theroot--2020-10-04--Grand Jury Audio in Breonna Taylor Case Proves LMPD and Witnesses Had Different Stories, but Omits D

Grand Jury Audio in Breonna Taylor Case Proves LMPD and Witnesses Had Different Stories, but Omits Daniel Cameron's Recommendations to Jurors

At the behest of a juror involved in grand jury proceedings into the killing of Breonna Taylor by officers from the Louisville Metro Police Department ( LMPD ) , Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron on Friday delivered recordings of the deliberations , which show there were in fact conflicting stories between the witnesses on the night of the shooting and the police who were involved .
Cameron however , did not release any audio recordings of the recommendations or instructions he gave to the jurors , reports the New York Times .
The grand jury ultimately moved to indict just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for shooting into Taylor ’ s neighboring apartments during the incident in which LMPD officers shot the 26-year-old multiple times , killing her .
Much of the evidence heard by the jury dealt with whether the police announced themselves before using a battering ram to enter Taylor ’ s apartment .
Ms. Taylor ’ s boyfriend , Kenneth Walker , said in the recordings that he was “ scared to death ” when he and Ms. Taylor heard pounding on the door in the middle of the night and got no response after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” The officers involved in the raid , though , insisted in interviews with investigators that they had loudly identified themselves as the police before they burst through the door .
It was only after one officer was shot by Mr. Walker , they said , that they opened fire at the couple , killing Ms. Taylor .
“ Next thing I know , she ’ s on the ground and the door ’ s busted open and I hear a bunch of yelling and just panicking , ” Mr. Walker said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigators in March that was played for the grand jury last week .
“ And she ’ s right here bleeding , ” he added .
“ And nobody ’ s coming , and I ’ m just confused and scared.
” All but one of Taylor ’ s neighbors interviewed by investigators about the night say they did not hear police introduce themselves , though they did hear loud pounding on a door and later heard Walker crying and screaming for help .
Jurors also heard the testimony of a neighbor who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the complex ( police had fired 32 rounds total , Cameron has said ) , as well as from one of the cops involved in the raid who described a situation in which he felt lost and was firing blindly as a result , leading one juror to question if he has a history of panic attacks .
Detective Myles Cosgrove , who the F.B.I .
said fired the shot that killed Ms. Taylor , described in the audio being uncertain about exactly what occurred during the chaos after the police used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taylor ’ s apartment .
“ I just sensed that I ’ ve fired , ” Detective Cosgrove said in an interview last month that was played for the jurors .
But , he added : “ It ’ s like a surreal thing .
If you told me I didn ’ t do something at that time , I ’ d believe you .
If you told me I did do something , I ’ d probably believe you , too.
”  Jurors also heard Hankison on a radio call during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taylor ’ s apartment with an “ A.R.
” —shorthand for the AR 15 semi-automatic rifle .
No evidence of such a weapon was found in Taylor ’ s home , and the jurors also questioned whether the officers retrieved any drugs or related paraphernalia from the raid—to which the answer by investigators was no—and why the officers were not wearing activated body cameras .
Though Cameron has said that the jurors were free to pursue additional charges against the officers outside of the indictment of Hankison for wanton endangerment , the Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single indictment to the grand jury and told them that the other two officers ’ actions were justified .
Cameron said there were no recordings available of his directions to the grand jury because those statements “ are not evidence.
” The audio from the grand jury ’ s deliberations was released after a juror sued last week for them to be made public , saying the attorney general was attempting to lay blame on the jury for the decision to not indict anyone in Taylor ’ s killing .

At the behest of a juror involved in grand jury proceedings into the killing of Breonna Taylor by officers from the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD), Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron on Friday delivered recordings of the deliberations, which show there were in fact conflicting stories between the witnesses on the night of the shooting and the police who were involved.
Cameron however, did not release any audio recordings of the recommendations or instructions he gave to the jurors, reports the New York Times.
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The grand jury ultimately moved to indict just one officer—Brett Hankison—on charges of wanton endangerment for shooting into Taylor’s neighboring apartments during the incident in which LMPD officers shot the 26-year-old multiple times, killing her.
Much of the evidence heard by the jury dealt with whether the police announced themselves before using a battering ram to enter Taylor’s apartment.
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From the NY Times:
Ms. Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, said in the recordings that he was “scared to death” when he and Ms. Taylor heard pounding on the door in the middle of the night and got no response after they yelled, “Who is it?” The officers involved in the raid, though, insisted in interviews with investigators that they had loudly identified themselves as the police before they burst through the door. It was only after one officer was shot by Mr. Walker, they said, that they opened fire at the couple, killing Ms. Taylor. “Next thing I know, she’s on the ground and the door’s busted open and I hear a bunch of yelling and just panicking,” Mr. Walker said about Ms. Taylor in an interview with investigators in March that was played for the grand jury last week. “And she’s right here bleeding,” he added. “And nobody’s coming, and I’m just confused and scared.”
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All but one of Taylor’s neighbors interviewed by investigators about the night say they did not hear police introduce themselves, though they did hear loud pounding on a door and later heard Walker crying and screaming for help.
Jurors also heard the testimony of a neighbor who said the smell of gunpowder was heavy across the complex (police had fired 32 rounds total, Cameron has said), as well as from one of the cops involved in the raid who described a situation in which he felt lost and was firing blindly as a result, leading one juror to question if he has a history of panic attacks.
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From NY Times again:
Detective Myles Cosgrove, who the F.B.I. said fired the shot that killed Ms. Taylor, described in the audio being uncertain about exactly what occurred during the chaos after the police used a battering ram to burst into Ms. Taylor’s apartment. “I just sensed that I’ve fired,” Detective Cosgrove said in an interview last month that was played for the jurors. But, he added: “It’s like a surreal thing. If you told me I didn’t do something at that time, I’d believe you. If you told me I did do something, I’d probably believe you, too.”
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Jurors also heard Hankison on a radio call during the raid claiming that someone was inside Taylor’s apartment with an “A.R.”—shorthand for the AR 15 semi-automatic rifle.
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No evidence of such a weapon was found in Taylor’s home, and the jurors also questioned whether the officers retrieved any drugs or related paraphernalia from the raid—to which the answer by investigators was no—and why the officers were not wearing activated body cameras.
Though Cameron has said that the jurors were free to pursue additional charges against the officers outside of the indictment of Hankison for wanton endangerment, the Washington Post reports that he actually recommended this single indictment to the grand jury and told them that the other two officers’ actions were justified.
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From WaPo:
“Our judgment is that the charge that we could prove at trial beyond reasonable doubt was for wanton endangerment,” Cameron said in an interview Tuesday with local television station WDRB. The statement cast doubt on comments he had made during a news conference last week, when Cameron said he walked jurors through “every homicide offense, and also presented all of the information that was available.” The grand jury followed Cameron’s recommendation, holding no one accountable for Taylor’s death.
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Cameron said there were no recordings available of his directions to the grand jury because those statements “are not evidence.”
The audio from the grand jury’s deliberations was released after a juror sued last week for them to be made public, saying the attorney general was attempting to lay blame on the jury for the decision to not indict anyone in Taylor’s killing.


theroot--2020-10-04--Megan Thee Stallion Calls Out Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron in Powerful SNL Performance, and Issa Rae's

Megan Thee Stallion Calls Out Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron in Powerful SNL Performance, and Issa Rae's Got Next for Hosting

Young rap phenom Megan Thee Stallion made her performance debut on NBC ’ s Saturday Night Live this weekend and also made a clear statement in defense of Black lives—while also calling out Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron .
Megan joined veteran comedian Chris Rock as special guests for the premiere of SNL ’ s 46th season on Saturday , and even showed some of her acting chops in a skit about the NBA ’ s coronavirus bubble before taking to the musical stage and giving a riveting performance of her No .
1 hit “ Savage Remix.
” Showing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidently about her infamous knees on a psychedelic black-and-white set , Megan took a detour to highlight the need for racial justice—by pulling for the infamous words of Malcolm X about Black women in America being unprotected and disrespected , and then playing audio of Tamika Mallory , an organizer who has been in the forefront of the fight for Breonna Taylor , saying Cameron “ is no different than the sellout negroes that sold our people into slavery by savages.
” “ We need to protect our Black women , and love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of the day , we need our Black women , ” Megan herself declared , making me a little emotional and a lot proud given her recent experience of being shot and then hounded by people on the internet to prove her pain .
“ We need to protect our Black men and stand up for our Black men , ” she continued .
“ Because at the end of the day , we ’ re tired of seeing hashtags about Black men.
” Expect to see more bold Black women exhibiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rae , of Insecure , The Photograph , the Black Lady Sketch Show , and multi-hyphenate success cutting across entertainment platforms , will host SNL for the first time on October 17 alongside musical guest Justin Bieber .
Correction : 10/4/2020 , 12:13 p.m .
ET : A previous version of this article incorrectly named Tamika Mallory as Tamika Taylor .
This has been corrected above .

