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Loves School, Hates Freedom: Obama Wants Longer School Days
Apparently not in favor of courting the 5-17 year old voting bloc, President Obama says he would like to see school days longer in addition to longer school years. From the AP: “Now, I know longer school days and school years are not wildly popular ideas,” the president said earlier this year. “Not with Malia…
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Just in Time for Elections, Al-Bashir Lifts Media Censorship in Sudan
In an attempt to show his softer side, Sudan president Omar al-Bashir has lifted media restrictions as the first elections in nearly 25 years loom on the horizon. From Al Jazeera: In a decree carried by the official Suna news agency on Sunday, al-Bashir put an end to “pre-censorship”, the system where newspapers are screened…
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Loud and In Living Colour
The crowd at this Brooklyn listening party bobs its collective head and sways as best it can, given the notable lack of wiggle room. Up front, the four men on stage make what they do look effortless; they use a guitar, a bass, drums and vocals to create a comfortable vibe one moment, and coiling…
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When Did Tijuana Become More Appealing Than Texas?
The number of foreign-born residents of the U.S. declined for the first time since at least 1970, according to the Census Bureau’s annual American Community Survey. For Mexican immigrants, a decline in construction jobs resulted in their reluctance to immigrate to the U.S. Yet for foreigners from other countries there’s a greater fear that the idea…
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Black President, Black Caucus, More Powerful Than Ever?
The Congressional Black Caucus is 40 years old this year, and with one of its former members in the White House, members are feeling more powerful than ever. As the CBC gathers in Washington for its annual legislative conference weekend—the first since Barack Obama was elected president—some members say the CBC, with a record 43…
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"Obama IS Cosby:" The Cosby Effect@25
jimi izrael: Thanks so much for your time, Professor. Sut Jhally: Sure. For those who may not be familiar, thumb-nail the study. The book was an audience study of readings of the Cosby Show, and we were interested in the basis of the popularity of the Cosby Show. We interviewed both black audiences and white…
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Jay-Z and Oprah Make Lemon Pie
If I write a book on hip-hop history, Jay-Z’s appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show will be in a timeline of the culture’s high points. I enjoyed it. It made me remember a lot of other hip-hop/Oprah moments. Oprah and hip-hop haven’t been the best of friends. I remember when Ice Cube took the talk-show mogul…
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Obama, Others Set to Put Shoe in Iran Over Its Nuclear Program
Iran has a covert uranium enrichment plant and that makes a lot of nations uncomfortable, not the least of those being the US, France and Great Britain. At the G20 SUmmit today in Pittsburgh, President Obama took it upon himself to let Iran know it was cruisin’ for a bruisin’. From CNN: Iran’s newly unveiled…
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Black Lawmakers Adjust to Post-Inauguration Politics
By virtue of what each publicly stands for, Barack Obama and the Congressional Black Caucus were destined to have a tricky relationship post-election. While he is most certainly in their ranks, it could be reasonably argued that he is not of their ranks and as each attacks the domestic agenda, they are figuring out how…
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Something to Shout About: Serena Williams Pens Book
The tennis champ pens the story of her life. From NPR: At 27, Serena Williams has won every major title in tennis. Now she’s written a book about her life in the sport: On the Line. She has enjoyed a world No. 1 ranking at three different points in her career — but when Serena…