Vice President Joe Biden and was just as ornery as the real one.

“The vast majority of people in America are not homophobic; they’re just scared of gay people,” Harrelson’s Biden said.

And the category is, troll the Presidential contenders’ realness! Check out the video clip and remember to vote!

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Atatiana Jefferson’s grieving father says, ‘Unlike this Botham Jean, I don’t want no hug,’ after daughter was gunned down by Fort Worth cop in her own home

The father of the 28-year-old woman Atatiana Jefferson who was gunned down by a Fort Worth cop while minding her business in her home, says he is not about to forgive and forget the “senseless” killing on Saturday morning that has rocked his world.

—Family of woman shot and killed in her bedroom by Texas police demand answers—

“My daughter was 28-year-old, had her whole life in front of her. You have to know this is somebody’s daughter. Somebody loved her. There was a better way. It didn’t have to be like that,” Marquis Jefferson told KTXA Dallas.

Jefferson’s death has erupted in outrage across the nation, after it was reported that a white police officer once again, killed a Black woman in their home. Jefferson was reportedly shot down in her home, just moments after she finished playing a video game with her 8-year-old nephew.

What’s even more jarring about the case is that the Fort Worth officer reportedly fired a single shot through the woman’s woman after scouting the outside of her home following a call her neighbor made to do a welfare check to see if the family was alright. The door of the home reportedly open at 2:30 a.m. and caused the neighbor concern.

On Sunday, protestors lined the streets and demanded that the officer be fired immediately.

The case is already making national headlines with Sen. Bernie Sanders tweeting that the Justice Department needs to get involved.

“The killings of unarmed Black Americans have got to end,” Sanders tweeted. “Atatiana Jefferson should be alive.”

Elizabeth Warren tweeted that “federal standards for use of force that incorporate proven strategies like de-escalation, verbal warning requirements, and the use of non-lethal alternatives,” needs to be included in police reform.

What We Know

Jefferson was reportedly playing video games with her 8-year-old nephew early Saturday morning when she heard a noise in her backyard and went to investigate. That’s when she was shot by an officer through her bedroom window, according to police bodycam footage, heavy.com reports.

Just before 2:30 a.m. Oct. 12, the officer, whose name has not been released, responded to neighbor James Smith’s call that the front door to Jefferson’s home was open and the lights were on– something Smith found quite concerning.

According to multiple reports, bodycam video does not show the officer announcing himself or knocking on the door. Instead, the cop walks to the side of the house, where he opens a gate to the backyard and uses a flashlight to search the exterior of the property. When he sees a person watching him from a window inside the house, he yells “Put your hands up. Show me your hands!” He then shoots through the window– striking and killing Jefferson.

Lee Merritt, who represented Botham Jean’s family is also representing Jefferson’s family.

“You didn’t hear the officer shout, “Gun, gun, gun”. He didn’t have time to perceive a threat. That’s murder,” Merritt said after viewing the body cam video.

The case is already being likened to that of Amber Guyger who shot Botham dead in his own apartment last year.

Guyger was recently sentenced to 10 years and during her trial Botham’s rother Brandt hugged his brother murderer and offered forgiveness, which upset many across the country who criticized the way the white police officer was handled with care during the controversial case. A courtesy that is often not given to Black suspects in similar cases.

Jefferson’s dad said outright there will be no forgiveness offered.

“Unlike this Botham Jean, I don’t want no hug,” he said. “That’s my one and only daughter. I will never forget that.”

Atatiana’s stepmother, Noella Jefferson, spoke lovingly about her step-daughter’s character.

Atatiana was a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana in 2014, where she earned her pre-med degree.

“When she was growing up, I read to her a lot. I bought her a lot of books,” Jefferson, the victim’s dad said. “Oh she loved to read all the time. Her mother would tell me ‘She’s in there reading, reading, reading.’”

“We have lost her for no reason,” Noella said. “We have seen many cases like this where you think that they would have learned from it.”

“It’s like from the moment we got the call, it’s been more and more inconceivable and more confusing. And there has nothing been done in order to take away that confusion,” said Atatiana’s aunt, Venitta Body.

Jefferson’s grieving sister Amber Carr, said her killing is “’another one of those situations where the people that are supposed to protect us are actually not here to protect us.”

“You know, you want to see justice, but justice don’t bring my sister back,” Carr added.

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Senegal beat Ghana on penalties to win Wafu 2019

Goalkeeper Pape Saidou Ndiaye is the shootout hero as the Teranga Lions finally win a first international final in front of their own fans.

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Devin Nunes and the Power of Keyword Signaling

Opinion: From “crisis actor” to “collusion hoax,” conservatives use SEO terms gamed by right-wing media outlets, propelling a polarized internet.

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Penn State confiscates t-shirts from players showing support for Jonathan Sutherland after racist letter

On Saturday, Penn State football players tried to unify in solidarity with a teammate who was criticized for his looks by an alumnus but were stopped short and had their t-shirts with unified messaging confiscated.

During the pregame, the Penn State Nittany Lions football players wore t-shirts with the saying, “Chains, Tattoos, Dreads, & WE ARE” to show support after safety Jonathan Sutherland was slammed by an alumnus who said his dreadlocks looked “disgusting.”

—Penn State football players share “racist” alumni letter criticizing dreadlocks—

The shirts however were seized because they didn’t inform officials beforehand about their intentions.

“While we are supportive of our students expressing themselves in a thoughtful manner, they are expected to wear team-issued apparel on game day,” Penn State said in a statement released during the game, according to ESPN. “We asked our students to remove the shirts out of an abundance of caution for NCAA compliance.”

The move reportedly upset coach James Franklin who was left out of the loop on the players’ plans.

Last week, a letter David Petersen sent to Sutherland made waves online after Penn State defensive end Antonio Shelton shared a screenshot of a racist letter on Twitter. Petersen addressed it to “Johnathan” who was assumed to be junior safety Jonathan Sutherland, who wears locs, Yahoo reports.

“One of my teammates got this. Explain to me how this isn’t racist,” Shelton wrote.

It went on to disparage Sutherland’s look, and slam him for wearing dreads that peek out from under his helmet. It was also critical of NFL players sporting tattoos. Petersen also called for the school to change its dress code policy.