Ishena Robinson on The Grapevine, shared by Ishena Robinson to The Root

Young rap phenom Megan Thee Stallion made her performance debut on NBC’s Saturday Night Live this weekend and also made a clear statement in defense of Black lives—while also calling out Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron.
Megan joined veteran comedian Chris Rock as special guests for the premiere of SNL’s 46th season on Saturday, and even showed some of her acting chops in a skit about the NBA’s coronavirus bubble before taking to the musical stage and giving a riveting performance of her No. 1 hit “Savage Remix.”
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Showing off her signature dance moves and rapping confidently about her infamous knees on a psychedelic black-and-white set, Megan took a detour to highlight the need for racial justice—by pulling for the infamous words of Malcolm X about Black women in America being unprotected and disrespected, and then playing audio of Tamika Mallory, an organizer who has been in the forefront of the fight for Breonna Taylor, saying Cameron “is no different than the sellout negroes that sold our people into slavery by savages.”
“We need to protect our Black women, and love our Black women. Because at the end of the day, we need our Black women,” Megan herself declared, making me a little emotional and a lot proud given her recent experience of being shot and then hounded by people on the internet to prove her pain.
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“We need to protect our Black men and stand up for our Black men,” she continued. “Because at the end of the day, we’re tired of seeing hashtags about Black men.”
Watch a video of Megan Thee Stallion’s SNL performance below:
Expect to see more bold Black women exhibiting excellence on SNL this season.
Issa Rae, of Insecure, The Photograph, the Black Lady Sketch Show, and multi-hyphenate success cutting across entertainment platforms, will host SNL for the first time on October 17 alongside musical guest Justin Bieber.
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Correction: 10/4/2020, 12:13 p.m. ET: A previous version of this article incorrectly named Tamika Mallory as Tamika Taylor. This has been corrected above.


theroot--2020-10-06--Mississippi Authorities Investigating Possible Hate Crime Charges for Father and Son Who Shot at Bla

Mississippi Authorities Investigating Possible Hate Crime Charges for Father and Son Who Shot at Black Teens

In Mississippi , a white father-son duo is under investigation for a hate crime after allegedly chasing and shooting at two Black teens who were riding ATVs .
The Clarion Ledger reports that the Yazoo County Sheriff ’ s office charged Wade Twiner , 48 , and Lane Twiner , 22 , with assault for allegedly shooting at the teens and ramming one of their ATVs with their pickup truck .
Federal officials , as well as the district attorney ’ s office , are also investigating the incident as a hate crime .
Yazoo County Sheriff Jacob Sheriff said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media posts made by the father prompted the hate crime investigation .
Sheriff noted that Wade Twiner shared a post on social media in July that featured a Confederate f lag flanked by the phrases “ Redneck Neighborhood Watch , ” and “ You Loot , We Shoot.
” Later that same month , Twiner posted a picture of an ATV on Facebook with the caption “ If you had this and lived ... the coronavirus won ’ t kill you .
You already cheated death , ” suggesting he may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owns property near Ridge Road , where the incident occurred .
The area is a popular spot for ATV riders , making the incident even more shocking .
One of the victims spoke to TV station WLBT about the incident , saying it would ’ ve made more sense to him if they were anywhere near the Twiner ’ s property .
He said that during the incident , both men fired at him from their white pickup truck .
Authorities said the case bears an uncomfortable similarity to Ahmaud Arbery ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year in Georgia after three men , including a father-son duo , chased him down and eventually shot him three times .
According to Sheriff Sheriff , authorities have recovered one 9mm handgun used in the assault but believe a second unrecovered gun was used as well .
He added that the men said they owned the land on both sides of the road and felt they shouldn ’ t have to deal with people riding ATVs .
The Twinners told authorities the teens were speeding and they were simply trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people believe all it takes is a gun and some pale skin to take the law into your own hands .
Authorities are currently working to determine if race was a motivating factor in the alleged assault .
The two men could face up to 20 years in prison should they be convicted of a hate crime .
As of now , the men have each been charged with three counts of aggravated assault and are being held on $ 70,000 bond .

In Mississippi, a white father-son duo is under investigation for a hate crime after allegedly chasing and shooting at two Black teens who were riding ATVs.
The Clarion Ledger reports that the Yazoo County Sheriff’s office charged Wade Twiner, 48, and Lane Twiner, 22, with assault for allegedly shooting at the teens and ramming one of their ATVs with their pickup truck. Federal officials, as well as the district attorney’s office, are also investigating the incident as a hate crime. Yazoo County Sheriff Jacob Sheriff said that the circumstances surrounding the assault and social media posts made by the father prompted the hate crime investigation.
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Sheriff noted that Wade Twiner shared a post on social media in July that featured a Confederate f lag flanked by the phrases “Redneck Neighborhood Watch,” and “You Loot, We Shoot.” Later that same month, Twiner posted a picture of an ATV on Facebook with the caption “If you had this and lived ... the coronavirus won’t kill you. You already cheated death,” suggesting he may have had prior problems with ATVs.
Twiner owns property near Ridge Road, where the incident occurred. The area is a popular spot for ATV riders, making the incident even more shocking. One of the victims spoke to TV station WLBT about the incident, saying it would’ve made more sense to him if they were anywhere near the Twiner’s property. He said that during the incident, both men fired at him from their white pickup truck.
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Authorities said the case bears an uncomfortable similarity to Ahmaud Arbery’s. Arbery was killed while jogging earlier this year in Georgia after three men, including a father-son duo, chased him down and eventually shot him three times.
According to Sheriff Sheriff, authorities have recovered one 9mm handgun used in the assault but believe a second unrecovered gun was used as well. He added that the men said they owned the land on both sides of the road and felt they shouldn’t have to deal with people riding ATVs. The Twinners told authorities the teens were speeding and they were simply trying to apprehend them, further proving that white people believe all it takes is a gun and some pale skin to take the law into your own hands.
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Authorities are currently working to determine if race was a motivating factor in the alleged assault.
The two men could face up to 20 years in prison should they be convicted of a hate crime. As of now, the men have each been charged with three counts of aggravated assault and are being held on $70,000 bond.


theroot--2020-10-05--What's the Best Insole for Walking?

What's the Best Insole for Walking?

With this Texas heat dying down , I ’ m no longer under threat of a deadly sweat assault by the very body my brain operates , and so I ’ m ready to reintroduce daily walking into my weight loss journey .
There ’ s another roadblock that my traitorous vessel has thrown into my path , however : aching feet .
You see , my stompers are flatter than two sad , undercooked pancakes , and that ’ s not good for their short- and long-term health .
There ’ s also the matter of a mean walking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing but rocky pavement .
Considering I can ’ t even walk across the lumpy ground of my backyard without sending my dogs ablaze , I already know I ’ ll need additional support to tackle it .
If you ’ re experienced with them , I want to know which commercially available insoles you ’ ve had the best luck with .
I ’ m aware that not all of your suggestions will work out for my specific feet , but because I ’ m not interested in spending hundreds on custom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurt that bad ) , your picks will be a nice starting point for me , my mom who ’ s eagerly awaiting the results of this important collective research project , and anyone else having problems supporting one of the body ’ s most important limbs .
Here ’ s how you get to the finish line : 1 ) Your nomination should contain the name of a specific commercially available insole , why you think it ’ s the best , a link where it can be purchased , and an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple products , but please put each one in a separate comment .

Quentyn Kennemer on Co-op, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

With this Texas heat dying down, I’m no longer under threat of a deadly sweat assault by the very body my brain operates, and so I’m ready to reintroduce daily walking into my weight loss journey. There’s another roadblock that my traitorous vessel has thrown into my path, however: aching feet.
You see, my stompers are flatter than two sad, undercooked pancakes, and that’s not good for their short- and long-term health. There’s also the matter of a mean walking path nearby I plan to use with nothing but rocky pavement. Considering I can’t even walk across the lumpy ground of my backyard without sending my dogs ablaze, I already know I’ll need additional support to tackle it.
If you’ve experience with ‘em , I want to know which commercially available insoles you’ve had the best luck with. I’m aware not all of your suggestions will work out for my specific feet, but because I’m not interested in spending hundreds on custom orthotics (my feet don’t hurt that bad), your picks will be a nice starting point for me, my mom who’s eagerly awaiting the results of this important collective research project, and anyone else having problems supporting one of the body’s most important limbs. Here’s how you get to the finish line:
1) Your nomination should contain the name of a specific commercially available insole, why you think it’s the best, a link where it can be purchased, and an image. 2) You can nominate multiple products, but please put each one in a separate comment. 3) Vote by starring someone else’s nomination.


theroot--2020-10-05--Yashica Olden Will Be Condé Nast's First-Ever Global Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Says 'It

Yashica Olden Will Be Condé Nast's First-Ever Global Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Says 'It’s Everybody’s Job'

