First Black Valedictorian to Graduate from Notre Dame
[1]Katie Washington, 21, is a biology major and minor in Catholic social teaching with a 4.0 GPA.
Katie Washington of Gary, Indiana will make history May 16th as the first Black valedictorian at Notre Dame
“I am humbled,” said Washington to the Northwest Indiana Times [2]. "I am in a mode of gratitude and thanksgiving right now.”
University officials said they couldn’t recall ever having a black valedictorian, and don’t keep record of their race.
The valedictorian has been accepted to five schools, including Harvard, but she plans to pursue a joint M.D./Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University [3], according to nwitimes.com [4].
"Katie works so hard," Washington’s mother Jean Tomlin said. "I told her when she went to Notre Dame, 'You are representing your family, your church and the city of Gary [5]. Make us proud.'"
Gary, stand up!
Monday, June 21, 2010
KATHERINE JACKSON TO RELEASE MICHAEL JACKSON COFFEE TABLE BOOK
The book will be called "Never Can Say Goodbye: The Katherine Jackson Archives." The book will reportedly consist of photos on one page and Katherine's thoughts and memories on another ... and will be sold through a website, www.jacksonsecretvault.com.
The site also says Katherine gave an interview with former MJ confidante Marc Schaffel in an effort to promote the book -- a curious decision because Schaffel was heavily involved in Michael's life at one point, but the two had a huge falling out which resulted in several lawsuits.
As we first reported, Katherine plans on taking Michael's kids -- Prince, Paris, and Blanket -- to Michael's hometown of Gary, IN on the anniversary of his death.
The site also says Katherine gave an interview with former MJ confidante Marc Schaffel in an effort to promote the book -- a curious decision because Schaffel was heavily involved in Michael's life at one point, but the two had a huge falling out which resulted in several lawsuits.
As we first reported, Katherine plans on taking Michael's kids -- Prince, Paris, and Blanket -- to Michael's hometown of Gary, IN on the anniversary of his death.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
MANUTE BOL FORMER NBA PLAYER DIES AT 47
Former NBA player Manute Bol died Saturday morning at a Virginia hospital where he was being treated for severe kidney trouble and a painful skin condition. He was 47.
Sudan Sunrise executive director Tom Prichard, said in an e-mail that the 7-foot-6 Bol died at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville.
Bol played 10 seasons in the NBA and later worked with Sudan Sunrise, a humanitarian group based in Lenexa, Kan., that promotes reconciliation in Sudan. Bol played in the NBA with Washington, Golden State, Philadelphia and Miami.
Sudan Sunrise executive director Tom Prichard, said in an e-mail that the 7-foot-6 Bol died at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville.
Bol played 10 seasons in the NBA and later worked with Sudan Sunrise, a humanitarian group based in Lenexa, Kan., that promotes reconciliation in Sudan. Bol played in the NBA with Washington, Golden State, Philadelphia and Miami.
77 MILLION POISONED BY ARSENIC IN DRINKING WATER IN BANGLADESH
Nearly 90% of Bangladeshis use groundwater Up to 77 million people in Bangladesh have been exposed to toxic levels of arsenic from drinking water in recent decades, according to a Lancet study.
The research assessed nearly 12,000 people in a district of the capital Dhaka for over a period of 10 years.
More than 20% of deaths among those assessed were caused by the naturally occurring poisonous element, it found.
The World Health Organization said the exposure was "the largest mass poisoning of a population in history".
It began after hand-pumped wells were installed in the 1970s to tap groundwater.
Scientists say even small amounts of arsenic over a long period can cause cancer of the bladder, kidney, lung or skin.
Bangladesh was chosen for the study because nearly 90% of the population uses groundwater as its primary source of fresh water.
The research assessed nearly 12,000 people in a district of the capital Dhaka for over a period of 10 years.
More than 20% of deaths among those assessed were caused by the naturally occurring poisonous element, it found.
The World Health Organization said the exposure was "the largest mass poisoning of a population in history".
It began after hand-pumped wells were installed in the 1970s to tap groundwater.
Scientists say even small amounts of arsenic over a long period can cause cancer of the bladder, kidney, lung or skin.
