Sunday, October 13, 2019
Is the Equal Sign Overrated? Mathematicians Hash It Out
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7 Best Keyboards for Gaming (And a Little Work, Too)
The MacOS Catalina Privacy and Security Features You Should Know
Google's Pixel 3A Is On Sale at Amazon Right Now
Tunisia election: Nabil Karoui and Kais Saied vie for presidency
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Sylvia Gathoni: Kenya's pro-gamer taking on the world
Seeking a music star in Rwanda... and finding one
Gernot Rohr: Nigeria coach tight-lipped about future
Burkina Faso mosque attack kills 15 worshippers
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.
The post Man who claimed sexual relationship with Sen. Kamala Harris has backtracked appeared first on theGrio.
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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.”
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.
The post NY Socialite Bevy Smith allegedly denied cab ride because she is Black appeared first on theGrio.
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Ivorian forward Gervinho extends contract at Serie A side Parma
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.”
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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Pros and Cons: Personal Loans with No Credit Check
Do you need quick cash? Loans can be extremely beneficial, especially if you have debt in various places. Reasons to consider a personal loan include debt consolidation, big purchases, and unexpected financial costs.
You can use a loan to pay for wedding expenses, big moves, house repairs, or medical bills. Most loans are approved based on creditworthiness. If you don’t have time to improve your credit score, you can apply for a personal loan without getting your credit history checked. It may not be a wise idea, but it is possible.
Various online loan providers will approve your loan application without viewing your credit score. Some require collateral to minimize the lender’s risk. Many include high interest rates. We breakdown the reasons for choosing personal loans with no credit checks and offer alternatives to ensure that you are getting what you need while protecting your financial health.
Pros and Cons to Personal Loans with No Credit Checks
The only benefit to a personal loan with no credit check is that they are fast. If you are a borrower living paycheck to paycheck, with bad credit, and in need of fast money, this type of loan seems ideal. Personal loans without credit checks are essentially a form of short-term bridge financing. The problem is that these loans are very expensive and can be a long-term problem.
Here are some of the many cons to personal loans that don’t require credit checks:
- Lenders raise their rates to account for all applicants. A lender may approve your application without viewing your credit history, but to ensure that they aren’t putting themselves at risk, they often provide very high interest rates, making it almost impossible for borrowers to pay them off. You could end up paying more than 100% APR.
- The loans often require a minimum loan amount. If you are in need of a smaller dollar amount to secure your monthly rent fee, you might want to consider alternative options to personal loans. Loans from providers like Capital Good Fund offer anywhere from $300 to $20,000 in loans.
Comparable loans include payday loans and auto title loans. According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, over 80% of payday loan borrowers don’t have enough money to pay their payday loan payments. Payday loans are quick, small amount loans that are due quickly. Typically, these loans are $500 or less and they come with high interest rates and additional fees. Auto title loans, in contrast, use your vehicle as security or leverage in order to get fast cash. Make sure you read all terms and conditions before you secure a loan.
If you can afford to wait and apply for a personal loan that checks your credit even if it’s bad credit then you will likely get a better loan. Even individuals with low credit can get approved for alternative loans.
Alternative Types of Personal Loans
Consider what type of loan you really need. Alternative types of loans include home equity loans, student loans, and secured and unsecured loans. Secured and unsecured personal loans are better than personal loans with no credit checks. Here are the major differences:
- Secured personal loans require collateral. Secured loans include auto loans and mortgages. One of the benefits of secured personal loans is that when you put an asset up for collateral, you have a better chance of getting a lower-interest rate. Even though the lender could take away your assets if you don’t make your payments, these are great loan options for anyone in need of significant funds, who are sure they can repay the loan to avoid asset forfeiture. Car title loans and payday loans are both considered secured personal loans and we recommend avoiding them.
- Unsecured personal loans don’t require collateral. When you don’t offer collateral, lenders typically raise interest rates on loans that get approved. A few perks to unsecured personal loans is that the process is quick and you can get a loan without risking a personal asset.