With a 111-year history and over two dozen print and digital imprints worldwide , it ’ s somewhat shocking that Conde Nast hadn ’ t placed a global emphasis on diversity and inclusion before this year .
But like so many media and luxury conglomerates—and amid its own fairly public reckonings at Bon Appetit and Vogue editor-in-chief and Condé Nast Global Artistic Director Anna Wintour—Condé Nast is now taking strategic steps to ensure its future is a more equitable one , recently announcing they ’ ve hired Yashica Olden to fulfill its first-ever global chief diversity and inclusion officer role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ via a release on Condé Nast ’ s site and a tweet .
Olden was previously executive director of inclusion and diversity on the global culture team of British multinational communications company WPP , prior to which she held leadership roles at Credit Suisse and Barclays Capital , and was the first head of diversity and inclusion for the United Nations World Food Programme ( WFP ) in Rome .
Her career thus far has also included roles in Munich and Khartoum .
When she begins her tenure at Condé Nast on Oct. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for developing and implementing diversity and inclusion strategies across the company ’ s global portfolio of brands and divisions , ” says the release .
“ Condé Nast plays an important role in shaping culture and people ’ s opinions about the events taking place in our world today , ” said Olden , a native of Nashville , Tenn. and graduate of Wellesley College , where she earned a bachelor ’ s degree in international relations .
“ I ’ m excited to join the team and work with the incredibly talented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to embed a global diversity and inclusion framework into every aspect of the business.
” “ As a company , we are committed to recruiting and developing a diverse and inclusive workplace , and as content creators , it ’ s incredibly important that we have a team that has a broad range of perspectives and voices , ” said Stan Duncan , chief people officer of Condé Nast , to whom Olden will report .
“ Yashica brings a wealth of experience in helping elevate diversity and inclusion strategies in large companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward to her insight and counsel in helping move our workplace culture forward.
” Speaking with Digiday , Olden gave more details about pioneering the new role , in which she “ will lead an effort that currently gathers input from 20 staffers , ” while building “ a standalone diversity and inclusion team [ that ] will grow in size next year.
” “ You really have to do quite a lot of listening and focus groups to understand what their unique needs are , ” said Olden , referencing her work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s what I ’ ll be bringing to the role : This ability to listen , to discern and try to create impact based on what I ’ ve learned , and data and the voices of the people that work for us.
” Citing the results of Condé Nast ’ s first-ever diversity and inclusion report , Digiday noted : Per the report , at least 75 % of Condé Nast ’ s senior leadership is white ( more than 2 % of the report ’ s respondents did not share their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report did not break down the granular gender balance across its organization , sharing only that women make up 68 % of staff .
The report highlighted a number of things that the publisher is already doing to combat the problem , such as a pledge that 50 % of candidates on all hiring slates will come from diverse backgrounds , and that by next year all of the company ’ s employees will undergo unconscious bias and anti-racism training .
Condé Nast is also preparing a separate report about pay disparities among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow-up report later this year that tracks its progress .
“ I don ’ t think leadership support and accountability is going to be a challenge for us , ” Olden wagered , adding , “ Even before they recruited me they were trying to work through and respond and listen to employees and rectify the situations that have emerged internally.
” Admitting that “ the stakes are high ” in her new role , she told Digiday her ultimate goal for Condé Nast is “ taking all the diverse perspectives of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and have its readership increase because of its focus on diversity.
” To do so , she intends to pursue “ a data-driven approach , a people-centered approach , ” that eradicates bias from the hiring process and increases empathy in its culture .
“ The way I look at diversity and inclusion and success is it ’ s everybody ’ s job , ” Olden said .
“ It ’ s HR , it ’ s the editors-in-chief , it ’ s everyone , and that people view it as such .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we ’ re hearing our employees and reacting accordingly , trying to make sure we have a strong strategy we feel confident about and can implement over a period of time , and trying to build those relationships and build our reputation in the culture space.
” It ’ s an ambitious , if admirable , task—and one Olden will be facing amid the unprecedented challenges of our current reality , as she acknowledged .
“ Right now , we ’ ve got a pandemic we ’ re battling , Black people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. , ” she told Digiday .
“ It ’ s heartbreaking , actually , knowing that many of our employees who are Black and people of color in the U.S. are really going through a tough time , and it means we have to continue to create more transparency around the work we do .
We have to help them all heal from everything that ’ s happening , heal so they ’ re productive and are able to bring their whole selves to work again .
”

Maiysha Kai on The Glow Up, shared by Maiysha Kai to The Root

With a 111-year history and over two dozen print and digital imprints worldwide, it’s somewhat shocking that Conde Nast hadn’t placed a global emphasis on diversity and inclusion before this year. But like so many media and luxury conglomerates—and amid its own fairly public reckonings at Bon Appetit and Vogue editor-in-chief and Condé Nast Global Artistic Director Anna Wintour—Condé Nast is now taking strategic steps to ensure its future is a more equitable one, recently announcing they’ve hired Yashica Olden to fulfill its first-ever global chief diversity and inclusion officer role.
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The announcement was made last Wednesday via a release on Condé Nast’s site and a tweet. Olden was previously executive director of inclusion and diversity on the global culture team of British multinational communications company WPP, prior to which she held leadership roles at Credit Suisse and Barclays Capital, and was the first head of diversity and inclusion for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Rome. Her career thus far has also included roles in Munich and Khartoum. When she begins her tenure at Condé Nast on Oct. 26, Olden “will be responsible for developing and implementing diversity and inclusion strategies across the company’s global portfolio of brands and divisions,” says the release.
“Condé Nast plays an important role in shaping culture and people’s opinions about the events taking place in our world today,” said Olden, a native of Nashville, Tenn. and graduate of Wellesley College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations. “I’m excited to join the team and work with the incredibly talented editors, writers, designers and marketers to embed a global diversity and inclusion framework into every aspect of the business.”
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“As a company, we are committed to recruiting and developing a diverse and inclusive workplace, and as content creators, it’s incredibly important that we have a team that has a broad range of perspectives and voices,” said Stan Duncan, chief people officer of Condé Nast, to whom Olden will report. “Yashica brings a wealth of experience in helping elevate diversity and inclusion strategies in large companies like ours and I’m looking forward to her insight and counsel in helping move our workplace culture forward.”
Speaking with Digiday, Olden gave more details about pioneering the new role, in which she “will lead an effort that currently gathers input from 20 staffers,” while building “a standalone diversity and inclusion team [that] will grow in size next year.”
Advertisement
“You really have to do quite a lot of listening and focus groups to understand what their unique needs are,” said Olden, referencing her work with the WFP. “That’s what I’ll be bringing to the role: This ability to listen, to discern and try to create impact based on what I’ve learned, and data and the voices of the people that work for us.”
Citing the results of Condé Nast’s first-ever diversity and inclusion report, Digiday noted:
Per the report, at least 75% of Condé Nast’s senior leadership is white (more than 2% of the report’s respondents did not share their ethnicity). Condé Nast’s report did not break down the granular gender balance across its organization, sharing only that women make up 68% of staff. The report highlighted a number of things that the publisher is already doing to combat the problem, such as a pledge that 50% of candidates on all hiring slates will come from diverse backgrounds, and that by next year all of the company’s employees will undergo unconscious bias and anti-racism training. Condé Nast is also preparing a separate report about pay disparities among staffers, and plans to release a follow-up report later this year that tracks its progress.
Advertisement
“I don’t think leadership support and accountability is going to be a challenge for us,” Olden wagered, adding, “Even before they recruited me they were trying to work through and respond and listen to employees and rectify the situations that have emerged internally.”
Admitting that “the stakes are high” in her new role, she told Digiday her ultimate goal for Condé Nast is “taking all the diverse perspectives of the markets where they operate to be impactful and have its readership increase because of its focus on diversity.” To do so, she intends to pursue “a data-driven approach, a people-centered approach,” that eradicates bias from the hiring process and increases empathy in its culture.
Advertisement
“The way I look at diversity and inclusion and success is it’s everybody’s job,” Olden said. “It’s HR, it’s the editors-in-chief, it’s everyone, and that people view it as such. It’s trying to make sure that we’re hearing our employees and reacting accordingly, trying to make sure we have a strong strategy we feel confident about and can implement over a period of time, and trying to build those relationships and build our reputation in the culture space.”
It’s an ambitious, if admirable, task—and one Olden will be facing amid the unprecedented challenges of our current reality, as she acknowledged.
Advertisement
“Right now, we’ve got a pandemic we’re battling, Black people are still being murdered in the streets in the U.S.,” she told Digiday. “It’s heartbreaking, actually, knowing that many of our employees who are Black and people of color in the U.S. are really going through a tough time, and it means we have to continue to create more transparency around the work we do. We have to help them all heal from everything that’s happening, heal so they’re productive and are able to bring their whole selves to work again.”


theroot--2020-10-05--Several Aides Accuse Texas Attorney General of Bribery and Abuse of Power

A letter from several key aides accuses the attorney general of Texas of bribery , abuse of power and several other potentially criminal acts .
According to the Austin American-Statesman , the letter was sent as a notice to Attorney General Ken Paxton ’ s office that a “ potential violation of law ” had been reported to the “ appropriate law enforcement authority.
” The letter was sent on Thursday to the office ’ s human resources department to protect the jobs of those who signed .
Among the signees were Paxton ’ s first assistant , Jeff Mateer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s deputy Ryan Bangert .
James Blake Brickman , Lacey Mase , Darren McCarty , Mark Penley , and Ryan Vassar also signed the document .
All five are deputy attorneys general overseeing the office ’ s policy , administration , civil litigation , criminal investigations , and legal counsel divisions .
“ We have a good faith belief that the Attorney General is violating federal and/or state law , including prohibitions relating to improper influence , abuse of office , bribery and other potential criminal offenses , ” the letter reads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personally informed on Thursday via text message that law enforcement had been notified of the potential violation .
The letter comes as somewhat of a shock as the Texas attorney general ’ s office prides loyalty , especially from those in Paxton ’ s inner circle , the American-Statesmen notes .
As the attorney general ’ s second-in-command Mateer was seen as being in lockstep with Paxton ’ s conservative views .
When Mateer was nominated by President Trump to be a federal judge in 2017 , Paxton called him “ a principled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outstanding job for the State of Texas.
” The nomination was revoked after Mateer was found to have made various anti-LGBTQ remarks over the years .
Paxton was previously indicted in 2015 for securities fraud , a case that has yet to go to trial .
The 57-year-old Republican was first elected in 2014 and secured reelection in 2018 during a closer than expected race .
Paxton ’ s office released a statement on Saturday denying the allegations .
“ The complaint filed against Attorney General Paxton was done to impede an ongoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including employees of this office , ” the statement read .
“ Making false claims is a very serious matter and we plan to investigate this to the fullest extent of the law.
” The letter didn ’ t provide details on Paxton ’ s alleged wrongdoing , only requesting that the proper authorities launch an investigation .
The letter said that each of the signees “ has knowledge of facts relevant to these potential offenses and has provided statements concerning those facts to the appropriate law enforcement .
”

