Saturday, October 17, 2020
Want Some Eco-Friendly Tips? A New Study Says No, You Don’t
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Peres Jepchirchir breaks women's half-marathon world record
End Sars: Sports stars join protest against police brutality
Friday, October 16, 2020
Biden town hall draws nearly 1 million more viewers than Trump
The Nielsel numbers don’t include live streams to cell phones and other devices.
Joe Biden’s live town hall with ABC News Thursday night was watched by nearly one million more television viewers than those who tuned-in for President Donad Trump’s event.
According to Nielsen ratings, Biden’s 90-minute discussion averaged 14.1 million viewers, compared to 13.5 million for Trump’s town hall on NBC, The Washington Post reports.
The primetime town halls were scheduled after Trump pulled out of the presidential debate once it was switched to a virtual format following his positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
Read More: Diddy says he’s launching ‘Black political party,’ endorses Biden
The Nielsel numbers don’t include live streams to cell phones and other devices, but when it comes to the two networks’ YouTube channels, Biden’s town hall received 507,445 viewers compared to Trump’s 153,660, according to Newsweek.
theGRIO previously reported… At his town hall event Thursday night, Biden was asked by ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos if it was a mistake to support the controversial 1994 crime bill, and he replied, “Yes, it was. But here’s where the mistake came. The mistake came in terms of what the states did locally.”
Biden noted that while the federal government lowered mandatory minimums and a statute he called “same crime, same time,” those elements applied mostly to federal offenses. States retained their own sentencing power and ability to build more prisons, which they did.
Read More: Joe Biden calls crime bill a ‘mistake’ during town hall
The former vice president said the ’94 crime bill was created after a spike in crime in the late 1980s and early ’90s.
Biden also explained that, at the time, the crime bill was supported by the Congressional Black Caucus and Black mayors across the nation. However, he said, “things have changed drastically,” noting that violent crime has dropped dramatically, and racial justice issues in America are different now than at that period.
He now contends that no one should serve time in prison for drug possession, and the country instead should be funding rehabilitation centers.
Biden’s The Vice President and the People town hall is ABC’s most-watched prime-time telecast since the Oscars in February, according to the report.
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AOC, progressives call for Senate to oppose corporate hires
‘The chokehold that corporate giants and the rich hold over our political system is not new.’
Progressive Democrats including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), are calling on the Senate not to confirm C-suite level corporate executives or lobbyists to future administration posts.
In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), left-wing House members, including 39 progressive groups, signed a letter asking that they oppose these nominees, The Hill reports.
“One of the most important lessons of the Trump administration is the need to stop putting corporate officers and lobbyists in charge of our government,” they wrote. “As elected leaders, we should stop trying to make unsupportable distinctions between which corporate affiliations are acceptable for government service and which are not.”
Read More: Ocasio-Cortez introduces amendment to block Trump’s ‘racist’ housing rule
In addition to Ocasio-Cortez, Democratic Reps. Katie Porter, Ayanna Pressley, Barbara Lee, Pramila Jayapal, Rashida Tlaib, and more, signed the letter.
Arizona Democrat Raúl Grijalva drafted the letter, and noted “it’s not addressed to Biden, but there’s an understanding that he’d be in charge and be the person making nominations,” he said.
“Ending the practice of filling cabinet and sub-cabinet posts with current or former corporate officers and lobbyists is not to offer a commentary on each individual person’s character. It is to make a statement of principle,” the group wrote.
The letter’s signees also include prominent liberal groups like Our Revolution, which has ties to Sen. Bernie Sanders and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which is supported by Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Read More: Alexandria Ocasio Cortez voted against new stimulus package: It was ‘too small’
“Despite the unrivaled corruption of the Trump administration, the chokehold that corporate giants and the rich hold over our political system is not new,” said Illinois Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García. “Their power and influence in American politics has been growing for years.”
The letter warns Democrats not to appoint any of their own corporate buddies or officials after criticizing Trump’s appointees.
“Just imagine explaining to the American people why those names, with those affiliations, are unacceptable, but similar names with similar-sounding affiliations are not only unobjectionable, but necessary to the proper functioning of the federal government,” they wrote. “The revolving door needs to stop, not just change direction every few years.”