Personal loans can be used for various reasons, including debt consolidation. A loan provider can approve your application, combine all of your debt into one account, and charge one monthly payment. Often, loan interest rates are lower than credit card interest rates which is why you would typically rather pay off a personal lender than a credit card company.
Installment Loans
Unlike revolving lines of credit, which come with credit cards, installment loans require predictable payments. When you take out an installment loan, you know how much you owe and when it is due. Auto loans, personal loans, mortgage loans, and student loans are all considered installment loans.
The perk of an installment loan is that it is easy to pay off in a set amount of time. The negative is that you can’t change the amount you’ve asked for once you’ve been approved so you have to make sure you ask for the right amount at the beginning. This can be difficult to calculate when you are considering a personal loan. What if your wedding expenses increase? What if the home remodel costs more than you expect?
If you take out more than you need, you could end up paying more in the long run. Make sure you are conservative when you apply, and do your best to calculate the exact fee as best as you can. If, for instance, you already plan to spend extra on a DJ or a weekend trip, then add that into your loan request.

(Photo by Dima Sidelnikov on stock.adobe.com)
What to Consider Before Applying for a Loan
Before you start shopping for a loan, think about your long-term goals. Would you like to be debt free in five years? Would you like to buy a new home for your family? Do you want to start a business? Are you prepared to pay off loan debt? Many factors should go into your decision to choose a personal loan.
As you begin shopping for personal loans and comparing lenders, consider the following:
- Your budget flexibility. If you need to add a new expense to your budget like a wedding, a new vehicle, or a medical bill, you should consider your budget. Can you afford to pay for this unexpected cost upfront? Do you have time to save up? Do you need the extra cash right now?
- How much money you really need. If you need a loan to pay for something, calculate exactly how much you need. You don’t want to ask for too much or too little.
- How quickly you need the money. If you need the money within a few days, you can get quick approval for an unsecured personal loan. Some are approved within 24 hours.
- What type of lender you prefer. For personal loans, there are three types of lenders: (1) credit unions, (2) banks, and (3) online lenders. They all have their pros and cons. Consider which one makes the most sense for you and your needs.
- What financial goals you hope to achieve. You don’t have to aim for millionaire status. A financial goal can be as simple as saving for retirement, opening a 401k, funding your passion project, or getting your child through college without student loans.
Best Loan Providers for Bad Credit
Finding the right loan provider is just as important as choosing the right personal loan. If you have good or excellent credit, you will likely get approved for a personal loan within days. If you have bad or poor credit, you can still get approval. However, your loan will likely have high interest rates, but this is better than choosing a personal loan that does not require a credit check.
Here are the best online loan companies for individuals with bad credit:
OneMain Financial
Best for repayment options
You can borrow an unsecured loan for $1,500 to $20,000 with various repayment options, anywhere from 24 to 60 months. APR range varies depending on the borrower’s credit score. You could get as low as 18% or as high as 35.99%.
LendingClub
Best for bad credit
You can get up to $40,000 in loans with Lending Club, but make sure you pay attention to the interest rates. You could get a low interest rate or you could end up paying 35.89% APR. One of the best perks to LendingClub is that they allow you to make extra payments outside of your monthly balances, allowing you to pay your loan off early.
OppLoans
Best for optional personal loans
Borrowers with bad credit can apply for personal loans from OppLoans. Bad credit scores are considered 630 or below. Though the interest rates will be really high, you can get access to the funds you need from OppLoans. Because individuals with bad credit are considered risky borrowers, interest rates can be as high as 199%.
You can also get personal loans approved from credit unions and banks. If you already have a bank account with a national bank, you can ask about their personal loan options. Your bank might choose to offer you a signature loan which essentially relies on your signature to prove that you can pay off your loan. Perks of choosing your own bank for a loan is that you might be able to avoid extra fees and get benefits. Just make sure the loan offers fit with your needs.
How to Get a Personal Loan with No Credit History
If you are in need of funds, for whatever reason, but don’t have a credit history, you can still get approved for a starter loan. You can either use a co-signer, apply for a personal loan with no credit check required, or apply for an unsecured personal loan.