A letter from several key aides accuses the attorney general of Texas of bribery, abuse of power and several other potentially criminal acts.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, the letter was sent as a notice to Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office that a “potential violation of law” had been reported to the “appropriate law enforcement authority.” The letter was sent on Thursday to the office’s human resources department to protect the jobs of those who signed.
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Among the signees were Paxton’s first assistant, Jeff Mateer, who resigned Friday, and Mateer’s deputy Ryan Bangert. James Blake Brickman, Lacey Mase, Darren McCarty, Mark Penley, and Ryan Vassar also signed the document. All five are deputy attorneys general overseeing the office’s policy, administration, civil litigation, criminal investigations, and legal counsel divisions.
“We have a good faith belief that the Attorney General is violating federal and/or state law, including prohibitions relating to improper influence, abuse of office, bribery and other potential criminal offenses,” the letter reads. The letter adds that Paxton was personally informed on Thursday via text message that law enforcement had been notified of the potential violation.
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The letter comes as somewhat of a shock as the Texas attorney general’s office prides loyalty, especially from those in Paxton’s inner circle, the American-Statesmen notes. As the attorney general’s second-in-command Mateer was seen as being in lockstep with Paxton’s conservative views. When Mateer was nominated by President Trump to be a federal judge in 2017, Paxton called him “a principled leader—a man of character—who has done an outstanding job for the State of Texas.”
The nomination was revoked after Mateer was found to have made various anti-LGBTQ remarks over the years.
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Paxton was previously indicted in 2015 for securities fraud, a case that has yet to go to trial. The 57-year-old Republican was first elected in 2014 and secured reelection in 2018 during a closer than expected race. Paxton’s office released a statement on Saturday denying the allegations.
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“The complaint filed against Attorney General Paxton was done to impede an ongoing investigation into criminal wrongdoing by public officials including employees of this office,” the statement read. “Making false claims is a very serious matter and we plan to investigate this to the fullest extent of the law.”
The letter didn’t provide details on Paxton’s alleged wrongdoing, only requesting that the proper authorities launch an investigation. The letter said that each of the signees “has knowledge of facts relevant to these potential offenses and has provided statements concerning those facts to the appropriate law enforcement.”


theroot--2020-10-05--Texas Police Officer Fired After Sharing 'Stop Resisting' Meme That Featured a Black Man Lying in a

Texas Police Officer Fired After Sharing 'Stop Resisting' Meme That Featured a Black Man Lying in a Coffin

A Fort Worth , Texas , police officer found himself unemployed Thursday because he was stupid enough to think that , even with a national spotlight continuing to air out police practices in America , he could get away with sharing a meme on Facebook that featured a Black man in a casket as a warning of what happens when you resist arrest .
CBS 11 reports that last week , 18-year veteran police officer Roger Ballard was placed on restricted duty while he was being investigated for a Facebook post he made in September .
The image Ballard shared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a coffin was accompanied by text that reads , “ The face you make when you don ’ t understand ‘ stop resisting.
’ ” On Thursday , the Fort Worth Police Department released a statement saying Ballard has been suspended indefinitely after he shared a post that was “ racially insensitive and grossly inappropriate.
” “ After reviewing the Internal Affairs findings , Chief Kraus concurred with the chain of command determination that Officer Roger Ballard was in violation of departmental General Orders and that his conduct brought justified unfavorable criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reads .
The statement— which also mentioned that a second police officer is being investigated in connection to the same meme—concluded saying , “ The Fort Worth Police Department holds every officer to a very high standard and any comment , post , or any communication which is racially insensitive and unprofessional will not be condoned in any manner .
Our department will continue to hold accountable those who do not meet that standard.
” Cory Session , who is a part of Fort Worth ’ s Race and Culture Task Force , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police department has made in building trust with the people they serve .
“ Just unacceptable .
You are endangering other officers .
You ’ re endangering the lives of citizens and you ’ re creating a narrative that people want to believe .
‘ See I told you they don ’ t care.
’ And that ’ s unacceptable by any means , ” Session said .
OK , but isn ’ t it much more than a “ narrative that people want to believe ” when real-life police officers share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Black people at the hands of police officers ?
Doesn ’ t Ballard ’ s post indicate that there ’ s a reality behind the idea that there are cops who are indifferent to the mattering of Black lives at best and contemptuous towards the idea at worst ?
You would think that all of these stories that have come out over the past few years about public servants catching pink slips over their online behavior would teach cops and everyone else that posting racist shit on social media isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your fellow racists in the confines of your own home .
But whatever : Cops and other officials can keep being insensitive jackasses online and after it comes back to bite them , I ’ ll just keep singing my favorite song of 2020 :

A Fort Worth, Texas, police officer found himself unemployed Thursday because he was stupid enough to think that, even with a national spotlight continuing to air out police practices in America, he could get away with sharing a meme on Facebook that featured a Black man in a casket as a warning of what happens when you resist arrest.
CBS 11 reports that last week, 18-year veteran police officer Roger Ballard was placed on restricted duty while he was being investigated for a Facebook post he made in September. The image Ballard shared that showed a Black man lying dead in a coffin was accompanied by text that reads, “The face you make when you don’t understand ‘stop resisting.’”
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On Thursday, the Fort Worth Police Department released a statement saying Ballard has been suspended indefinitely after he shared a post that was “racially insensitive and grossly inappropriate.”
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“After reviewing the Internal Affairs findings, Chief Kraus concurred with the chain of command determination that Officer Roger Ballard was in violation of departmental General Orders and that his conduct brought justified unfavorable criticism upon the department,” the statement reads.
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The statement— which also mentioned that a second police officer is being investigated in connection to the same meme—concluded saying, “The Fort Worth Police Department holds every officer to a very high standard and any comment, post, or any communication which is racially insensitive and unprofessional will not be condoned in any manner. Our department will continue to hold accountable those who do not meet that standard.”
From CBS 11:
Cory Session, who is a part of Fort Worth’s Race and Culture Task Force, said that this incident erodes the progress the police department has made in building trust with the people they serve. “Just unacceptable. You are endangering other officers. You’re endangering the lives of citizens and you’re creating a narrative that people want to believe. ‘See I told you they don’t care.’ And that’s unacceptable by any means,” Session said.
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OK, but isn’t it much more than a “narrative that people want to believe” when real-life police officers share posts that make light of the deaths of Black people at the hands of police officers? Doesn’t Ballard’s post indicate that there’s a reality behind the idea that there are cops who are indifferent to the mattering of Black lives at best and contemptuous towards the idea at worst?
You would think that all of these stories that have come out over the past few years about public servants catching pink slips over their online behavior would teach cops and everyone else that posting racist shit on social media isn’t the same as having private conversations with your fellow racists in the confines of your own home.
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But whatever: Cops and other officials can keep being insensitive jackasses online and after it comes back to bite them, I’ll just keep singing my favorite song of 2020:


theroot--2020-10-05--Maybe I've Been Looking at Halloween Candy Too Long but This $10 Better Finger Vibe Is Calling My Na

Maybe I've Been Looking at Halloween Candy Too Long but This $10 Better Finger Vibe Is Calling My Name

Better Than Any Finger Vibrator | $ 10 | EllaParadis | Use Code FALL I ’ m a fan of @ @ @ @ @ vibrators .
I covered an adorable Devil Bullet last month .
Given it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Finger Vibe seemed pretty appropriate with all the giant bags of candy returning to the @ @ @ @ @ the code FALL and save $ 5 on this but up 60 % on other @ @ @ @ @ This candy massager is functional as a hard and smooth vibrator to buzz your erogenous @ @ @ @ @ case not only keeps your toy safe but doubles as a dupe for discreetness .
@ @ @ @ @ inches long and requires one AA battery .
Time to trick or treat yourself .

Sheilah Villari on Kinja Deals, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Better Than Any Finger Vibrator | $10 | EllaParadis | Use Code FALL
I’m a fan of these kinds of silly novelty vibrators. I covered an adorable Devil Bullet last month. Given it’s Halloween this Better Than Any Finger Vibe seemed pretty appropriate with all the giant bags of candy returning to the shelves of stores. Use the code FALL and save $5 on this but up 60% on other items at Ella Paradis.
This candy massager is functional as a hard and smooth vibrator to buzz your erogenous zones. The clever wrapper case not only keeps your toy safe but doubles as a dupe for discreetness. It’s about five inches long and requires one AA battery. Time to trick or treat yourself.
Free shipping on all orders.


theroot--2020-10-05--Georgia Prosecutors Believe Racist Texts and Social Media Posts Should be Admitted as Evidence in Ah

Georgia Prosecutors Believe Racist Texts and Social Media Posts Should be Admitted as Evidence in Ahmaud Arbery Case

Prosecutors in Georgia believe that racist texts and social media posts should be included as evidence against the three men charged with the killing of Ahmaud Arbery .
AJC reports state prosecutors believe the posts are “ proof of motive.
” Recent court filings show that prosecutors wish to enter a “ racial highway video Facebook post , ” “ a racial Johnny Rebel Facebook post , ” and a racist text message as evidence against Travis McMichael .
All three items were either posted or sent during 2019 .
Prosecutors also wish to enter an “ Identity Dixie Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook post ” as evidence against Greg McMichael , Travis McMichael ’ s father .
On Feb. 23 , Greg McMichael , Travis McMichael and William Bryan chased down Arbery and shot him three times in the Satilla Shores neighborhood outside of Brunswick , Ga. , killing him .
The three men said they chased Arbery because they believed he was responsible for a string of robberies in the neighborhood .
Police said they found no evidence that Arbery had stolen anything from the neighborhood .
Prosecutors also wish to introduce racist text @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During a July bond hearing , lead prosecutor Jesse Evans said Bryan frequently used the n -word in texts that contained “ a lot of filth.
” During a preliminary hearing in June , Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent Richard Dial testified that Bryan heard Travis McMichael say “ fucking nigger , ” while standing over Arbery ’ s body .
Attorneys for McMichael said that it was impossible for Bryan to have heard him say that as he was in his car when the shooting occurr ed .
A separate court filing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court Judge Timothy Walmsley to forbid the defense from introducing “ bad character ” evidence against Arbery during the trial .
This would include prior run-ins with law enforcement , his mental health history and any prior convictions he may have .
They believe that such evidence is “ irrelevant and inadmissible as to the issues in this case , including the issues of self-defense.
” A trial date has yet to be set due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic , and all three defendants are currently in jail .
In June , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with malice murder and aggravated assault among other charges .
In July , it was revealed that William Bryan is also a suspect in a sex crime investigation .
Bryan was denied bond in July with a bond hearing still to be set for both Travis and Greg McMichael .