The letter stated in part:

“Watching the Idaho game on TV we couldn’t help but notice your — well — awful hair. Surely there must be mirrors in the locker room! Don’t you have parents or girlfriend who’ve told you those shoulder length dreadlocks look disgusting and are certainly not attractive. (sic)

Franklin quickly launched a rebuttal in strong support of his player.

—Family of woman shot and killed in her bedroom by Texas police demand answers—

“Jonathan Sutherland is one of the most respected players in our program,” Franklin said of the redshirt junior. “He’s the ultimate example of what our program is all about. He’s a captain, he’s a dean’s list honor student, he’s confident, he’s articulate, he’s intelligent, he’s thoughtful, he’s caring and he’s committed.”

Franklin reportedly didn’t feel like the t-shirt message wasn’t needed because he felt the team squashed the issue last week.

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MIT economists Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee win Nobel Prize

Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee, innovative MIT economists whose antipoverty research has given new prominence to the use of field experiments in social science, have been named co-winners of the 2019 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, along with Harvard University economist Michael Kremer. 

The work of Duflo and Banerjee has emphasized the use of field experiments in research, to bring the principles of laboratory-style randomized, controlled trials to empirical economics. They have studied a wide range of topics implicated in global poverty, including health care provision, education, agriculture, and gender attitudes, while developing new antipoverty programs based on their research.

In 2003, Duflo and Banerjee (along with Sendhil Mullainathan, now of the University of Chicago) co-founded the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), a global network of antipoverty researchers that conducts field experiments. J-PAL works to both discern which kinds of local interventions have the greatest impact on social problems, and to implement those programs more broadly, in cooperation with governments and NGOs. Among J-PAL’s notable interventions are deworming programs that have been adopted widely.

Duflo is the second woman and the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel in economic sciences.

Duflo received her undergraduate degree from the École Normale Supérieure in Paris in 1994, after studying both history and economics. She earned a master’s degree in economics the next year, jointly through the École Normale Supérieure and the École Polytechnique. Duflo then earned her PhD in economics from MIT in 1999. She joined the MIT faculty the same year, and has remained at MIT her entire career.  She is currently the Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics.

Previously, Duflo has earned a series of awards and honors, including a MacArthur Foundation fellowship (2009), the John Bates Clark Medal from the American Economic Association (2010), and, also in 2009, the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award for Development Cooperation.

Banerjee received his undergraduate degree from the University of Calcutta, and a master’s degree from the University of Jawaharlal in New Delhi. He earned his PhD in Economics from Harvard University in 1988. He spent four years on the faculty at Princeton University, and one year at Harvard, before joining the MIT faculty in 1993.

Among other honors and awards, Banerjee was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2004, and was granted the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award for Development Cooperation in 2009.

Duflo and Banerjee have published dozens of research papers, together and with other co-authors. They have also co-written two books toghether, “Poor Economics” (2011) and the forthcoming “Good Economics for Hard Times” (2019).

Duflo and Banerjee are the sixth and seventh people to win the award while serving as MIT faculty members, following Paul Samuelson (1970), Franco Modigliani (1985), Robert Solow (1987), Peter Diamond (2010), and Bengt Holmstrom (2016).

This story will be updated throughout the day.

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9 Best iPhone 11 Cases (And One Very Good Bike Mount)

I tested out 30 different iPhone 11 cases for the past month. These are my favorites.

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To Go Green, the Energy Industry Goes Open Source

Challenges around renewables are prompting players in the “traditional” sector to collaborate on software they can modify to address their changing needs.

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Massive, AI-Powered Robots Are 3D-Printing Entire Rockets

Relativity Space may have the biggest metal 3D printers in the world, and they're cranking out parts to reinvent the rocket industry here—and on Mars.

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Today’s Cartoon: Cutting Out the Middleman

DIY data brokering.

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After record world medal haul, Biles a face of 2020 Olympics

Next stop Tokyo for Simone Biles.
With Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps both retired since the last Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the U.S. gymnast will be the face of the games for much of the world.
In gymnastics, no one else comes close. Biles won five of the six gold medals at last week’s world championships and broke the all-time record of 25 medals by any gymnast, male or female.
“She’s just above anything else that we have seen in the sport,” five-time Olympic gold medalist Nadia Comaneci said of Biles on Sunday, praising “the domination that she has toward all the other gymnasts that competed here.”
Biles has not just got the talent. She’s got the character of an Olympic star.
There’s the laser-like focus on training, the same easygoing humor which endeared the world to Bolt, and — crucially in the modern era — a savvy social-media style.
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said Sunday that Biles’ star status would make gymnastics a must-see event at the Tokyo Olympics.
“You can have legends confirming their status as we have just seen with Simone Biles, this amazing performance there on the beam, but you also have new stars,” he said. “Gymnastics has all the ingredients to be top another time, I must say. A top Olympic event in Tokyo.”
Despite its dispute with Biles over the scoring for her new double-double beam dismount — its grade was lessened in part so as not to encourage less-skilled gymnasts to attempt the risky move — the International Gymnastics Federation knows Biles is crucial to the sport.
Labeling her “wonder woman” and “a hero,” FIG president Morinari Watanabe is keen for Biles not to retire after the Tokyo Olympics. “I hope she will continue after 2020, because she is an excellent athlete,” he said Sunday.
Biles is certainly the only athlete who could pull off her look in training at the U.S. nationals in August. She caused a stir with a leotard bearing her surname and a goat’s head picked out in sequins, a nod to “Greatest Of All Time.”
Few disagree, but Biles hasn’t yet won everyone over.
“There’s no need to turn her into some unbeatable queen. If I was 15 years younger, I’d definitely take the fight to the American,” the Russian gymnast Svetlana Khorkina said in comments on the Russian Olympic Committee website Thursday.
Khorkina won 20 world championship medals between 1994 and 2001 and held the women’s record until Biles overtook her Tuesday.
One record is likely to remain out of Biles’ reach, however. Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina won a record 15 Olympic medals between 1956 and 1964. Biles won five Olympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, and could add six more next year in Tokyo, but appears highly unlikely to stick around until the 2024 Olympics.
However, there’s another record to aim for. Matching her world championship performance from last week would make Biles the first female gymnast to win five gold medals at a single Olympics, and the first female athlete to do so in any sport since East German swimmer Kristin Otto in 1988.
After Biles pioneered a new beam dismount and triple-double on the floor this season, her coach Laurent Landi says he favors refining her existing routines for the Olympics over adding yet more upgrades.
“I can find plenty of (upgrades), but you need to be realistic and only the medals count at the end,” he said. “We don’t need to show off everything we can do.”
___
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Queen Latifah to receive Harvard Black culture award