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How to Resolve “Temporary failure in name resolution” Issue
Sometimes when you try to ping a website, update a system or perform any task that requires an active internet connection, you may get the error message ‘temporary failure in name resolution’ on your
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Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira’s ‘Americanah’ series scrapped
The show was set to begin production earlier this year but was pushed back due to the pandemic.
HBO Max has scrapped its series adaptation of the Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie novel “Americanah” with Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira attached to executive produce.
The project is no longer moving ahead after Nyong’o was forced to exit the series due to scheduling conflicts stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, Variety reports .
Nyong’o was set to star in the series with Gurira writing and serving as showrunner.
Read More: Lupita Nyong’o pays touching tribute to Chadwick Boseman
“Americanah” originally received a 10-episode straight-to-series order at HBO Max in 2019. The show was set to begin production earlier this year, but COVID hit and Hollywood was forced to shut down. After the shooting dates were pushed back, Nyong’o had to drop out due to conflicts with other projects, according to the report.
The Oscar-winning actress originally planned to adapt the novel into a film co-starring alongside David Oyelowo.
The story traces the life of a young Nigerian woman who migrates to America to attend university amid the backdrop of her love story with a high school classmate.
“Americanah” earned Adichie the 2013 U.S. National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction.
Read More: WINNING: Danai Gurira inks overall deal with ABC Studios
“‘Americanah’ has been a passion project for me since I read Chimamanda’s beautiful novel in 2013,” Nyong’o said when the series was originally announced, Variety reported. “It’s a tale that is simultaneously timely and timeless. HBO Max is the perfect partner to bring this profound and celebrated story to life, and I’m thrilled that Danai will bring to the project her intelligence, wit, and understanding of the stories and the worlds of ‘Americanah.’”
Gurira added, “Through ‘Americanah,’ Chimamanda brought the African female voice into mainstream consciousness in an unprecedented way. It is intellectually incisive, indicting, yet full of humor, and riddled with humanity. She makes unheard voices familiar, universal and yet palpably specific. I am honored to bring her incredible novel to life on the screen.”
Nyong’o was set to star on the series alongside Uzo Aduba, Corey Hawkins, Zackary Momoh, and Tireni Oyenusi.
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Cardi B defends Offset: ‘I deserve whatever I want to have’
‘I’m not in a mentally abusive relationship. I have choices.’
Cardi B has fired back at fans who believe she’s in a “mentally abusive relationship” with husband Offset.
On Friday, she responded to criticism over her decision to reconcile with the father of her 2-year-old daughter, Kulture Kiari.
“Twitter users be like, ‘Cardi, you’re in a mentally abusive relationship. Oh my gosh. We gotta save you,'” she said. “And I be like, ‘All right, but can I f–k him today? Because I need to have sex.’ And n—as in my DMs talking about, ‘What up big head?’ I don’t like that. I’m 28 years old, and my head’s not big. Actually, it is, but not with a lace front. The f–k.”
The hip-hop star filed for divorce from the Migos rapper in September, saying their marriage was “irretrievably broken.” The move came after he allegedly had been unfaithful yet again.
Read More: Cardi B explains why she took Offset back after filing for divorce
theGRIO previously reported… a month after the filing, the duo were spotted together in Las Vegas for Cardi’s recent birthday celebration. The Grammy-winning artist took to social media to explain why she hooked back up with her hubby. Cardi, 28, confessed in an IG Live that it was “hard not to talk to your best friend.”
In two Twitter audio clips posted on Oct. 16, the “WAP” rapper opened up about her marriage amid accusations that the divorce filing was a PR stunt.
“I didn’t really want to talk about my relationship s— because I know y’all sick and tired of me going back and forth with Offset,” she said before slamming fans who describe Offset as “abusive.”
“Y’all sound f—ing crazy when you start using the word ‘abusive,'” she said. “I’m not in a physically abusive relationship. I’m not in a mentally abusive relationship. I have choices.”
Read More: Cardi B to amend divorce docs, wants amicable co-parenting with Offset
She also posted a video on Twitter in which she jokes that fans act like she’s married to them.