Prosecutors in Georgia believe that racist texts and social media posts should be included as evidence against the three men charged with the killing of Ahmaud Arbery.
AJC reports state prosecutors believe the posts are “proof of motive.” Recent court filings show that prosecutors wish to enter a “racial highway video Facebook post,” “a racial Johnny Rebel Facebook post,” and a racist text message as evidence against Travis McMichael. All three items were either posted or sent during 2019. Prosecutors also wish to enter an “Identity Dixie Facebook post” and “Racial Johnny Rebel Facebook post” as evidence against Greg McMichael, Travis McMichael’s father.
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On Feb. 23, Greg McMichael, Travis McMichael and William Bryan chased down Arbery and shot him three times in the Satilla Shores neighborhood outside of Brunswick, Ga., killing him. The three men said they chased Arbery because they believed he was responsible for a string of robberies in the neighborhood. Police said they found no evidence that Arbery had stolen anything from the neighborhood.
Prosecutors also wish to introduce racist text messages that Bryan sent as evidence. During a July bond hearing, lead prosecutor Jesse Evans said Bryan frequently used the n -word in texts that contained “a lot of filth.”
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During a preliminary hearing in June, Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent Richard Dial testified that Bryan heard Travis McMichael say “fucking nigger,” while standing over Arbery’s body. Attorneys for McMichael said that it was impossible for Bryan to have heard him say that as he was in his car when the shooting occurr ed.
A separate court filing revealed that prosecutors also requested for Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley to forbid the defense from introducing “bad character” evidence against Arbery during the trial. This would include prior run-ins with law enforcement, his mental health history and any prior convictions he may have. They believe that such evidence is “irrelevant and inadmissible as to the issues in this case, including the issues of self-defense.”
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A trial date has yet to be set due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and all three defendants are currently in jail. In June, a grand jury indicted all three men with malice murder and aggravated assault among other charges. In July, it was revealed that William Bryan is also a suspect in a sex crime investigation. Bryan was denied bond in July with a bond hearing still to be set for both Travis and Greg McMichael.


theroot--2020-10-05--Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show Under Fire for Including Islamic Hadith in Soundtrack

Rihanna ’ s Oct. 2 Savage X Fenty show won raves for its diversity and inclusion ( including from us ) , but several Muslim viewers maintain one aspect shouldn ’ t have been included .
A segment of the hourlong production was set to a musical track that reportedly included an Islamic Hadith—otherwise known as a “ record of the traditions or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad , revered and received as a maj or source of religious law and moral guidance , second only to the authority of the Qura n , the holy book of Islam , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Hadith had been sped up and layered over a dance track for the song “ Doom ” by London producer Coucou Chloe .
Several understandably offended and , in some cases , absolutely outraged Muslim commenters called attention to the sacred Arabic text , which reportedly references “ judgment day and the end of times , ” according to Newsweek and multiple commenters online .
No doubt the juxtaposition of the track under visuals of lingerie-clad models and Drag Race veterans Shea Coulee and Gigi Goode voguing down the runway added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us celebrated the representation and freedom of gender and sexual expression in this and other scenes throughout the Savage X Fenty show , all run contrary to traditional Muslim values .
That aspect aside , as critics pointed out , the use of sacred teachings in an obviously secular context would ’ ve been inappropriate , regardless—in fact , it was mentioned that the incantations might even be considered inflammatory or threatening if spoken aloud by actual Muslims in mixed company .
“ i think the person who created the song knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one commenter .
“ that is a very specific hadith .
U have to go looking to find it .
It ’ s not something non-muslims know unless they research .
So the fact that the song is called Doom & the hadith is about the end of times ?
@ rihanna ?
” “ okay the fact that rihanna ’ s show was supposed to be a keystone for ‘ inclusion ’ while she completely alienated the Muslim community by disrespecting a Hadith recitation is the perfect showcase of how fashion brands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a part of their audience.
” To be fair , Rihanna has previously been praised for including hijab-wearing models in her campaigns for Fenty Beauty , including top American Muslim model Halima Aden .
Additionally , Rihanna was in a lengthy relationship with Saudi businessman Hassan Jameel which reportedly ended early this year , making this particular lapse in judgment from the notoriously hands-on mogul perhaps especially striking .
In fact , while it is entirely plausible ( and highly likely ) that Rihanna was entirely unaware of the meaning of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her show , some might feel she ’ s become a bit too comfortable in her proximity to Islamic culture .
As another commenter pointed out : “ i can ’ t let Rihanna have a pass w appropriating Islam like for her first show the models wore a scarf around their heads and it looked like HIJAB and her second show she used a track that remixed a HADITH ... .why is no one talking about this , my religion is not y ’ all ’ s aesthetic.
” Rihanna and her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement on the controversy and have not responded to Newsweek ’ s request for comment .
We will update this post should they do so , but it is important to recognize that despite our deep and abiding love for all things Rih—and whether or not anyone deliberately used that particular piece of Arabic content , this unfortunate incident does fall squarely within the boundaries of “ when appropriation goes wrong.
” “ i feel like islamaphobia is so normalized to the point where people are calling us dramatic for being mad when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commenter wrote ( h/t Newsweek ) .
“ hadith are sacred words of the prophet , they ’ re used to guide muslims & are second to only the Quran .
rihanna should know better .
”

Rihanna’s Oct. 2 Savage X Fenty show won raves for its diversity and inclusion (including from us), but several Muslim viewers maintain one aspect shouldn’t have been included. A segment of the hourlong production was set to a musical track that reportedly included an Islamic Hadith—otherwise known as a “record of the traditions or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, revered and received as a major source of religious law and moral guidance, second only to the authority of the Quran, the holy book of Islam,” according to Britannica.com. Vocal samples of the Hadith had been sped up and layered over a dance track for the song “Doom” by London producer Coucou Chloe.
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Several understandably offended and, in some cases, absolutely outraged Muslim commenters called attention to the sacred Arabic text, which reportedly references “judgment day and the end of times,” according to Newsweek and multiple commenters online. No doubt the juxtaposition of the track under visuals of lingerie-clad models and Drag Race veterans Shea Coulee and Gigi Goode voguing down the runway added fuel to the fire; while many of us celebrated the representation and freedom of gender and sexual expression in this and other scenes throughout the Savage X Fenty show, all run contrary to traditional Muslim values.
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That aspect aside, as critics pointed out, the use of sacred teachings in an obviously secular context would’ve been inappropriate, regardless—in fact, it was mentioned that the incantations might even be considered inflammatory or threatening if spoken aloud by actual Muslims in mixed company.
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“i think the person who created the song knew what they were doing,” wrote one commenter. “that is a very specific hadith. U have to go looking to find it. It’s not something non-muslims know unless they research. So the fact that the song is called Doom & the hadith is about the end of times? @rihanna?”
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Another commenter wrote (h/t Newsweek):
“okay the fact that rihanna’s show was supposed to be a keystone for ‘inclusion’ while she completely alienated the Muslim community by disrespecting a Hadith recitation is the perfect showcase of how fashion brands & the media have never considered us as a part of their audience.”
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To be fair, Rihanna has previously been praised for including hijab-wearing models in her campaigns for Fenty Beauty, including top American Muslim model Halima Aden. Additionally, Rihanna was in a lengthy relationship with Saudi businessman Hassan Jameel which reportedly ended early this year, making this particular lapse in judgment from the notoriously hands-on mogul perhaps especially striking.
In fact, while it is entirely plausible (and highly likely) that Rihanna was entirely unaware of the meaning of the Arabic included in the song chosen for her show, some might feel she’s become a bit too comfortable in her proximity to Islamic culture. As another commenter pointed out: “i can’t let Rihanna have a pass w appropriating Islam like for her first show the models wore a scarf around their heads and it looked like HIJAB and her second show she used a track that remixed a HADITH....why is no one talking about this, my religion is not y’all’s aesthetic.”
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Rihanna and her team have yet to release any public statement on the controversy and have not responded to Newsweek’s request for comment. We will update this post should they do so, but it is important to recognize that despite our deep and abiding love for all things Rih—and whether or not anyone deliberately used that particular piece of Arabic content, this unfortunate incident does fall squarely within the boundaries of “when appropriation goes wrong.”
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“i feel like islamaphobia is so normalized to the point where people are calling us dramatic for being mad when our religion gets disrespected?” a commenter wrote (h/t Newsweek). “hadith are sacred words of the prophet, they’re used to guide muslims & are second to only the Quran. rihanna should know better.”
Updated: Tuesday, 10/6/20 at 8:58 a.m., ET: Rihanna has spoken; on Monday night, the star confirmed that she was, in fact, unaware of the lyrical content of the song used in her show. Posting an apologetic response to her Instagram stories, she expressed sincere regret for what she termed “a careless mistake.”
I’d like to thank the Muslim community for pointing out a huge oversight that was unintentionally offensive in our Savage X Fenty show. I would more importantly like to apologize to you for this honest, yet careless mistake. We understand that we have hurt many of our Muslim brothers and sisters, and I’m incredibly disheartened by this! I do not play with and kind of disrespect toward God or any religion, and therefore the use of the song in our project is completely irresponsible! Moving forward, we will make sure nothing like this ever happens again. Thank you for your forgiveness and understanding, Rih.


theroot--2020-10-05--Double Down on Your Home's Smarts With $20 off a 2-Pack of the New Amazon Echo Dot

Smart speakers are a weird category ; there ’ s a bunch of different options out there , from big @ @ @ @ @ out to tiny little pebbles that can tell you about the weather .
If you @ @ @ @ @ and decided to go all-in on Amazon ’ s Alexa , the Echo Dot is @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s tiny , and the new model looks pretty nice so it @ @ @ @ @ be tucked in the corner of your bookshelf .
It ’ s available for pre-order @ @ @ @ @ need to fill out a few rooms , you can get $ 20 off a @ @ @ @ @ DOT2PACK .