If it is your first time building your credit history, you should do your best to pay off your balances or payments every month and ensure that you are paying on time. If you keep a low or no balance and you maintain automatic payments then you can quickly build up your credit which will inevitably give you easier access to loan options.
Optional Ways to Improve Your Credit Score
According to Talaat and Tai McNeely, co-founders of His and Her Money, “Financial freedom is not going to happen overnight. You didn’t get into financial bondage overnight, and you’re not going to achieve financial freedom overnight either. But you can achieve it if you stay consistent.”
Consistency can help you build your credit history and improve your credit score. The are many ways to build credit. You can apply for a personal loan and consolidate your debt and you can have your loan provider focus on credit reporting so the three credit bureaus are updating your history.
Here are some of the easiest ways to increase your credit score:
- Pay all of your bills and payments on time. This includes your electrical bill, your cell phone payment, your credit card balance, and your personal loan payment. Schedule these payments so you never miss them.
- Keep your balances low or eliminate them completely. If you have credit cards, you want to make sure that you are paying off your balance or keeping your balances low. The best way to do this is to pay more than the minimum balance and ensure that your balance is less than 30% of your credit limit.
- Monitor your credit score. Avoid hard pulls, when possible. Hard pulls are often made by employers, credit card lenders, or loan providers. When you close a credit card account, for example, it can impact your credit score so it is better to just leave it open even if you aren’t using it. Soft pulls don’t impact your score. You have the right to a free credit report once a year but some providers offer more.
- Pay off your debt. This may seem self-explanatory but 300 million Americans have debt, according to a 2018 study. Paying it down is difficult but possible and the quicker you pay it down, the more likely your score is to rise.
If you have the opportunity to increase your credit score before applying for a personal loan, you should. Though personal loans with no credit checks are available, the best ones check credit scores and if you have good credit, you have a better chance of getting a lower-interest loan.
Why You Should Avoid Personal Loans with No Credit Check
If you can get approved for a secured or unsecured personal loan, it is a better option than a personal loan with no credit check. The terms and rates of a personal loan with no credit check are often impractical and absurdly high, making the debt that much more difficult to pay off so make sure you do your research.
Instead of applying for a no credit check personal loan, apply for a bad credit personal loan which will have high interest rates but not as high as no credit check ones. If you have time, work on improving your credit history and paying off debts before applying for any loans.
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Space Photos of the Week: The Curiosity Rover is One Salty Dog
Mariah Carey celebrates women who made impact in ‘misogynistic’ corporate entertainment industry
Mariah Carey attended Variety’s Power of Women luncheon and spoke to the work of her charity, Camp Mariah, which was being honored for its 25 years of service.
“I started this camp 25 years ago and if you don’t see what an accomplishment that is for a 2-year old child,” the iconic singer joked in regards to her age.
Carey’s speech would turn serious as she detailed the sexism and control issues she encountered in the earlier years of her career.
— Mariah Carey dishes about the fake rivalry with Whitney Houston
“I was 18 years old when I got my first record deal,” Carey said. “A lot of very powerful men controlled my career – what I wore, who I worked with, and every aspect of my overall image. Believe me, that can be very intimidating and confining to a young girl just getting started, trying to express herself artistically. It took a lot of hard work, inner strength and believing in myself, but slowly I gained the courage to emerge from that stifling control by a group of men.”
Carey states the experience assisted her in motherhood, specifically understanding what will impact her daughter’s life.
“I realize my daughter’s going to have a different set of struggles than my son, and I’m doing my best to prepare her for that,” Carey added.
She would thank her fellow honorees, Chaka Khan, Jennifer Aniston, Awkwafina, Brie Lawson and Dana Walden, for the impact they are making in a “misogynistic society of corporate asses.”
Carey would also detail that she is not just focusing on the “15,000 wayward children for the past 25 summers” but aiming to also touch all the little girls who dreamed and are now the women who joined her in the room.
In cherishing the accomplishments of the women in the room, Carey expressed how excited she is for her daughter to follow their trails.
“She’ll have some barriers, but they’ll be fewer barriers to breakthrough in order to achieve her full potential.”
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