Music artist and actress Queen Latifah is among the honorees being recognized by Harvard University this year for their contributions to black history and culture.
Harvard is set to award the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal to Queen Latifah and six other recipients on Oct. 22, according to the Cambridge, Massachusetts, school’s Hutchins Center for African and African American Research.
Other honorees include poet and educator Elizabeth Alexander, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Lonnie Bunch III, poet Rita Dove, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television Sheila Johnson, artist Kerry James Marshall and Robert Smith, founder, chairman and chief executive of Vista Equity Partners.
The award is named after Du Bois, a scholar, writer, editor, and civil rights pioneer who became the first black student to earn a doctorate from Harvard in 1895.

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Yasuke: The mysterious African samurai

Yasuke was entrusted with decapitating his Japanese lord - a huge honour 500 years ago.

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Sexual violence in South Africa: 'Our cops are supposed to protect us'

Norma Ka Mbele tells her story, amid protests over high rates of sexual violence in South Africa.

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#toGodbetheglory

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Ariana Grande spills the beans on the upcoming ‘Charlie’s Angels’ reboot soundtrack

If the new trailer is to be believed, Aladdin‘s Naomi Scott, Kristen Stewart and Ella Balinska are serving up some serious girl power in the upcoming Charlie’s Angels movie.

Elizabeth Banks wrote the script and is helming the franchise reboot. The director will also star in the feature as Bosley, the boss to the trio of self-described “lady spies.” Patrick Stewart and Djimon Hounsou will play the other two “Bosley” in the project. According to the plot, the Angels are called into action to thwart a sinister plan involving dangerous technology.

“It was important to me to make a movie about women working together and supporting each other, and not make a movie about their romantic entanglements or their mother they don’t call enough,” Banks previously told EW of the movie, which follows the original 1976 crime drama series of the same name.

Charlie’s Angels aired on ABC from 1976 to 1981 starring late Hollywood icon Farrah Fawcett. Director McG served up two blockbuster features in the early 2000s starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu, with Bill Murray and Bernie Mac playing the Bosley character.

READ MORE: Simone Biles is now most decorated gymnast in history after winning her 24th world medal

Check out the second official trailer:

In addition to this new trailer, Ariana Grande unveiled the tracklist of the film’s soundtrack, including new songs from Nicki Minaj, Normani, Chaka Khan, and five original tunes by Grande.

READ MORE: Kanye West brings Sunday Service to Howard University, warns crowd to avoid ‘slave nets’

The pop star announced the list on Instagram along with the preorder link, writing, “Excited and honored to have so many phenomenal, bad ass mf women involved in this incredibly special project. We’re all so excited for you to hear this poppy, mildly trappy at times, action-filled, dream of a soundtrack. These songs are so right for this film! This has been such a unique and exciting experience for me and I’m so excited to see it and scream whenever I hear all my friends’ voices. The time is almost here.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

the charlie’s angels soundtrack is available for preorder now ! 👼🏼🖤 excited and honored to have so many phenomenal, bad ass mf women involved in this incredibly special project. we’re all so excited for you to hear this poppy, mildly trappy at times, action filled, dream of a soundtrack. these songs are so right for this film! this has been such a unique and exciting experience for me and i’m so excited to see it and scream whenever i hear all my friends’ voices. the time is almost here @awsuki @ilya_music ! thank u for having me along on this ride !

A post shared by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande) on Oct 10, 2019 at 9:01pm PDT

Charlie’s Angels hits theaters on Nov. 15.

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Kanye West brings Sunday Service to Howard University, warns crowd to avoid ‘slave nets’

Kanye West surprised students at Howard University with a Sunday Service on a Saturday for their homecoming- but not everyone was thrilled due to the rapper’s support of President Donald Trump.

West brought his famed “Sunday Service” to the historically Black university at about 8 a.m. Saturday morning, CNN reports, where he and his famed choir and a brass band performed a number of his hits, including “Jesus Walks,” “Fade,” “Beautiful Morning,” and more.

West was accompanied by wife Kim Kardashian and two of their children, North and Saint, according to TMZ. The service was lead by R&B singer Tony Williams …

The university posted video from the event on its official Twitter and it quickly drew criticism from the progressive anti-Trump crowd who called out those embracing West, considering his political views and alleged “anti-blackness.”

Howard professor, Dr. Keneshia Grant, tweeted that the “Kanye church thing makes me uncomfortable…”

This Kayne church thing makes me uncomfortable. There, I said it.

— Keneshia Grant, Ph.D. (@keneshiagrant) October 12, 2019

Twitter user @AmmonLyle wrote, “If you’re not intelligent enough to recognize that Kanye West is exploiting Black Christian culture AND Howard University to rebrand from supporting a racist, xenophobic con artist… please stay away from me.”

If you’re not intelligent enough to recognize that Kanye West is exploiting Black Christian culture AND Howard University to rebrand from supporting a racist, xenophobic con artist… please stay away from me.

— Ammon (@AmmonLyle) October 12, 2019

Several fans slammed the rapper online for selling his own merch at the event.

Columnist Tobi Oredein of Premier Christianity said in a recent article: ”As I watched these Sunday Services, I also wondered who was being glorified,” she said. “He’s employing a choir of people who are not only singing his songs, but are all dressed in his apparel. Is Christ really at the center of this gathering? I’m not sure he is.”

READ MORE: Middle school teacher in Pennsylvania placed on leave following racist rant

Greg Carr, an associate professor at Howard’s Department of Afro-American Studies, asked his followers on Twitter to send West to the school’s library to pick up a copy of The Mis-Education of the Negro. The 1933 thesis argues that Black Americans are being culturally indoctrinated in schools.