Bangladesh was chosen for the study because nearly 90% of the population uses groundwater as its primary source of fresh water.
Friday, June 18, 2010
JOE LIEBERMAN WANTS AMERICANS WHO FIGHT IN OTHER COUNTRIES STRIPPED OF CITIZENSHIP
I heard that the execption was if a person had a dual citizenship with Israel.
U S SENATOR JOE LIEBERMAN WANTS TO SHUT DOWN THE INTERNET
They don't have anything to do in Washington but sit and think about how to take away our freedoms.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
50 SHIPS MAY JOIN FREEDOM FLOTILLA II
50 ships may join Freedom Flotilla II
The next Freedom Flotilla will be much bigger than the first one, the head of a non-governmental organization says.
Yasser Qashlaq, the director of the Free Palestine Movement, said on Thursday that up to 50 ships could join the Freedom Flotilla II, the International Middle East Media Center reported.
•Meanwhile, the movement, in cooperation with Reporters Without Borders, is organizing a new mission to send educational supplies to the children of the besieged Palestinian territory. Qashlaq said a ship would depart from Lebanon within a week.
The Israeli military attacked the Freedom Flotilla in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea on May 31, killing nine Turkish citizens on board the M.V. Mavi Marmara and injuring about 50 other people who were part of the team on the six-ship convoy.
Israel also arrested and later released nearly 700 activists from 42 countries who were on board the ships of the Freedom Flotilla, which was attempting to break the siege of Gaza in order to deliver 10,000 tons of humanitarian assistance to the long-suffering people of the territory.
The Gazans have endured almost three years of an all-out siege, which has deprived them of food, fuel, and other necessities.
The next Freedom Flotilla will be much bigger than the first one, the head of a non-governmental organization says.
Yasser Qashlaq, the director of the Free Palestine Movement, said on Thursday that up to 50 ships could join the Freedom Flotilla II, the International Middle East Media Center reported.
•Meanwhile, the movement, in cooperation with Reporters Without Borders, is organizing a new mission to send educational supplies to the children of the besieged Palestinian territory. Qashlaq said a ship would depart from Lebanon within a week.
The Israeli military attacked the Freedom Flotilla in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea on May 31, killing nine Turkish citizens on board the M.V. Mavi Marmara and injuring about 50 other people who were part of the team on the six-ship convoy.
Israel also arrested and later released nearly 700 activists from 42 countries who were on board the ships of the Freedom Flotilla, which was attempting to break the siege of Gaza in order to deliver 10,000 tons of humanitarian assistance to the long-suffering people of the territory.
The Gazans have endured almost three years of an all-out siege, which has deprived them of food, fuel, and other necessities.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
HALTER COMPLAINS PERSONS WERE BLOCKED FROM VOTING IN GARLAND COUNTY ARKANSAS.
Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter who is challenging Sen. Blanche Lincoln in Tuesday's Democratic primary runoff has a beef with state election officials.
The Halter campaign complained that Garland County – the county seat is Hot Springs, and it’s one of Halter’s strongholds in the primary — had opened only two polling stations to serve several thousand voters, creating long lines and parking woes at points during the day.
Natasha Naragon, a spokeswoman for the Arkansas Secretary of State, said Garland County election officials failed to notify voters of the reduced number of polling stations, as required by state law. Though a local official told the Arkansas press that he had made the decision to save money, Naragon said the state bears all costs for primary and runoff elections.
Garland County did allow early voting at the two polling stations for the week leading up to Tuesday’s runoff, as did counties across the state.This was a dirty trick and should be protested with in the courts. If people are not allowed to vote , then it is a fixed election.
The Halter campaign complained that Garland County – the county seat is Hot Springs, and it’s one of Halter’s strongholds in the primary — had opened only two polling stations to serve several thousand voters, creating long lines and parking woes at points during the day.
Natasha Naragon, a spokeswoman for the Arkansas Secretary of State, said Garland County election officials failed to notify voters of the reduced number of polling stations, as required by state law. Though a local official told the Arkansas press that he had made the decision to save money, Naragon said the state bears all costs for primary and runoff elections.