“Imma just give ya a apology because ya want me to apologize for living MY LIFE the way that ya live YOURS,” she said to fan in the video. “I’m sorry. I’m not perfect, I don’t want to be neither.”
Meanwhile, an insider claims Offset is “excited to have Cardi back and be back in her good graces.”
“Cardi changes her mind every day whether she wants to be with Offset or not,” a source tells E! News. “She will complain about him for days on end and then snap out of it and want him back. She says they are back together right now, but could change at any moment. She’s going with the flow and hasn’t made any formal decisions on withdrawing her divorce filing yet. Divorce is still on the table.”
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Murdered 2-year-old inspires new Florida law
Florida signed Jordan’s Law to prevent this happening to another child.
A Florida mother may never see the outside of a prison again after she was sentenced today in the murder of her own son, but his legacy will live on in a law inspired by his short life.
Charisse Stinson, 23, was sentenced to 50 years in prison after killing her son in 2018, per WFLA News. Her son, Jordan Belliveau, was just 2-years-old when she committed the heinous crime. After accepting a plea deal, Stinson was convicted of second-degree murder in Pinellas County, Florida. She also pled guilty to making a false report and will pay the Largo Police Department close to $28K.
Read More: Florida teacher caught on video saying she has a right to ‘dislike Blacks’
In 2018, Stinson said her son was abducted after she accepted a ride from a stranger. She claimed the person knocked her out then ran off with Jordan. An Amber Alert was issued and an almost 60-hour search took place before the boy was found in a wooded area around the Largo Sports Complex. An autopsy showed he was killed by blunt force trauma.
Stinson said in a jailhouse interview last week that she’s sorry about what happened to her son, who she admitted she struck, knocking his head into a wall.
“I was just in a dark – I hated everything,” she said. “I hated life, I hated myself. I didn’t know how to love. I loved my son. And I was so disappointed in myself because he did not deserve what happened to him at all. No child deserves that.”
After already serving two years in jail, the mother addressed the court on Tuesday after she received her sentence which she said he agrees with.
“That’s a long time, but I will walk with my head held high,” she said.
“I want the court to know that I am not the same Charisse I was when I walked in, I have done a lot of things to change, and I’ll continue to change. … For a while, I was so angry and bitter before I came to jail. And now I’m free, mentally.”
She goes on to add, “I am not in bondage anymore, and that is the gift God has given me,” she added. “I want to thank my son for that.”
Read More: Florida couple say they faced discrimination in home appraisal due to wife’s race
In June, Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed Jordan’s Law in recognition of the boy. Child welfare services say they missed several signs that could have saved Jordan’s life. According to FloridaPolitics.com, the law will reduce caseloads and streamline communication between parents, law enforcement, and caseworkers to better identify when children are in danger.
“I pray that the Jordan Law prevents this [another situation like hers] from happening,” Stinson said. “I pray that my situation prevents this from happening. This is a tragedy.”
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Disney’s Pivot to Streaming Won’t Change Hollywood
Former President Barack Obama Tells Democratic Voters In DNC Ad ‘It’s Going To Be Close’
Former President Barack Obama is making sure Democrats make plans to vote this election season with a new get-out-the-vote digital advertisement.
The ad is part of the continued push to engage young voters before Election Day. Early voting is already taking place in 48 states (in-person and mail-in ballots) and Obama wants you to know “It’s going to be close.”
“The 2020 election isn’t a few weeks away; it’s already here. Millions of Americans are already voting; make sure you stand up and join them,” Obama says in the ad. “It’s going to be close. It could come down to a handful of voters just like you. So I’m asking you to bring this thing home. Leave no doubt. Vote early.”
Democrats, terrified about a potential Trump second term, are harnessing the influence of Obama to animate voters who may have skipped the 2016 election or who might be planning to skip the 2020 election.
“There will always be reasons to think your vote doesn’t matter—that’s not new,” Obama says. “What is new is a growing movement for justice, equality, and progress on so many issues. This really is a tipping point, and that momentum only continues if we win this election.”