If @kanyewest is indeed at #HowardU this morning, send him to the third floor of Founder’s Library after he’s done. I have some books for him.#TheMiseducationOfTheNegro

— Greg Carr (@AfricanaCarr) October 12, 2019

In addition, writer Frederick Joseph tweeted that he “can’t blame Kanye anymore,” because “he’s shown us who he is.” Joseph noted that “Black people need to stop making space for his anti-Blackness.”

Can’t blame Kanye anymore, he’s shown us who he is. Black people need to stop making space for his anti-Blackness.

— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) October 12, 2019

But Twitter user Michael Menifee said, “If you truly pay attention, Kanye has shown us many sides of who he is. He is not the same person as the one we saw when he first appeared on Live TV. He’s growing and evolving like we all should be.”

If you truly pay attention, Kanye has shown us many sides of who he is. He is not the same person as the one we saw when he first appeared on Live TV. He’s growing and evolving like we all should be.

— Michael Menifee (@mmenifee26) October 12, 2019

Meanwhile, Yeezy fans seem to be divided ever since West met with Trump at the White House in 2018, and compared wearing a MAGA hat to having super powers. Later that year during his appearance on TMZ Live, the Chicago native ranted about “slavery being a choice.”

READ MORE: Kim Kardashian’s efforts help win release for man convicted of murder at 16

Most recently at his Utah Sunday Service earlier this month, he reiterated his support of Trump and told attendees that the “Republican party… freed the slaves.”

During his show at Howard on Saturday, the Grammy-winning artist told the crowd, “If they throwing slave nets again how about we all don’t stand in the same place.”

And with that… many have officially cancelled Kanye West. Others believe he is simply trying to “free our minds” so we’re better equipped to avoid being caught up in similar circumstances that have helped fuel the ongoing cycle of Black oppression.

Meanwhile, West has a gospel album coming out next month, “Jesus Is King” reportedly drops October 25.

The post Kanye West brings Sunday Service to Howard University, warns crowd to avoid ‘slave nets’ appeared first on theGrio.

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Two killed and one person still missing after Hard Rock Hotel collapses in New Orleans

Two are dead and one person is missing after a large section of a Hard Rock Hotel under construction in downtown New Orleans collapsed Saturday (Oct. 12), injuring more than 20.

Mandatory evacuations in the surrounding areas were issued as city officials are concerned about further collapse, CNN affiliate WDSU reports. New Orleans Fire Department Superintendent, Tim McConnell, compared the damage to that of an earthquake.

“I heard a huge noise and thought it was a plane crashing,” said Sue Hurley, a 68-year-old guest at a hostel across the street from the soon-to-be Hard Rock Hotel, located near the city’s historic French Quarter. Over 100 workers were on site during construction of the building when the structure gave way. More than a dozen were injured, two were killed, and one is still missing. All three are still in the building, officials said.

Rescue workers searched that unstable building until nightfall when the hunt was suspended over safety concerns. The search reportedly resumed Sunday morning.

The injured were taken to area hospitals Saturday. All but one person has been discharged, nola.com reports. He remains in stable condition after undergoing surgery.

McConnell has urged drivers to find alternative routes to work come Monday morning, as the area is blocked off from all traffic — both pedestrian and vehicular.

“The workday is tomorrow, so please plan ahead,” McConnell said. “We ask employers to be understanding — (employers) may be delayed.”

About 100 residents have reportedly been displaced due to mandatory evacuations near the site, several homeowners are seeking assistance through the New Orleans Health Department, officials said.

READ MORE: Family of woman shot and killed in her bedroom by Texas police demand answers

Authorities have not said what caused the collapse but WWL-TV shared a viewer’s footage of the building’s upper floors collapsing before one side of the building crashes to the street. Separate video footage shows workers emerging from a cloud of dust after the floors fall on top of each other.

Following the incident, Hard Rock International released a statement making clear the company had no involvement with construction of the building.

“Citadel Builders LLC was contracted by Kailas Companies, owner of the project, to build the Hard Rock Hotel based on a brand licensing agreement with Hard Rock International, the future manager of the hotel. Hard Rock has had no involvement in the construction of the project. We want to extend our deepest sympathies to victims of this tragic accident and to their loved ones and friends,” the statement read.

READ MORE: NY Socialite Bevy Smith allegedly denied cab ride because she is Black

Mayor LaToya Cantrell released a statement Saturday night, thanking the public for their support.

“Today’s collapse was a tragedy, and our hearts break for the loss of life,” said Mayor Cantrell. “Our focus is on continuing to secure the site and to doing everything we can to support the families impacted as rescue efforts continue.” She also noted that the rescue mission will shift into an investigation to learn what caused the building’s collapse.

Citadel Builders have vowed to work with with emergency officials on a plan to stabilize the building.

 

The post Two killed and one person still missing after Hard Rock Hotel collapses in New Orleans appeared first on theGrio.

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2021 Africa Cup of Nations: The Gambia, Chad, South Sudan and Sao Tome advance in qualifying

The Gambia and Chad both need penalties to reach the group phase of 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying as South Sudan and Sao Tome e Principe secure aggregate wins.

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Simone Biles is now most decorated gymnast in history after winning her 24th world medal

Simone Biles has officially achieved G.O.A.T. status by becoming the most-decorated gymnast at the world championships, winning gold on balance beam and floor exercises.

Biles earned a record-breaking 24th and 25th medals at the World Gymnastics Championship in Stuttgart, Germany, over the weekend, USA Today reports. She has surpassed the previous record by Vitaly Scherbo, who earned 23 medals over the course of six years in the 1990s. Biles has done it in just five. She tied Scherbo on Saturday by winning gold on vault. She earned her 24th medal on the balance beam Sunday morning.

READ MORE: Kenya marathon runner becomes first to break two-hour barrier

TheGrio previously reported, last Saturday, Biles served up two new skills that had never been performed in competition; the triple-double during her floor routine and the double-double dismount on the balance beam,  which became a signature move bearing her name Biles II, CNN reports. The 22-year-old now has a total of four signature moves.

“If I were to label myself as a superstar, it would bring more expectations on me and I would feel pressured, more in the limelight, rather than now,” Biles said at a press conference before her performance last weekend at the 2019 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Gymnastics Championship.

“I just go out there and compete,” she added. “I try to represent Simone… not ‘Simone Biles’ whenever I go out there, because at the end of the day, I’m still a human being before I’m ‘Simone Biles, the superstar.’”

READ MORE: Seattle Seahawks star, Tyler Lockett admits that he’s still a virgin at 27

On Tuesday, the gymnast won her 21st medal, leading team USA to their fifth consecutive world team championship. On Thursday, Biles bagged her fifth all-around world title when she beat China’s Tang Xijing by a 2.1 points.

“Every year it feels better and better just because we’re adding to the legacy,” Biles told reporters at the event. “I feel like I never think of records. I just go out there and do what I came to do, which is compete for the country.”

American Sunisa Lee, 16, took home the silver in her world-championships debut, and Russia’s Angelina Melnikova claimed bronze.

 

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Family of woman shot and killed in her bedroom by Texas police demand answers

The Fort Worth Police Department in Texas is under serious fire after an unarmed 28-year-old woman was fatally shot inside her home by an officer responding to a welfare check.

Atatiana Jefferson was reportedly playing video games with her 8-year-old nephew early Saturday morning when she heard a noise in her backyard and went to investigate. That’s when she was shot by an officer through her bedroom window, according to police bodycam footage, heavy.com reports.

Just before 2:30 a.m. Oct. 12, the officer, whose name has not been released, responded to neighbor James Smith’s call that the front door to Jefferson’s home was open and the lights were on– something Smith found quite concerning.

According to multiple reports, bodycam video does not show the officer announcing himself or knocking on the door. Instead, the cop walks to the side of the house, where he opens a gate to the backyard and uses a flashlight to search the exterior of the property. When he sees a person watching him from a window inside the house, he yells “Put your hands up. Show me your hands!” He then shoots through the window– striking and killing Jefferson.

READ MORE: Man who claimed sexual relationship with Sen. Kamala Harris has backtracked

Meanwhile, Smith is giving a side-eye to the officer’s response, telling WFAA he saw no lights, heard no sirens and noted that none of the responding officers identified themselves before the shooting. He insists there was no arguing, fighting, domestic violence and “nothing that they should have been concerned about as far as them coming with guns drawn to my neighbor’s house,” he said.

“Three or four tactical officers come from around the corner, somehow walk across the street in front of her house, past the front door which was open… Go down the side of her house to the rear of her house, and in less than a minute I heard gunshots,”  he added.

According to the Fort Worth Police Department, the trigger happy cop perceived a threat and fired one shot. Jefferson died at the scene. Authorities released images of a firearm inside the home, but have not stated if Jefferson was armed with the weapon at the time of her death.

One Twitter user commented, “You ever notice how they are so quick to tell us ‘there was a gun in the house?'”

You ever notice how they are so quick to tell us ” there was a gun in the house”?

— CoolBeadsbyBootC (@CoolBeadsBootC) October 13, 2019

“It was nothing nefarious or illegal about owning a fire arm, and they presented in no way that the fire arm lead to their use of deadly force,” Merritt said. “The hardest part about it is, I spoke with an 8-year-old who explained what it was like inside of the house.”

The officer responsible for Jefferson’s death is currently on administrative leave pending an investigation.

Community leaders and neighbors believe the bodycam footage fails to support the typical “officer was in fear of his life” narrative, and family attorney Lee Merritt calls it another police-involved murder of an unarmed Black civilian.

READ MORE: Middle school teacher in Pennsylvania placed on leave following racist rant

Jefferson reportedly worked at Xavier University of Louisiana, where she also studied biology and majored in chemistry with a minor in pre-med. A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family cover “funeral cost and other expenses associated with this tragedy,” Merritt wrote on Twitter.

For all those who have reached out looking to support the family. This campaign is managed directly by Atatiana’s immediate family and will support them with funeral cost and other expenses associated with this tragedy. https://t.co/AAvTzwlDyA

— S. Lee Merritt, Esq. (@MeritLaw) October 13, 2019

The GoFundMe page notes that Jefferson was working in pharmaceutical equipment sales. The fundraiser has been trending on Twitter with the hashtag #SayHerName.

The shooting happened just weeks after Dallas police officer, Amber Guyger, was found guilty of murder after shooting her unarmed neighbor Botham Jean inside his own apartment last year. Guyger was slapped with a 10 years in prison. Three days after her trail ended, a key witness in the case, Joshua Brown, was shot to death in what many believe was an orchestrated police-involved hit, although the Dallas Police Department claims Brown’s death was the result of a drug deal gone bad.

The post Family of woman shot and killed in her bedroom by Texas police demand answers appeared first on theGrio.

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Brigid Kosgei breaks Paula Radcliffe's women's marathon record

Brigid Kosgei claims a new women's marathon world record in Chicago, beating the time set by Britain's Paula Radcliffe in 2003.

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Brazil 1-1 Nigeria: Neymar limps off in first half

Paris Saint Germain forward Neymar limps off as Brazil are held to a 1-1 draw by Nigeria in Singapore.

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Are Unsecured Loans Worth It? The Pros and Cons

CNBC reports that the average American has $38,000 in personal debt, not including home mortgages. Taking out loans can be extremely beneficial, and sometimes necessary, depending on your financial needs. Common purchases using loans include new homes, cars, weddings, home projects, or medical bills.

“A personal loan can be a good way to consolidate existing debt, such as credit cards,” says Kathryn Bossler, a financial counselor at the nonprofit GreenPath Debt Solutions.

When applying for an unsecured loan, it helps to have a good credit score to get approval, but it is not completely necessary. We explain the difference between unsecured and secured loans, the pros and cons to unsecured loans, and why you might consider applying for one.

How to Choose a Personal Loan

Shopping for a personal loan isn’t like shopping for a couch. You have to take multiple factors into account. Here are questions to ask yourself, when it comes to personal loans:

• How much money do you need? Before you apply for a personal loan, evaluate your financial standing and know how much money you really need. If you want a loan for debt consolidation, for instance, take both the debt and the expected interest into account. Make sure the loan amount is reflective of your financial situation. You want to be certain that you can pay it off in time.
• How quickly do you plan on paying the loan back? Know how long it will take to pay back. If you’re planning to pay it back in six months, you’ll want to calculate how much you’ll have to pay in total.
• Are you putting down collateral? When you buy a home, the home is the collateral. If you don’t pay your bills, the lender can take back the home. If you need money for a wedding, in contrast, you’ll need a personal loan that doesn’t require collateral.
• What is your credit score? Lenders will consider your credit history, when you apply for a loan. The better the score, the better chances you’ll have of getting a low-interest loan.

Pros and Cons

There are many benefits to applying for and accepting an unsecured loan, especially when you’re in need of immediate funds. For starters, you get the benefit of consolidating all of your debts and paying one lender. There are other benefits, too. Here are a few:

• You don’t have to put down collateral. If you can’t pay off your mortgage or your auto loan, eventually you could lose your home or car to the lender. However, with unsecured loans, you get the benefit of not having to put any of your assets on the line.
• You can get approval within 24 hours. Some loans take weeks to procure, but with unsecured personal loans there are many lenders who offer immediate responses.
• These loans are more flexible. A lot of factors impact your approval, but unsecured loans have some flexibility. You might need a set amount for a wedding or a business and lenders will take this into account.

If you need funds fast, unsecured personal loans are a good option. However, it’s important to know the cons of committing to an unsecured loan:

• Unsecured loans typically have high interest rates. This isn’t usually the case for secured loans. For example, the average auto loan rate for someone with a 650 credit score is 7.65% on a new car. Want to know what interest rate to expect? Consider using a personal loan calculator.
• Personal loans without collateral are smaller. If you’re trying to get a large amount of funds, an unsecured loan isn’t the best option. Because lenders take a bigger risk when they approve them, they typically commit to smaller loan amounts.

Types of Unsecured Loans to Consider

There are two different types of unsecured loans: (1) revolving loans and (2) term loans. Revolving loans are loans that come with a credit limit that can be spent and repaid over and over again. Personal lines of credit and credit cards are the best examples of revolving loans.

A term loan is a loan that establishes a set timeframe and a set amount that needs to be paid off. The most common term loans are student loans, peer-to-peer loans, business loans, and personal loans.

Banks, credit unions, and online lenders offer unsecured loans. The biggest difference between banks and credit unions is that credit unions are not-for-profit and sometimes offer better interest rates than banks.

If you are already a bank customer, however, you might receive benefits from your bank, which may include: access to free credit scores, no extra fees, or easy access to debt consolidation loans. You can also consider online lenders who will be more likely to offer unsecured loans to individuals with bad credit. With online lenders, you can apply online.

Is an Unsecured Loan Right for You?

Secured loans are pretty straightforward. The most common secured loans are car loans and home mortgages. Less common secured loans include savings-secured loans, and title loans. If you’re buying a car, a home, or if you are in need of borrowed money for a vehicle maintenance or repair, you might want to consider a secured loan.

If you’re in need of funds for personal reasons, like a wedding, unexpected business expenses, or medical expenses, you should consider an unsecured loan. Here’s what you should ask yourself when considering if an unsecured loan is right for you:

• Do you expect to make a large purchase in the foreseeable future? If you have extra savings, then you might not need a loan. Consider how much money you really need. Lenders apply for various reasons: a funeral expense, a cross-country move, a hefty medical bill, or a home remodel.
• Do you have a lot of debt to pay off? Achieving a debt-free life is a great goal and consolidating can help you reach it. If you have outstanding balances on multiple credit cards, or various loan balances, you might want to consider one lender so you can combine all of your debt. Unsecured personal loan lenders often offer lower interest rates than credit card companies. However, if you are dealing with an exuberant amount of debt (debt that you can’t imagine paying off at any point in the next five years), you might have to consider other options like bankruptcy.
• Do you have to pay unexpected bills? Life happens. Maybe you broke your back. Maybe you and your partner are choosing to pay for fertility treatments. Maybe you have to have a root canal. For many reasons, you could end up with unexpected bills that you can’t afford to pay off right away. This is a good reason to consider unsecured loans.
• Do you have to pay business expenses right away? When you start a business, you often take out loans to get the business up and running. Sometimes, there are unexpected costs that require quick funds. An unsecured business loan can be obtained much quicker than a secured business loan.

Whatever you decide, make sure that you ask yourself the right questions before you start shopping and applying for a loan. According to Aaron W. Smith, RFC, AIF, “When looking to obtain a [business] loan, look for the following: the right lender, the lowest interest rate, an institution that has an interest in a business of your type and size with an interest in servicing the various credit and non-credit needs of your company, and financial stability.”

(Photo by santypan on stock.adobe.com)

How to Qualify for an Unsecured Loan

Most unsecured loan applications are approved based on an applicant’s creditworthiness. Since lenders take a bigger risk on unsecured loans, they typically come with higher interest rates. Some lenders require a minimum credit score so check their terms and conditions before applying.

If you have bad or poor credit, you can still get approved for a loan. Lenders like LendingClub will offer loans to those with bad credit. Bad credit is considered 300 to 620, according to FICO. The best score is 800. Not sure of your credit score? You are entitled to one free copy of your credit report every year. You can go through Experian, FICO, Equifax, or a free credit scoring service.

When you apply for an unsecured loan, you should expect to provide the following information:

• Personal information
• Background check
• Credit history
• Income level
• Debt amount

Approval will mostly be based on your creditworthiness, which is proof that you are capable of paying back a loan. If you have a higher score, you have a better chance of (a) getting approved and (b) getting a lower interest rate. However, it is possible to get a loan with bad credit. You might have to put up collateral (such as home equity or your car) or use a co-signer who is willing to take a risk on you.

Just know that if you don’t pay your monthly payments to the lender, this could greatly impact your credit score so only apply if you are confident that you can pay it off. Even one late payment can cause your credit score to decrease significantly so make sure you are choosing the right lender. Go to Better Business Bureau to read reviews of potential lenders before you apply.