Garland County did allow early voting at the two polling stations for the week leading up to Tuesday’s runoff, as did counties across the state.This was a dirty trick and should be protested with in the courts. If people are not allowed to vote , then it is a fixed election.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
HANDOUTS TO HAITI IS NOT THE ANSWER
Handouts not the answer, says Haitian filmmaker
BILLIONS of dollars in aid for Haiti will be wasted if the international community does not dramatically change its approach to the devastated Caribbean nation, a former minister for culture says.
Award-winning filmmaker Raoul Peck said the world's ''strictly humanitarian approach'' focusing on food handouts in the aftermath of the January earthquake had caused a ''victimisation'' of Haiti's people and did not consider how to empower them and create a sustainable future.
''That doesn't really help the country recover in terms of economical growth,'' he said.
Peck, who was culture minister briefly in the mid-1990s before returning to filmmaking, has worked on international development projects, won a lifetime achievement award from Human Rights Watch and was awarded an Order of Arts and Literature in France.
His visit to Sydney coincides with screenings of his powerful Haitian political allegory Moloch Tropical, selected for the Sydney Film Festival's $60,000 official competition, yesterday and today at the State Theatre. His socio-political films, such as Lumumba (2000), have won widespread acclaim.
The quake left more than 250,000 dead and 1.5 million homeless and Peck said if done properly, rebuilding Haiti was an opportunity for positive change.
But instead of bringing in ''massive aid in terms of rice and oil'' or care packages, giving its people money would have been better, he said.
''We have had experiences before where for each camp of 600 people, you could give the money to a group of 30 women and they organise the camp.They cook, they serve warm meals and make sure that everything goes well … Then you would have brought the economical flow in shape again.''
If aid continued to be just humanitarian - rather than for developing a sustainable future - the billions of dollars being spent would weaken Haiti and have been wasted, he said.
''Unless we are able to reverse the kind of thinking [on aid], we're going to spend the whole $10 or $11 billions on nothing … Haiti will have very little left to show for it.
''As long as you keep [only] feeding people, you're not giving them work, you're not giving them changes to rebuild their life.''
Haiti should be able to put forward its own plan, he said. ''But one should not be naive: it's also about power … and the normal, accepted view that you go the Third World so that you get to decide what's going on.''
Peck acknowledged the situation was very difficult and complex and the government was overwhelmed, but said improvements were taking too long. ''We are almost in the middle of the rainy season and still the majority of the people who were under tents [after the quake] are still living under tents.''
Moloch Tropical, which Peck directed, produced and co-wrote, focuses on the end times of a fictional Haitian president and his inner circle in a regime marked by corruption, torture and thuggery, sexual misconduct and other abuses, as well as self-delusion. The themes were drawn from past Haitian regimes, Peck said, but he depicted a ''democratically elected'' president to make the point that such elements were also present in legitimately elected governments.
''It's a phenomenon that's not only [to do] with Haiti … those are things happening today in our democracies.''
BILLIONS of dollars in aid for Haiti will be wasted if the international community does not dramatically change its approach to the devastated Caribbean nation, a former minister for culture says.
Award-winning filmmaker Raoul Peck said the world's ''strictly humanitarian approach'' focusing on food handouts in the aftermath of the January earthquake had caused a ''victimisation'' of Haiti's people and did not consider how to empower them and create a sustainable future.
''That doesn't really help the country recover in terms of economical growth,'' he said.
Peck, who was culture minister briefly in the mid-1990s before returning to filmmaking, has worked on international development projects, won a lifetime achievement award from Human Rights Watch and was awarded an Order of Arts and Literature in France.
His visit to Sydney coincides with screenings of his powerful Haitian political allegory Moloch Tropical, selected for the Sydney Film Festival's $60,000 official competition, yesterday and today at the State Theatre. His socio-political films, such as Lumumba (2000), have won widespread acclaim.
The quake left more than 250,000 dead and 1.5 million homeless and Peck said if done properly, rebuilding Haiti was an opportunity for positive change.
But instead of bringing in ''massive aid in terms of rice and oil'' or care packages, giving its people money would have been better, he said.
''We have had experiences before where for each camp of 600 people, you could give the money to a group of 30 women and they organise the camp.They cook, they serve warm meals and make sure that everything goes well … Then you would have brought the economical flow in shape again.''