Jordan McMahon on Kinja Deals, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Amazon Echo Dot (2-pack) | $80 | Amazon | Use Promo Code DOT2PACK
Smart speakers are a weird category; there’s a bunch of different options out there, from big booming speakers for rockin’ out to tiny little pebbles that can tell you about the weather. If you’ve done your research and decided to go all-in on Amazon’s Alexa, the Echo Dot is a good place to start. It’s tiny, and the new model looks pretty nice so it doesn’t have to be tucked in the corner of your bookshelf. It’s available for pre-order now, and if you need to fill out a few rooms, you can get $20 off a 2-pack using the promo code DOT2PACK.


theroot--2020-10-05--Matthew A. Cherry on Directing Black-ish's Election Special: 'There's a Certain Side Working Hard to

Matthew A. Cherry on Directing Black-ish's Election Special: 'There's a Certain Side Working Hard to Make Sure Our Voice Isn't Counted'

The Oscar-winning director helmed a special two-part election special of Black-ish on Sunday night .
Part 1 explored Junior ( Marcus Scribner ) and his excitement as a first-time voter ( in which he later became a bit jaded once he learned about that pesky little thing called voter suppression ) and Part 2 was a completely animated episode where Dre ( Anthony Anderson ) ran against his boss for Congress .
So , what if Junior had come to his play uncle Matthew Cherry and asked for voting advice ?
Given Cherry ’ s rising star status after his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure there are several young voters who are Junior ’ s age and may need some advice during what is quite the high-profile presidential election .
“ One thing I discovered recently [ when ] I got married less than a month ago , [ is ] at the courthouse where we picked up our marriage certificate , they have these drop boxes where you can actually drop off your ballot , ” Cherry said , noting that there are several options in addition to mailing in or standing in line to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s just little small things like that to make sure your vote is counted because there ’ s a certain side that is definitely working hard to make sure our voice isn ’ t counted.
” That side wouldn ’ t be painted orange , now would it ?
*wink* With his award-winning Hair Love and his upcoming HBO Max show Young Love , Cherry clearly has animation expertise so he was the perfect person to be involved in Black-ish ’ s first animated episode .
There ’ s so much time and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes into creating an animated episode of television , especially one so timely .
Add those general pressures to the fact that production doesn ’ t look the same during a global pandemic and ... wow !
“ Animation , in general , is never one person who is bringing the whole thing home , ” Cherry explained .
“ The first part of it is , you do the voice recording [ and ] we did that via Zoom which was a new experience for me and I was essentially able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zoom from the comfort of my living room which was kind of cool !
I sent over some shot listings and some blocking ideas over to the studio that ’ s going to be handling the storyboards ... what happens after that is the animation studio just goes to work.
” The seventh season premiere of Black-ish will air Oct. 21 on ABC at 9:30 p.m .
ET .

Tonja Renée Stidhum on The Grapevine, shared by Tonja Renée Stidhum to The Root

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theroot--2020-10-05--An Ode to Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Who Gave Us a Poem About Black Excellence That Was Beautifully Ahea

An Ode to Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Who Gave Us a Poem About Black Excellence That Was Beautifully Ahead of Its Time

Every so often the Internets gets into a running debate about Black famous folks .
What is “ Black famous ?
” Well , it ’ s the idea that a person is famous , and widely known ( and typically beloved ) , amongst Black folks , uniquely .
Who is on this list is a moving target .
And you can move from Black famous to famous-famous ( “ white famous ” ) —think Tyler Perry—but some folks are stalwarts of the community and have spent the greater parts of their careers being folks we enjoy internally .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ famous .
Betty Wright .
Gary Dourdan .
Essence Atkins .
Also , it is very important to note , this is not a shot .
Thomas Jefferson Byrd was one of those people .
The scene-stealing , Tony-nominated actor , whose name I honestly couldn ’ t tell you before he passed away , had so many iconic moments in Black movies that I feel ashamed that his name didn ’ t come immediately to mind .
While he was never the main character , his time on screen—especially in Spike Lee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it be known that he was killed in Atlanta over the weekend , he shared some of his favorite scenes that included Byrd .
One scene in particular from the movie Clockers ( 1995 ) , where Spike does Spike camera things and has the main character Strike ( Mekhi Phifer ) heading to his car only to see Byrd ’ s character Errol doing some kind of crackhead interpretive dance while KRS-One ’ s “ Outta Here ” plays in the background was the kind of shit that gave me nightmares .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and scary I ’ m pretty sure I vowed to my parents to stay off drugs just in case Errol was a real person who traveled down South to scare kids straight .
My favorite scenes though were his from the movie Bamboozled ( 2000 ) —one of the most underrated movies of all time ; yeah , I said it—where Byrd played “ Honeycutt , ” the host of the primetime television minstrel show Mantan : The New Millennium Minstrel Show .
He got the hosting gig after dropping one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in his audition titled : “ Niggas Is a Beautiful Thing.
” After seeing that and rewinding it over and over , I couldn ’ t help but walk around saying , “ niggas is a beautiful thing.
” And because I was on the campus of a historically Black college when it came out , well , I vividly remember that being the response whenever somebody did something awesome on campus .
Shit , if we ’ re being real , “ niggas is a beautiful thing ” is the precursor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that piece was so memorable that 20 years later , I STILL remember exactly how it was done .
Even in more recent work , I will never forget the face he made in the Netflix series , She ’ s Got ta Have It , where he played Nola Darling ’ s father , Stokely Darling , and seeing his daughter ’ s controversial art piece .
The piece ( SPOILER ALERT ) , which ended up being a nude portrait of Nola being lynched by her braids as her body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disgusted him so much—it was his daughter ’ s nude body after all—that when he came from behind the curtain with the most disturbed face I ’ ve ever seen I laughed out loud and I ’ m pretty sure it wasn ’ t supposed to be funny .
Byrd has a career full of moments where he shows up and shows out in ways that add so much to a movie or show .
He was just that kind of talent that moved the needle when he was on screen .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his flowers while he was here since he mostly had smaller , supporting roles in movies that we all know and ( sometimes ) love .
And since I personally know how invested I am in Black movies and art and how familiar I am with his roles but didn ’ t immediately conjure his name , I wanted to make sure to give him his proper flowers .
It says something substantial about his talent , though , when upon seeing that he was gone , I immediately envisioned his scenes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Got Game , Clockers , and even Ray .
I can see him in each movie he played a role in that I happened to see .
He was present , and mattered and when given the chance , he took the ball and ran with it .
And he scared me straight .
That ’ s a life of note .
Rest in Power , Thomas Jefferson Byrd .
You were right : N iggas is ( and still is ) a beautiful thing .

Panama Jackson on Very Smart Brothas, shared by Panama Jackson to The Root

Every so often the Internets gets into a running debate about Black famous folks. What is “Black famous?” Well, it’s the idea that a person is famous, and widely known (and typically beloved), amongst Black folks, uniquely. Who is on this list is a moving target. And you can move from Black famous to famous-famous (“white famous”)—think Tyler Perry—but some folks are stalwarts of the community and have spent the greater parts of their careers being folks we enjoy internally. For instance, Clifton Powell is Black famous. Betty Wright. Gary Dourdan. Essence Atkins. Also, it is very important to note, this is not a shot.
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Thomas Jefferson Byrd was one of those people. The scene-stealing, Tony-nominated actor, whose name I honestly couldn’t tell you before he passed away, had so many iconic moments in Black movies that I feel ashamed that his name didn’t come immediately to mind.
While he was never the main character, his time on screen—especially in Spike Lee films—was always memorable. After Spike let it be known that he was killed in Atlanta over the weekend, he shared some of his favorite scenes that included Byrd. One scene in particular from the movie Clockers (1995), where Spike does Spike camera things and has the main character Strike (Mekhi Phifer) heading to his car only to see Byrd’s character Errol doing some kind of crackhead interpretive dance while KRS-One’s “Outta Here” plays in the background was the kind of shit that gave me nightmares. His character was so menacing, unpredictable and scary I’m pretty sure I vowed to my parents to stay off drugs just in case Errol was a real person who traveled down South to scare kids straight.
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My favorite scenes though were his from the movie Bamboozled (2000)—one of the most underrated movies of all time; yeah, I said it—where Byrd played “Honeycutt,” the host of the primetime television minstrel show Mantan: The New Millennium Minstrel Show. He got the hosting gig after dropping one of the most poignant performance piece poems of all time in his audition titled: “Niggas Is a Beautiful Thing.”
After seeing that and rewinding it over and over, I couldn’t help but walk around saying, “niggas is a beautiful thing.” And because I was on the campus of a historically Black college when it came out, well, I vividly remember that being the response whenever somebody did something awesome on campus. Shit, if we’re being real, “niggas is a beautiful thing” is the precursor to “Black excellence.” His delivery of that piece was so memorable that 20 years later, I STILL remember exactly how it was done.
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Even in more recent work, I will never forget the face he made in the Netflix series, She’s Gotta Have It, where he played Nola Darling’s father, Stokely Darling, and seeing his daughter’s controversial art piece. The piece (SPOILER ALERT), which ended up being a nude portrait of Nola being lynched by her braids as her body is painted like the American flag, disgusted him so much—it was his daughter’s nude body after all—that when he came from behind the curtain with the most disturbed face I’ve ever seen I laughed out loud and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t supposed to be funny.
Byrd has a career full of moments where he shows up and shows out in ways that add so much to a movie or show. He was just that kind of talent that moved the needle when he was on screen. I’m not sure he quite got his flowers while he was here since he mostly had smaller, supporting roles in movies that we all know and (sometimes) love. And since I personally know how invested I am in Black movies and art and how familiar I am with his roles but didn’t immediately conjure his name, I wanted to make sure to give him his proper flowers. It says something substantial about his talent, though, when upon seeing that he was gone, I immediately envisioned his scenes in Bamboozled (especially), but He Got Game, Clockers, and even Ray. I can see him in each movie he played a role in that I happened to see. He was present, and mattered and when given the chance, he took the ball and ran with it. And he scared me straight. That’s a life of note.
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Rest in Power, Thomas Jefferson Byrd. You were right: N iggas is (and still is) a beautiful thing.