How to Manage Unsecured Loans

If you aren’t sure if you can pay off the unsecured loan quickly enough, consider taking the time to build up your credit score. This isn’t always possible. If you are preparing for a funeral, you have to pay sudden, upfront costs, but if you are preparing for a wedding, you have many months to build credit before applying for a loan.

Once you get approved for an unsecured loan and know your unsecured loan rates, here are the best practices for managing it:

• Schedule monthly payments. Most lenders offer online payment methods. To ensure that you don’t miss a single payment, schedule them as soon as you get approved. If you can, set up automatic payments. The monthly fee might be higher than you expected, but it is a set number.
• Avoid defaulting. Defaulting means you are admitting to your lender that you can’t pay back your loan. If this happens, the lender can put your account into collections and take legal action against you. You would also hurt your credit score so it is best to simply avoid this.
• Remember why you applied for the loan. Maintaining financial goals is important for obtaining overall financial health.

When you eventually pay off your loan, Matt Frankel, certified financial planner and personal finance expert at The Ascent says, “Continue using just as much money as you had been using to pay down debt — but instead of putting it toward credit card and loan bills, put it into savings or investments.” The goal, ultimately, is to be satisfied with your financial wellbeing.

Preparing to Pay off Your Unsecured Loan

Before you get approved for a loan, start to consider the unsecured debt that you are about to owe. Loaned money is not free money. Loaned money is borrowed, meaning it has to be returned. Add that monthly payment into your budget. If you don’t have a budget yet, get started right away.

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An Artist Takes an Unflinching Look at Her Own Hysterectomy

In her new book, photographer Elinor Carucci grapples with her own aging and mortality.

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The Fat Bear Vote Tops This Week's Internet News Roundup

Yes, it’s real, and yes, it matters. Also, here’s what’s up with the impeachment inquiry and the boycott against Blizzard.

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The Vacuum That's Not a Car and Other Transportation News This Week

Dyson scrubs plans to build an EV, Tesla owners learn the cars can't power their homes, and lightning that follows shipping lanes.

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Is the Equal Sign Overrated? Mathematicians Hash It Out

Many of them avoid the equal sign, hoping to promote a looser relationship of “equivalence” instead. It's been controversial.

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7 Best Keyboards for Gaming (And a Little Work, Too)

Whether you're looking to boost your productivity or kill-death battle royale stats, these are the best mechanical keyboards for the job.

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The MacOS Catalina Privacy and Security Features You Should Know

The latest macOS update is chock-full of ways to better safeguard your data.

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Google's Pixel 3A Is On Sale at Amazon Right Now

Google's Pixel 3A is already a bargain, and it's $50 cheaper than usual.

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Tunisia election: Nabil Karoui and Kais Saied vie for presidency

Tunisians are choosing between a flamboyant media mogul, and a law professor nicknamed "the robot".

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Sylvia Gathoni: Kenya's pro-gamer taking on the world

Sylvia Gathoni on finding her winning streak in the high-stakes arena of e-sports.

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Seeking a music star in Rwanda... and finding one

For record producers, finding new musicians is a constant quest but for this couple, the hunt took them far.

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Gernot Rohr: Nigeria coach tight-lipped about future

Gernot Rohr refuses to comment about his future as Nigeria coach following further speculation over unpaid salary.

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Burkina Faso mosque attack kills 15 worshippers

The attack prompted many people to flee the northern village of Salmossi.

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Kenya marathon runner becomes first to break two-hour barrier

Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya is the first marathon runner to beat the two-hour barrier posting a 1 hour, 59 minutes, 40.2 seconds run across 26.2 miles in Vienna, Austria.

The achievement occurred during the INEOS 1:59 challenge, an event that was designed to maximize speed. In the run, Kipchoge had the assistance of 41 pacesetters. The run provided an average of 100m every 17 seconds, consecutively performed 422 times.

Fans watched the performance in Kipchoge’s hometown of Eldoret, Kenya, celebrating in the street of the city as he broke the record.

— Humiliated after period shaming, Kenyan girl commits suicide

“This shows no one is limited,” Kipchoge said to the BBC. “Now I’ve done it, I am expecting more people to do it after me.”

In celebration of the achievement, Kipchoge spoke with Uhuru Kenyatta, the president of Kenya.

“Hearty congratulations, Eliud Kipchoge,” Kenyatta said in a statement. “You’ve done it, you’ve made history and made Kenya proud. Your win today will inspire future generations to dream big and aspire to greatness. We celebrate you and wish you God’s blessings.”

According to Yahoo Sports, while impressive, the run will not be considered an official world record by the International Association fo Athletics Federation (IAAF) due to the conditions set in the race, as well as the assistance of pacesetters. The run was created to break the two-hour mark and not to set a world record.

— Nipsey Hussle ‘The Marathon Don’t Stop’ biography in the works

The 34-year-old Kipchoge already holds the world record, running the Berlin Marathon in 2:01:39 in 2018 and 2:02:37 this past April.

The goal set for this run was to complete it in 1:59:50, which Kipchoge beat by 10 seconds. This effort was called the “last great barrier” in running, following Roger Bannister’s run of a mile in less than four minutes in 1954, which required a 4:34 mile pace or better. Kipchoge measured in at 4:33.5 minutes per mile.

“I am feeling good. After Roger Bannister it took another 65 years to make history,” Kipchoge said. “Now I’ve gone under two hours to inspire other people and show the world nobody is limited.”

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Man who claimed sexual relationship with Sen. Kamala Harris has backtracked

Earlier this week a man claimed he was paid for sex by 2020 presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris, he has now backtracked the statement saying he was hired for an acting role.

The man is identified as Sean Newaldass, a 26-year-old personal trainer, and was tapped by Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman for a news conference on Wednesday to detail the alleged affair. Wohl and Burkman are known as far-right conspiracy theorist with a reputation of false narratives.

During the press conference, Newaldass spoke to an alleged relationship with Harris. The Daily Dot details Newaldass read from a sheet and claimed to have had 11 “sexual encounters” in hotels across Iowa, Washington, D.C., and New York City.

— Kamala Harris and Cory Booker blast Comcast in $20B Byron Allen civil rights lawsuit

On Friday, Newaladass revealed that he answered an ad on CraigsList for an acting role, citing the listing stated an opportunity for “performance art in DC.”

The personal trainer spoke to The Daily Beast and revealed he thought the news conference was an audition for a Spike TV show that is actually no longer in existence. In addition, Newaldass had no clue who Harris was.

“I thought I was acting for a role in a movie, like a role in a TV series,” Newaldass said. “I thought everything was staged, I’m thinking everyone is an actor.”

— Sen. Kamala Harris home state poll numbers see significant dip

After becoming aware of the actual intent of the conference and Harris, Newaldass began to look up the candidate and now aims to cast his vote for her.

He would also reveal that he is mixed with Indian and Caribbean ancestry, similar to Harris, and feels regret for his work in the video.

“That’s what’s hurtful, because I’m hurting my own ethnicity,” Newaldass added.

Newaldass revealed he was supposed to receive $500 for his role in the video but has yet to receive it.

The Huffington Post has reached out to Wohl but did not receive a response, however, he did respond to the Daily Beast with a laughing emoji.

Earlier this year Wohl and Burkman’s trolls were targeted to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, labeling her a cougar with another news conference stating she paid for a bondage sexual experience with a former Marine.

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NY Socialite Bevy Smith allegedly denied cab ride because she is Black

Former Page Six host and NY Socialite Bevy Smith alleges that she was attacked and denied a ride by a New York City taxi driver after leaving a charity event in midtown Manhattan.

Smith, who is the host of BEVELATIONS on Sirius XM and who was also featured on Page Six TV, attempted to catch a ride in a taxi before being told to “get out” because he was “off duty.”

— Tamron Hall and Bevy Smith show love to Soledad O’ Brien for being a truth teller at Harlem United celebration

Speaking with Page Six, Smith detailed she was attempting to leave the Hotel Edison in Times Square. She saw riders exit the cab right before she got in and was met with yelling.

Smith suspected the driver was lying, believing him to be racist and began to record her encounter before he reached out and attempted to smack the phone out of her hand.

“I thought you weren’t working. You don’t want to take a black person, right?” Smith asks the driver in the posted video. “Now, you’re on video. Got you. I’m reporting you.”

— Un-fare! NY taxi driver rep endorses racial profiling

“This man will deny me a ride home & he should know better because I KNOW he’s been discriminated against many times, yet he treats me in a way he wouldn’t want to be treated, a disgrace!,” Bevy shared on her Instagram.

Appearing on Good Day New York, Bevy Smith spoke with Rosanna Scotto and Lori Stokes, the latter of the two also detailed she had a similar experience.

Smith has filed a police report and a formal complaint to the Taxi & Limousine Commission.

— Will Smith on Trump presidency: ‘This is the darkness before the dawn’

The NYC TLC also responded to a Twitter exchange where Smith thanked Stokes and Scotto: “We’re talking with her now! Thank you so much for alerting us.

“Service refusals are illegal, and drivers can lose their license and/or face steep fines,” the NYC Commission offered as a potential resolution.

View this post on Instagram

 

@nyctaxi I’ve been discriminated against by taxi 1R21 he let people off at the @hoteledison I got into his taxi & he said he wasn’t working! As a New Yorker I knew that was a lie, no one’s shift ends at 8:30pm, SOCIAL MEDIA please help me get justice! This man will deny me a ride home & he should know better because I KNOW he’s been discriminated against many times, yet he treats me in a way he wouldn’t want to be treated, a disgrace!

A post shared by bevy smith (@bevysmith) on Oct 10, 2019 at 5:46pm PDT

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Ivorian forward Gervinho extends contract at Serie A side Parma

Ivorian forward Gervinho extends his contract with Italian Serie A side Parma, with his new deal keeping him at the club until June 2022.

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Middle school teacher in Pennsylvania placed on leave following racist rant

A teacher at Drexel Hill Middle School in Pennsylvania has been placed on administrative leave after a video surfaced showing her involved in a racially explosive altercation with a parent in the parking lot of the school.

The teacher has not been identified, but in the viral Facebook video she can be heard hurling a racial slur and detailing the parent is on “welfare … because you’re black.”

— New York middle school teacher under investigation for ‘funny’ slavery assignment

The Philly Voice details video was posted by Rasheed Noel and was sparked after the teacher hit his car during the busy morning arrival of students in the parking lot of the school.

“Shut the f*** up,” the teacher says. “Go back to your welfare, your section 8 house.”

Near the end of the video, the teacher can be heard calling Noel the n-word.

— Black family says Philly police arrested them two days in a row for ‘loitering’

“She hits my car and acts like this on school property in front of students and staff. After meeting with the superintendent of Upper Darby school district and his staff, I’m here to say they absolutely care about their community. #ZeroTolerance,” Noel wrote in the caption fo the video he shared.

“He and a teacher were involved in a car accident in the parking lot of Drexel Hill Middle School and that the teacher proceeded to make several racial and other derogatory remarks to him,” said the Upper Darby School District in a statement to WPVI-TV Philadelphia.

“Upper Darby School District does not condone or tolerate inappropriate conduct or speech associated with hate, racism, discrimination or intolerance of any kind,” the Delaware County school district said in a social media statement. “The deeply troubling comments and actions of this teacher are not indicative of the hundreds of outstanding teachers working in our schools each and every day.”

— Teacher fired after students find list labeling kids as ‘angels’ and ‘devils’

Upper Darby School Superintendent Dr. Daniel McGarry also spoke to the incident, citing it as a time to host a teacher training and provide in-school lessons for students.

“This is as an opportunity to tell them this is not an appropriate way to act within your community or in public. As professionals, we always have to be above that. We have to take the higher stance,” said Dr. McGarry.

The efforts to ensure the incident does not happen again have been met with mixed reviews.

Parent Aisha Cooper is in favor of the training, calling the school district a “melting pot” and the children should feel secure. However, Kitty Scherler, who picked up her grandchildren believes the teacher should bet ired.

You can read the full statement from the Upper Darby School District here.

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