If aid continued to be just humanitarian - rather than for developing a sustainable future - the billions of dollars being spent would weaken Haiti and have been wasted, he said.
''Unless we are able to reverse the kind of thinking [on aid], we're going to spend the whole $10 or $11 billions on nothing … Haiti will have very little left to show for it.
''As long as you keep [only] feeding people, you're not giving them work, you're not giving them changes to rebuild their life.''
Haiti should be able to put forward its own plan, he said. ''But one should not be naive: it's also about power … and the normal, accepted view that you go the Third World so that you get to decide what's going on.''
Peck acknowledged the situation was very difficult and complex and the government was overwhelmed, but said improvements were taking too long. ''We are almost in the middle of the rainy season and still the majority of the people who were under tents [after the quake] are still living under tents.''
Moloch Tropical, which Peck directed, produced and co-wrote, focuses on the end times of a fictional Haitian president and his inner circle in a regime marked by corruption, torture and thuggery, sexual misconduct and other abuses, as well as self-delusion. The themes were drawn from past Haitian regimes, Peck said, but he depicted a ''democratically elected'' president to make the point that such elements were also present in legitimately elected governments.
''It's a phenomenon that's not only [to do] with Haiti … those are things happening today in our democracies.''
Sunday, May 23, 2010
AT&T IS RAISING FEES FOR IT'S IPHONE USERS
AT&T Inc. is raising the fees it charges buyers of the iPhone and other smart phones if they break their two-year contracts, while lowering them for "dumb" phones to better align the fees with their real costs.
Starting June 1, smart-phone buyers will have to pay $325 for breaking their contract, up from $175 currently. For buyers of regular phones, the fee is being decreased by $25 to $150.
The early termination fee goes down for every month customers stay in their contract — by $10 for smart phones and $4 for regular phones. So if a smart phone contract is broken after two months, the termination fee is reduced by $20 to $305.
The changes only apply to new contracts and renewals.
Dallas-based AT&T charges customers $199 for the latest model of the iPhone, but pays Apple Inc. far more than that. AT&T makes the subsidy back through the customer's service fees over the two-year contract period. AT&T likely loses money for every customer that breaks a contract and pays a $175 termination fee, but may break even with the new, higher fee.
Meanwhile, simpler phones may cost AT&T only $125 to buy, meaning that a $175 termination fee is excessive.
Following the same logic, Verizon Wireless doubled its smart-phone termination fees in November, from $175 to $350. Sprint Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile USA still charge the same termination fees for all types of phones: $200. All three also pro-rate the fees for customers who leave later in their contracts.
The Federal Communications Commission has questioned Verizon Wireless about the higher termination fees for smart phone users, but hasn't taken any action. The pro-rating of the fees came about after the carriers settled several class-action lawsuits by customers who found it unfair that they paid the full termination fee when breaking a contract after nearly two years.
Starting June 1, smart-phone buyers will have to pay $325 for breaking their contract, up from $175 currently. For buyers of regular phones, the fee is being decreased by $25 to $150.
The early termination fee goes down for every month customers stay in their contract — by $10 for smart phones and $4 for regular phones. So if a smart phone contract is broken after two months, the termination fee is reduced by $20 to $305.
The changes only apply to new contracts and renewals.
Dallas-based AT&T charges customers $199 for the latest model of the iPhone, but pays Apple Inc. far more than that. AT&T makes the subsidy back through the customer's service fees over the two-year contract period. AT&T likely loses money for every customer that breaks a contract and pays a $175 termination fee, but may break even with the new, higher fee.
Meanwhile, simpler phones may cost AT&T only $125 to buy, meaning that a $175 termination fee is excessive.
Following the same logic, Verizon Wireless doubled its smart-phone termination fees in November, from $175 to $350. Sprint Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile USA still charge the same termination fees for all types of phones: $200. All three also pro-rate the fees for customers who leave later in their contracts.
The Federal Communications Commission has questioned Verizon Wireless about the higher termination fees for smart phone users, but hasn't taken any action. The pro-rating of the fees came about after the carriers settled several class-action lawsuits by customers who found it unfair that they paid the full termination fee when breaking a contract after nearly two years.
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