The advertisement is part of a seven-figure campaign that will hit 11 states: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Obama has put himself back into the spotlight to rally voters to vote for former Vice President Joe Biden. Earlier this week Obama appeared in a DNC video encouraging voters to learn about how to cast a ballot with state-specific tutorials for 24 states amid a national pandemic.
According to ABC News, more than 15 million Americans have already voted, smashing previous records three weeks out from Election Day. According to the U.S. Elections Project, the total so far is nearly five times the roughly 3.2 million who voted at a similar point four years ago.
The former president is also expected to campaign for Biden in the coming days, an aide to the former president told ABC News.
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Joe Biden calls crime bill a ‘mistake’ during town hall
The controversial 1994 bill was supported by the Congressional Black Caucus and Black mayors at the time.
At his town hall event with ABC News Thursday night, former vice president Joe Biden argued his case for the top job, answering directly to a mix of still-undecided, socially-distanced voters in Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center.
In a question posed by a white woman who had previously voted Republican, the Democratic presidential nominee was asked about his role, as Delaware senator, in the writing of the 1994 crime bill, a signature piece of legislation that is often cited as being detrimental to African Americans.
When asked by ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos if it was a mistake to support the bill, Biden replied, “Yes, it was. But here’s where the mistake came. The mistake came in terms of what the states did locally.”
Biden noted that while the federal government lowered mandatory minimums and a statute he called “same crime, same time,” those elements applied mostly to federal offenses. States retained their own sentencing power and ability to build more prisons, which they did.
Biden also noted that the bill was created after a spike in crime in the late 1980s and early ’90s. Scholars have noted that for urban centers, this timing aligns with the height of the crack epidemic. Parts of the bill toughened sentences for possession of crack cocaine during an epidemic that disproportionately affected Blacks.
Read More: Trump, Biden go at it — from a distance — in town halls
He now contends that no one should serve time in prison for drug possession, and the country instead should be funding rehabilitation centers.
The former vice president also noted that, at the time, the crime bill was supported by the Congressional Black Caucus and Black mayors across the nation. However, he also said, “things have changed drastically,” noting that violent crime has dropped dramatically, and racial justice issues in America are different now than at that period.
Read More: Democratic enthusiasm believed to be behind record early voting turnout
This is not the first time that Biden has said elements of the controversial bill were a mistake. Speaking at a breakfast honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. last January, Biden called parts of the bill “a big mistake.”
“We were told by the experts that ‘[with] crack, you can never go back;’ it was somehow fundamentally different,” he said at the event. “It’s not different. It’s trapped an entire generation.”
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Stripe Acquires Nigeria’s Paystack For $200 Million For Expansion Across The Continent
Lagos, Nigeria, has become a hub for new, innovative tech startups from entrepreneurs from within the country and abroad. African tech startups raised a record $1.3 billion in funding for over 400 investments in 2019, according to an annual report by WeeTracker.
This week, the online paying system Stripe announced the acquisition of a new Nigerian tech startup to expand its services across the continent.
Paystack, an online payment processing system that makes it easier for tech companies in Nigeria to accept online forms of payments, has been dubbed the “Stripe of Africa” by numerous tech insiders. The company currently has around 60,000 customers ranging from large corporate entities to small businesses and educational institutions.
“Paystack was not for sale when Stripe approached us,” Shola Akinlade, co-founder and CEO of Paystack, told TechCrunch. “For us, it’s about the mission. I’m driven by the mission to accelerate payments on the continent, and I am convinced that Stripe will help us get there faster. It is a very natural move.”
According to TechCrunch, the terms of the deal were not revealed but it confirmed that the deal was for over $200 million. That makes it the biggest startup acquisition out of Nigeria and Stripe’s biggest acquisition in its history.
“There is an enormous opportunity,” Patrick Collison, Stripe’s co-founder and CEO, said to TechCrunch. “In absolute numbers, Africa may be smaller right now than other regions, but online commerce will grow about 30% every year. And even with wider global declines, online shoppers are growing twice as fast. Stripe thinks on a longer time horizon than others because we are an infrastructure company. We are thinking of what the world will look like in 2040-2050.”
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