theroot--2020-10-05--Trump's Going Home and Tweets ‘Don’t Be Afraid of COVID.’ Oh, and His Campaign Is Attacking Joe Bide

Trump's Going Home and Tweets ‘Don’t Be Afraid of COVID.’ Oh, and His Campaign Is Attacking Joe Biden for Not Catching the Coronavirus

Stop me if you ’ ve heard this before : The president is using Twitter to spread misinformation about COVID-19 .
OK , that was a gim me .
Stop me if you don ’ t believe the president ever tested positive for COVID-19 and is using this diagnosis like a stunt to garner more support and move people away from the fact that he only paid $ 750 in taxes when he did pay taxes .
Fine , that feels too conspiracy-driven .
I get it .
But the president of people who voted for him is coming home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by his “ fight ” with the coronavirus , he ’ s telling his followers that they have nothing to fear and claiming that drugs have him feeling better than he has in 20 years .
And something tells me that not eating KFC for a few days could have also been why he feels better .
Trump ’ s Director of Communications Erin Perri ne even went on Republican Porn Hub , aka Fox News , and made the fact that the president of people who ’ ll drive a moped on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vietnam to prove that Trump is battle-tested , not an asshole who wouldn ’ t wear a mask .
Asked whether or not Trump was going to stop being a maskhole since he caught the virus after refusing to wear a face condom , Perrine had this to say : “ First-hand experience is always going to change how someone relates to something that ’ s been happening , ” she said , the Daily Beast reports .
“ The president has coronavirus right now .
He is battling it head-on , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And of course , that ’ s going to change the way that he speaks of it because it will be a firsthand experience.
” And then , as if Perrine had forgotten that the president got the virus by being an asshole who refused to listen to doctors ’ directives , she added : “ And listen , he has experience as commander-in-chief , he has experience as a businessman , he has experience , now , fighting the coronavirus as an individual .
Those firsthand experiences , Joe Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As if somehow not wearing a mask and catching a virus somehow makes Trump tougher than Joe Biden , who they ’ ve teased about staying masked up .
I don ’ t know about you , but I like presidents who haven ’ t caught the coronavirus .

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: The president is using Twitter to spread misinformation about COVID-19.
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OK, that was a gimme. Stop me if you don’t believe the president ever tested positive for COVID-19 and is using this diagnosis like a stunt to garner more support and move people away from the fact that he only paid $750 in taxes when he did pay taxes.
Fine, that feels too conspiracy-driven. I get it. But the president of people who voted for him is coming home and he’s not only emboldened by his “fight” with the coronavirus, he’s telling his followers that they have nothing to fear and claiming that drugs have him feeling better than he has in 20 years. And something tells me that not eating KFC for a few days could have also been why he feels better.
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Trump’s Director of Communications Erin Perri ne even went on Republican Porn Hub, aka Fox News, and made the fact that the president of people who’ll drive a moped on the highway is using the coronavirus like Vietnam to prove that Trump is battle-tested, not an asshole who wouldn’t wear a mask.
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Asked whether or not Trump was going to stop being a maskhole since he caught the virus after refusing to wear a face condom, Perrine had this to say:
“First-hand experience is always going to change how someone relates to something that’s been happening,” she said, the Daily Beast reports. “The president has coronavirus right now. He is battling it head-on, as toughly, as only President Trump can. And of course, that’s going to change the way that he speaks of it because it will be a firsthand experience.”
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And then, as if Perrine had forgotten that the president got the virus by being an asshole who refused to listen to doctors’ directives, she added: “And listen, he has experience as commander-in-chief, he has experience as a businessman, he has experience, now, fighting the coronavirus as an individual. Those firsthand experiences, Joe Biden, he doesn’t have those.”
As if somehow not wearing a mask and catching a virus somehow makes Trump tougher than Joe Biden, who they’ve teased about staying masked up.
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I don’t know about you, but I like presidents who haven’t caught the coronavirus.


theroot--2020-10-05--The 10 Best Deals of October 5, 2020

The 10 Best Deals of October 5, 2020

It ’ s October 5 , and it ’ s official .
In case you didn ’ t know , wearing a mask can help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 .
Shocking !
To prepare you for more spooky revelations this October , we at Kinja Deals have compiled a list of the top 10 deals of the day .
For touch-free music listening , check out the Amazon Echo Dot .
Avoid the crowds at your local party supplies stores by ordering your Halloween decorations from Wayfair .
And vacuum your floors while troubleshooting your child ’ s Zoom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And i f you ’ re still craving more deals , check out Monday ’ s best deals overall .
With Cyberpunk 2077 going gold , there are no more delays to fear .
If you ’ re on PC and ready to dive into what ’ s undoubtedly the biggest game of the generation so far ( at least as far as hype and expectations are concerned ) , you ’ ll want to head to Eneba and place a pre-order with exclusive code KINJA25 .
That ’ ll get you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activation instructions here ) for just $ 45 , one of the lowest pre-order prices we ’ ve seen yet for Cyberpunk 2077 on any platform .
Unlike Geralt of the ancient ( and totally fictitious ) land of Rivia , Cyberpunk takes us into a not-so-distant future where guys good and bad are yoked up with cybernetic enhancements .
Life is generally fine until it ’ s discovered there ’ s a prototypical component that grants immortality to whoever has it installed , and , of course , all hell breaks loose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ originally set to be out this Spring and was once delayed until September , but it since suffered another delay to November 19 , 2020 .
But no worries : that date won ’ t change from here on out .
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer .
Smart speakers are a weird category ; there ’ s a bunch of different options out there , from big booming speakers for rockin ’ out to tiny little pebbles that can tell you about the weather .
If you ’ ve done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Amazon ’ s Alexa , the Echo Dot is a good place to start .
It ’ s tiny , and the new model looks pretty nice so it doesn ’ t have to be tucked in the corner of your bookshelf .
It ’ s available for pre-order now , and if you need to fill out a few rooms , you can get $ 20 off a 2-pack using the promo code DOT2PACK .
This article was originally published by Jordan McMahon .
This past weekend it was so fun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wherever or not little monsters will be out looking for candy on the day .
My neighborhood has several houses that really go above and beyond for a holiday spooktacular .
Pumpkins are the autumn signifier and to see them pop up on porches and stoops has been really nice over the last few weeks too .
Grab everything you need from Wayfair for a lot less today to decorate your home with the ultimate fall symbol .
The first thing I buy as fall approaches is a pumping candle .
Is it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love to have my home filled with sweet smells of the most famous winter squash .
Grabbing two perfect pumpkin spice candles for just $ 19 is not only a great deal but the ideal way to conjure all the good vibes that come with all the calm of changing leaves and cooler nights .
And because there ’ s two you can share and spread the delightful scents of the season .
One of the easiest ways to show some creepy cheer is with a doormat .
Take $ 5 off this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s really pretty adorable if you ask me .
This doormat is durable for all weather , is 29 inches by 17 inches , and is non-slip .
The darker colors help with the illusion that it ’ s cleaner so it won ’ t show as much dirt if you do wipe your shoes in it .
But if you do mess it up it ’ s easy to clean by just hosing it off in the yard or running water over it in the tub .
I ’ m such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cat and Rat Jack-O-Lantern prop set definitely fits the bill .
It ’ s a fun and easy way to turn a simple pumpkin into a supernatural centerpiece for the bewitching hour .
In the set , you get a rat and cat head and tail that you just stick into any pumpkin you purchase .
I jokingly suggested these for a friend ’ s wedding since she wants pumpkin decor .
She didn ’ t find it funny .
If this is your sense of humor grab these today and bring come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari .
Perfect for Uber drivers or your own amateur episode of Carpool Karaoke , the Roav DashCam Duo by Anker is now just $ 75 at Amazon , a 31 % discount .
This two-way camera has strong night time performance and records both the front of the road and the cockpit of your car .
It has all the bells and whistles , including built-in GPS for tracking your trips , collision detection with a 30-second total buffer , and parking mode , which snaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view of the 1080p wide-angle cameras .
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer .
If you ’ re searching for some new kitchenware , check out Sweese porcelain bowls and plates , which are 30 % off for today only !
They ’ re colorful and can bring some personality to your space .
Actually , I might buy these for my apartment , be right back .
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher .
Bid farewell to dusty floors and cat hairs with a Roborock S4 , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ range , for $ 100 off .
That brings your total down to $ 300 ( lowest price we ’ ve seen so far ) for a powerful 2,000pa suction rating , which should carry along most visible particles right through to the internal dust bin .
It cleans for up to 150 minutes on a full charge , and it can learn virtually any room in your home and store the layout in memory , allowing you to set up per-room cleaning schedules with virtual boundaries that don ’ t require any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published by Quentyn Kennemer .
# 7 : Better than any Finger vibrator I ’ m a fan of these kinds of silly novelty vibrators .
I covered an adorable Devil Bullet last month .
Given it ’ s Halloween this Better Than Any Finger Vibe seemed pretty appropriate with all the giant bags of candy returning to the shelves of stores .
Use the code FALL and save $ 5 on this but up 60 % on other items at Ella Paradis .
This candy massager is functional as a hard and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The clever wrapper case not only keeps your toy safe but doubles as a dupe for discreetness .
It ’ s about five inches long and requires one AA battery .
Time to trick or treat yourself .
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari .
At just $ 15 , if you haven ’ t fallen in love with true wireless earbuds , these tethered Aukey B60 buds still give you enough wireless freedom to step away from your smartphone and keep the tunes going .
That ’ s the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon , saving you $ 25 .
The Aukey B60 feature 8-hour battery life , which is rechargeable via the inline volume and track control over a fast USB-C line .
Aukey advertises you can get back up to 80 minutes of listening time with 30 minutes of charging .
These are ideal for working out thanks to IPX6 water resistance and ear fin attachments to keep them snug while you ’ re jumping your jacks .
They also have a cool power function whereby you join the two buds together at their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and separate them whenever you ’ re ready to dance .
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer .
Halloween will probably look a little different this year but that doesn ’ t mean you can ’ t still enjoy lots of sugary goodness .
If you ’ re like me you noticed immediately when your local drug store added the bags of Halloween candy back in August .
Today grab this treat bag of 400 fun-size packs for just $ 18 .
This bag of Hersey brand fan favorites has something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s , Kit Kat , Jolly Rancher , Twizzlers , Whoppers , and Bubble Yum so you can choose your own candy adventure from chewy to chocolatey .
There are over seven pounds to share ( because they ’ re individually wrapped ) or to just toss in your bag for a little saccharin pick me up while you ’ re out and about .
If you or house are Hersey lovers this is your deal and the time of year to shine in confectionery delight .
This deal was originally published by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drop , you ’ ll be able to get your hands onto an Anker Powerexpand 7-in-1 USB-C media hub for $ 25 .
It includes a 4k HDMI , a USB-C , SD card reader , as well as two USB-A ports .
So plug everything you got into this bad boy .
It ’ ll do you right .
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher .

Juliana Clark on Kinja Deals, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Monday’s Best Deals | Kinja Deals
It’s October 5, and it’s official. In case you didn’t know, wearing a mask can help prevent the transmission of COVID-19. Shocking! To prepare you for more spooky revelations this October, we at Kinja Deals have compiled a list of the top 10 deals of the day.
For touch-free music listening, check out the Amazon Echo Dot. Avoid the crowds at your local party supplies stores by ordering your Halloween decorations from Wayfair. And vacuum your floors while troubleshooting your child’s Zoom class with the Roborock S4 Robot Vacuum.
And i f you’re still craving more deals, check out Monday’s best deals overall.
#1: Cyberpunk 2077
With Cyberpunk 2077 going gold, there are no more delays to fear. If you’re on PC and ready to dive into what’s undoubtedly the biggest game of the generation so far (at least as far as hype and expectations are concerned), you’ll want to head to Eneba and place a pre-order with exclusive code KINJA25. That’ll get you a digital copy redeemable at GOG (activation instructions here) for just $45, one of the lowest pre-order prices we’ve seen yet for Cyberpunk 2077 on any platform.
Unlike Geralt of the ancient (and totally fictitious) land of Rivia, Cyberpunk takes us into a not-so-distant future where guys good and bad are yoked up with cybernetic enhancements. Life is generally fine until it’s discovered there’s a prototypical component that grants immortality to whoever has it installed, and, of course, all hell breaks loose to secure it.
Cyberpunk 2077 was originally set to be out this Spring and was once delayed until September, but it since suffered another delay to November 19, 2020. But no worries: that date won’t change from here on out.
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer.
#2: Amazon echo dot 4TH GEN (2-pack)
Smart speakers are a weird category; there’s a bunch of different options out there, from big booming speakers for rockin’ out to tiny little pebbles that can tell you about the weather. If you’ve done your research and decided to go all-in on Amazon’s Alexa, the Echo Dot is a good place to start. It’s tiny, and the new model looks pretty nice so it doesn’t have to be tucked in the corner of your bookshelf. It’s available for pre-order now, and if you need to fill out a few rooms, you can get $20 off a 2-pack using the promo code DOT2PACK.
This article was originally published by Jordan McMahon.
#3: Wayfair pumpkin decor
This past weekend it was so fun to see people still decorating for Halloween wherever or not little monsters will be out looking for candy on the day. My neighborhood has several houses that really go above and beyond for a holiday spooktacular. Pumpkins are the autumn signifier and to see them pop up on porches and stoops has been really nice over the last few weeks too. Grab everything you need from Wayfair for a lot less today to decorate your home with the ultimate fall symbol.
The first thing I buy as fall approaches is a pumping candle. Is it basic? Yes, but I just love to have my home filled with sweet smells of the most famous winter squash. Grabbing two perfect pumpkin spice candles for just $19 is not only a great deal but the ideal way to conjure all the good vibes that come with all the calm of changing leaves and cooler nights. And because there’s two you can share and spread the delightful scents of the season.
One of the easiest ways to show some creepy cheer is with a doormat. Take $5 off this Scary Pumpkins one from Taunya. It’s really pretty adorable if you ask me. This doormat is durable for all weather, is 29 inches by 17 inches, and is non-slip. The darker colors help with the illusion that it’s cleaner so it won’t show as much dirt if you do wipe your shoes in it. But if you do mess it up it’s easy to clean by just hosing it off in the yard or running water over it in the tub.
I’m such a sucker of kooky decorations and this Cat and Rat Jack-O-Lantern prop set definitely fits the bill. It’s a fun and easy way to turn a simple pumpkin into a supernatural centerpiece for the bewitching hour. In the set, you get a rat and cat head and tail that you just stick into any pumpkin you purchase. I jokingly suggested these for a friend’s wedding since she wants pumpkin decor. She didn’t find it funny. If this is your sense of humor grab these today and bring come eerie cheer into your abode.
Enjoy free two-day shipping on these items.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#4: Anker roav dashcam duo
Perfect for Uber drivers or your own amateur episode of Carpool Karaoke, the Roav DashCam Duo by Anker is now just $75 at Amazon, a 31% discount. This two-way camera has strong night time performance and records both the front of the road and the cockpit of your car.
It has all the bells and whistles, including built-in GPS for tracking your trips, collision detection with a 30-second total buffer, and parking mode, which snaps a quick recording anytime something comes within view of the 1080p wide-angle cameras.
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer.
#5: Sweese porcelain bowls
If you’re searching for some new kitchenware, check out Sweese porcelain bowls and plates, which are 30% off for today only! They’re colorful and can bring some personality to your space. Actually, I might buy these for my apartment, be right back.
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher.
#6: Roborock s4 robot vacuum
Bid farewell to dusty floors and cat hairs with a Roborock S4, one of the best robotic vacuums in its range, for $100 off. That brings your total down to $300 (lowest price we’ve seen so far) for a powerful 2,000pa suction rating, which should carry along most visible particles right through to the internal dust bin. It cleans for up to 150 minutes on a full charge, and it can learn virtually any room in your home and store the layout in memory, allowing you to set up per-room cleaning schedules with virtual boundaries that don’t require any add-on devices.
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer.
#7: Better than any Finger vibrator
I’m a fan of these kinds of silly novelty vibrators. I covered an adorable Devil Bullet last month. Given it’s Halloween this Better Than Any Finger Vibe seemed pretty appropriate with all the giant bags of candy returning to the shelves of stores. Use the code FALL and save $5 on this but up 60% on other items at Ella Paradis.
This candy massager is functional as a hard and smooth vibrator to buzz your erogenous zones. The clever wrapper case not only keeps your toy safe but doubles as a dupe for discreetness. It’s about five inches long and requires one AA battery. Time to trick or treat yourself.
Free shipping on all orders.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#8: Aukey b60 bluetooth earbuds
At just $15, if you haven’t fallen in love with true wireless earbuds, these tethered Aukey B60 buds still give you enough wireless freedom to step away from your smartphone and keep the tunes going. That’s the price when you click the coupon at Amazon, saving you $25.
The Aukey B60 feature 8-hour battery life, which is rechargeable via the inline volume and track control over a fast USB-C line. Aukey advertises you can get back up to 80 minutes of listening time with 30 minutes of charging. These are ideal for working out thanks to IPX6 water resistance and ear fin attachments to keep them snug while you’re jumping your jacks. They also have a cool power function whereby you join the two buds together at their magnetic points to turn them off, and separate them whenever you’re ready to dance.
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer.
#9: Hershey’s halloween candy
Halloween will probably look a little different this year but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy lots of sugary goodness. If you’re like me you noticed immediately when your local drug store added the bags of Halloween candy back in August. Today grab this treat bag of 400 fun-size packs for just $18.
This bag of Hersey brand fan favorites has something for everyone. It includes Reese’s, Kit Kat, Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers, Whoppers, and Bubble Yum so you can choose your own candy adventure from chewy to chocolatey. There are over seven pounds to share (because they’re individually wrapped) or to just toss in your bag for a little saccharin pick me up while you’re out and about. If you or house are Hersey lovers this is your deal and the time of year to shine in confectionery delight.
Prime members enjoy same-day shipping.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#10: anker 7-in-1 usb-c media hub
Because of a price drop, you’ll be able to get your hands onto an Anker Powerexpand 7-in-1 USB-C media hub for $25. It includes a 4k HDMI, a USB-C, SD card reader, as well as two USB-A ports. So plug everything you got into this bad boy. It’ll do you right.
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher.