theroot--2020-11-25--Michigan Professor Under Investigation Over Anti-Semitic and N-Word-Laced COVID-19 Conspiracy Tweets

A Michigan college professor has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into tweets that appear to show that , despite being a science professor , he hates science and has a bit of contempt for Jewish people .
One thing he loves , though , is the n-word .
The Associated Press reports that Thomas Brennan , a physical science professor at Ferris State University in Big Rapids , Mich. , was put on leave last Thursday after the school ’ s student-run newspaper , The Torch , published a story about him that included screenshots of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) tweets .
Brennan ’ s Twitter account is no longer public , but according to AP , in one of his tweets , he referred to COVID-19 as “ another Jewish revolution.
” And that ’ s really only the tip of the weird-ass iceberg of offensive things he has tweeted .
Not all of the screenshots published in The Torch reveal his bigotry .
Some of them show that the professor of science doesn ’ t much care for the science behind the coronavirus pandemic and that he prefers baseless conspiracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covid stunt has failed , ” Brennan wrote in one tweet .
“ You won ’ t get your leftist new world order.
” He also urged people to “ Stand up for yourselves people , and stop falling for this coronavirus hoax !
” In another tweet , he claimed the virus “ is fake ” and that “ an evil medical system just killed a bunch of old people.
” He also appears to believe the whole “ 5G cell phones cause COVID ” thing .
In one screenshot in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweet , Brennan wrote , “ It ’ s partly because homeless people can ’ t afford cell phones—the main cause of covid symptoms I think.
” I ’ d just like to take this time to remind you this man is a science teacher .
Let ’ s move on to where the racism comes in .
“ Quarks are fake , the Higgs Boson is fake , Black Holes are fake , Neil DeGrasse Tyson is a worthless nigger , Dark matter is fake , Atom bombs are fake , Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moon Landing is fake , Viruses are fake , Buss Aldrin is a worthless nigger , Anthony Fauci is… ” And that ’ s where the screenshot cuts off , but if I were to make an educated guess , I ’ d say he called Fauci a worthless nigger since that word appears to be a central feature of his bizarre rant .
A screenshot published by Fox 17 shows that Brennan also tweeted , “ I love Jews and Niggers because they are my brothers and sisters.
” ( Nothing worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already know what his excuse is : It ’ s not racist because he calls everyone a nigger .
( And we ’ re all supposed to just ignore that he called a Black man that first . )
“ I believe the ‘ n-word ’ is a mind-control spell designed to make us hate each other , ” Brennan said in the statement , AP reports .
“ I reject the premise that there are certain magic words that should never be used in any context or by certain people.
” Apparently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racial slurs revolves around him saying shocking things to draw attention to his point ( whatever the hell that is ) .
In an interview with ABC 13 , he defended his behavior saying , “ I just have to speak out , to try to speak my conscience .
I can ’ t be silent and watch this happen.
” He was referring to what he believes is a COVID-19 “ stunt ” to create “ a leftist new world order.
” “ I did say some hyperbolic things to draw attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say , ” Brennan continued .
So basically , Brennan is every delusional dude-bro on Reddit trying to be edgy .
“ I didn ’ t use [ nigger ] lightly , ” Brennan told ABC .
“ But we ’ re heading towards such a crescendo of madness where we ’ re about to all be enslaved because of this COVID crisis.
” According to AP , David Eisler , president of Ferris State University , said Brennan was disciplined in August after he disrupted a virtual department meeting with his tin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But that ’ s nothing compared to his more recent offenses .
“ Individually and collectively we were shocked and outraged by these tweets , ” Eisler said in a statement .
“ They are extremely offensive and run counter to the values of our University and our commitment to diversity , equity and inclusion .
”

A Michigan college professor has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into tweets that appear to show that, despite being a science professor, he hates science and has a bit of contempt for Jewish people. One thing he loves, though, is the n-word.
The Associated Press reports that Thomas Brennan, a physical science professor at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., was put on leave last Thursday after the school’s student-run newspaper, The Torch, published a story about him that included screenshots of his controversial (to say the absolute least) tweets.
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Brennan’s Twitter account is no longer public, but according to AP, in one of his tweets, he referred to COVID-19 as “another Jewish revolution.” And that’s really only the tip of the weird-ass iceberg of offensive things he has tweeted.
Not all of the screenshots published in The Torch reveal his bigotry. Some of them show that the professor of science doesn’t much care for the science behind the coronavirus pandemic and that he prefers baseless conspiracy theories instead.
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“Guess what the covid stunt has failed,” Brennan wrote in one tweet. “You won’t get your leftist new world order.”
He also urged people to “Stand up for yourselves people, and stop falling for this coronavirus hoax!” In another tweet, he claimed the virus “is fake” and that “an evil medical system just killed a bunch of old people.”
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He also appears to believe the whole “5G cell phones cause COVID” thing.
In one screenshot in which he appears to be responding to another tweet, Brennan wrote, “It’s partly because homeless people can’t afford cell phones—the main cause of covid symptoms I think.”
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I’d just like to take this time to remind you this man is a science teacher.
Let’s move on to where the racism comes in.
“Quarks are fake, the Higgs Boson is fake, Black Holes are fake, Neil DeGrasse Tyson is a worthless nigger, Dark matter is fake, Atom bombs are fake, Bill Nye is a worthless nigger, the Moon Landing is fake, Viruses are fake, Buss Aldrin is a worthless nigger, Anthony Fauci is…”
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And that’s where the screenshot cuts off, but if I were to make an educated guess, I’d say he called Fauci a worthless nigger since that word appears to be a central feature of his bizarre rant.
A screenshot published by Fox 17 shows that Brennan also tweeted, “I love Jews and Niggers because they are my brothers and sisters.” (Nothing worse than a Kumbaya-ass bigot.)
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You already know what his excuse is: It’s not racist because he calls everyone a nigger. (And we’re all supposed to just ignore that he called a Black man that first.)
“I believe the ‘n-word’ is a mind-control spell designed to make us hate each other,” Brennan said in the statement, AP reports. “I reject the premise that there are certain magic words that should never be used in any context or by certain people.”
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Sure, Klan...I mean, Jan.
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Apparently, Brennan’s excuse for using racial slurs revolves around him saying shocking things to draw attention to his point (whatever the hell that is).
In an interview with ABC 13, he defended his behavior saying, “I just have to speak out, to try to speak my conscience. I can’t be silent and watch this happen.” He was referring to what he believes is a COVID-19 “stunt” to create “a leftist new world order.”
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“I did say some hyperbolic things to draw attention to what it is I wanted to say,” Brennan continued.
So basically, Brennan is every delusional dude-bro on Reddit trying to be edgy.
“I didn’t use [nigger] lightly,” Brennan told ABC. “But we’re heading towards such a crescendo of madness where we’re about to all be enslaved because of this COVID crisis.”
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According to AP, David Eisler, president of Ferris State University, said Brennan was disciplined in August after he disrupted a virtual department meeting with his tin foil hat-worthy COVID conspiracy theory nonsense. But that’s nothing compared to his more recent offenses.
“Individually and collectively we were shocked and outraged by these tweets,” Eisler said in a statement. “They are extremely offensive and run counter to the values of our University and our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.”


theroot--2020-11-25--MysteryVibe's Black Friday Sale Starts Now, Take 30% off Vibes and Bundles

A lot of companies have been dropping their Black Friday deals early to help everyone get a jump on that holiday shopping .
Our pals at MysteryVibe are among those fabulous businesses with a fabulous deal .
Right now save 30 % on Vibrators and Bundles .
This sale runs until December 3 .
I ’ m a big fan of the Poco and recommended it as one of my favorites .
This bendable bullet vibe is great for solo flights but is pretty fun with a partner .
Design your own vibration pulses through the companies app and let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driving .
If that ’ s not the perfect way to spend a chilly fall weekend I don ’ t know what is .
This bundle ( $ 77 ) gives you the vibe , the Poco play cards ( if you need instruction or inspiration ) , and Sliquid lube .
Now for the dudes .
And yes the sex tech continues with the Tenuto .
This vibe is operated with the app as well to send all the right rhythms to your boy bits .
It ’ s a wearable vibrator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you and your ‘ love-ah.
’ Control the flow and get extra playtime in with this gentlemanly accessory .
The Tenuto bundle ( $ 133 ) also comes with cards specific to this toy and Ride lube .
This is a great gift to elevate the impeding next lockdown .
Keep your Tenuto close and your snuggle bunny closer .
All these bundles will ship for free .

Sheilah Villari on Kinja Deals, shared by Ignacia to The Root

30% off Vibrators and Bundles | MysteryVibe
A lot of companies have been dropping their V-Day deals early to help everyone set the mood whether with a partner for for some personal time. Our pals at MysteryVibe are among those fabulous businesses with a fabulous deal. Right now save 30% on Vibrators and Bundles.
I’m a big fan of the Poco and recommended it as one of my favorites. This bendable bullet vibe is great for solo flights but is pretty fun with a partner. Design your own vibration pulses through the companies app and let your significant other do some of the driving. If that’s not the perfect way to spend a chilly fall weekend I don’t know what is. This bundle ($101) gives you the vibe, the Poco play cards (if you need instruction or inspiration), and Astroglide lube.
Now for the dudes. And yes the sex tech continues with the Tenuto. This vibe is operated with the app as well to send all the right rhythms to your boy bits. It’s a wearable vibrator to stimulate three pleasure zones for both you and your ‘love-ah.’ Control the flow and get extra playtime in with this gentlemanly accessory. The Tenuto bundle ($177) also comes with cards specific to this toy and Astroglide. This is a great gift to elevate the time you’ve been spending with your beloved. Keep your Tenuto close and your snuggle bunny closer.
All these bundles will ship for free.


theroot--2020-11-25--Treasury Secretary Moves $455 Billion of Unspent Stimulus Money Out of Biden’s Reach Because Petty

There is a difference between my 1-year-old daughter throwing my 3-year-old son ’ s stuffed Mickey Mouse over the banister so that no one can play with it , and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin moving $ 455 billion in unspent stimulus money into a fund that wouldn ’ t allow incoming President Joe Biden access to it without Congressional approval .
“ That amount includes money that Mnuchin is yanking from the Federal Reserve and unused loans for companies .
The funds will be deposited into the Treasury ’ s General Fund , which requires legislative approval to use the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not immediately respond to a request for comment , ” Business Insider reports .
Forget what anyone else tells you : t he move is being done specifically to make likely successor Janet Yellen ’ s job harder .
By moving the money into a legislatively controlled fund , Yellen won ’ t be able to come in and restart the Fed ’ s lending program .
Because Mnuchin is being petty AF , the incoming treasury secretary will only have some $ 80 billion at her discretion .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ onto the winter in the US atop of other risks already there , ” Ernie Tedeschi , a policy economist at Evercore ISI , told Business Insider .
“ We may need that backstop again as cases have now blown through their prior peaks , state and local governments are making cuts , and we ’ re about to kick off millions of people from unemployment insurance.
” Bharat Ramamurti , a Democratic member of a congressional panel overseeing the funds , noted that there may be hope in spite of all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s latest ham-handed effort to undermine the Biden Administration , ” he wrote on Twitter .
“ The good news is that it ’ s illegal and can be reversed next year.
” Let ’ s hope so because the Trump administration is treating America the same way I did at the now-defunct Greenbelt Middle School , in which I literally went down the halls destroying lockers and shit , because fuck that school .
The big difference is I was 13 and no one died as a result of my actions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same thing .

Who doesn’t love a little light pettiness?
There is a difference between my 1-year-old daughter throwing my 3-year-old son’s stuffed Mickey Mouse over the banister so that no one can play with it, and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin moving $455 billion in unspent stimulus money into a fund that wouldn’t allow incoming President Joe Biden access to it without Congressional approval.
“That amount includes money that Mnuchin is yanking from the Federal Reserve and unused loans for companies. The funds will be deposited into the Treasury’s General Fund, which requires legislative approval to use the money elsewhere. The Treasury Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment,” Business Insider reports.
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Forget what anyone else tells you: t he move is being done specifically to make likely successor Janet Yellen’s job harder. By moving the money into a legislatively controlled fund, Yellen won’t be able to come in and restart the Fed’s lending program. Because Mnuchin is being petty AF, the incoming treasury secretary will only have some $80 billion at her discretion.
“It’s one more enormous risk we are piling onto the winter in the US atop of other risks already there,” Ernie Tedeschi, a policy economist at Evercore ISI, told Business Insider. “We may need that backstop again as cases have now blown through their prior peaks, state and local governments are making cuts, and we’re about to kick off millions of people from unemployment insurance.”
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Bharat Ramamurti, a Democratic member of a congressional panel overseeing the funds, noted that there may be hope in spite of all the pettiness.
“This is Treasury’s latest ham-handed effort to undermine the Biden Administration,” he wrote on Twitter. “The good news is that it’s illegal and can be reversed next year.”
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Let’s hope so because the Trump administration is treating America the same way I did at the now-defunct Greenbelt Middle School, in which I literally went down the halls destroying lockers and shit, because fuck that school.
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The big difference is I was 13 and no one died as a result of my actions. The Trump administration can’t say the same thing.


theroot--2020-11-25--Cheo Hodari Coker to Write Forty Acres Film Adaptation for Netflix; James Lassiter and Jay-Z Produci

Cheo Hodari Coker to Write Forty Acres Film Adaptation for Netflix; James Lassiter and Jay-Z Producing

Luke Cage creator Cheo Hodari Coker is set to write the film adaptation script for Forty Acres , based on the novel of the same name by Dwayne Alexander Smith .
The film is in early development at Netflix and will be produced by James Lassiter , Jay-Z , Aaron Kaplan ( Kapital Entertainment ) , Niles Kirchner and Bill Strauss .
Dana Honor ( Kapital ) will executive produce with Mike Epps and Smith .
For those unfamiliar with the novel , the attorney is Martin Grey and the “ mind-blowing secret ” is a switcheroo on white supremacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on publisher Simon & Schuster ’ s ( the novel ’ s publisher Atria Books is a division of Simon & Schuster ) website : Martin finds out that his glittering new friends are part of a secret society dedicated to the preservation of the institution of slavery—but this time around , the Black men are called “ Master.
” Joining them seems to guarantee a future without limits ; rebuking them almost certainly guarantees his death .
Trapped inside a picture-perfect , make-believe world that is home to a frightening reality , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will allow him to stay alive without becoming the very thing he hates .
“ A thriller in a class by itself—brilliant and scary !
” New York Times bestselling novelist Terry McMillan said about the book .
Lassiter and Jay-Z are also teaming up to produce the recently announced all-Black western , The Harder They Fall , starring Idris Elba , Regina King , Jonathan Majors , Lakeith Stanfield and pretty much every acclaimed Black actor in existence , which is pretty damn dope , especially in that genre .
In addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and executive producing ) Luke Cage , Coker inked an overall deal with Amazon Studios in 2018 .
As for further upcoming projects , the NAACP Image Award winner ( Southland ) is currently writing Diary of a Trap God , which is based on Gucci Mane ’ s autobiography of the same name .
Coker is also writing the sequel to Four Brothers , which premiered in 2005 .
“ Happy to finally report… ” Smith , who won the 2015 NAACP Image Award in the Best Debut Novel category for Forty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday along with the news from Deadline .

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

Luke Cage creator Cheo Hodari Coker is set to write the film adaptation script for Forty Acres, based on the novel of the same name by Dwayne Alexander Smith. The film is in early development at Netflix and will be produced by James Lassiter, Jay-Z, Aaron Kaplan (Kapital Entertainment), Niles Kirchner and Bill Strauss. Dana Honor (Kapital) will executive produce with Mike Epps and Smith.
Here’s the synopsis scoop via Deadline:
Forty Acres follows a civil rights attorney who must fight for survival when he’s invited to join an elite Black organization with a mind-blowing secret; the thriller is described as being a cross between The Firm and Get Out.
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For those unfamiliar with the novel, the attorney is Martin Grey and the “mind-blowing secret” is a switcheroo on white supremacy. From the novel’s page on publisher Simon & Schuster’s (the novel’s publisher Atria Books is a division of Simon & Schuster) website:
Martin finds out that his glittering new friends are part of a secret society dedicated to the preservation of the institution of slavery—but this time around, the Black men are called “Master.” Joining them seems to guarantee a future without limits; rebuking them almost certainly guarantees his death. Trapped inside a picture-perfect, make-believe world that is home to a frightening reality, Martin must find a way out that will allow him to stay alive without becoming the very thing he hates.
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Wow.
“A thriller in a class by itself—brilliant and scary!” New York Times bestselling novelist Terry McMillan said about the book.
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Lassiter and Jay-Z are also teaming up to produce the recently announced all-Black western, The Harder They Fall, starring Idris Elba, Regina King, Jonathan Majors, Lakeith Stanfield and pretty much every acclaimed Black actor in existence, which is pretty damn dope, especially in that genre.
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In addition to creating (as well as show-running and executive producing) Luke Cage, Coker inked an overall deal with Amazon Studios in 2018. As for further upcoming projects, the NAACP Image Award winner (Southland) is currently writing Diary of a Trap God, which is based on Gucci Mane’s autobiography of the same name. Coker is also writing the sequel to Four Brothers, which premiered in 2005.
“Happy to finally report…” Smith, who won the 2015 NAACP Image Award in the Best Debut Novel category for Forty Acres, wrote on his Facebook page on Tuesday along with the news from Deadline.


theroot--2020-11-25--GTFOH Trump Watch: The Trump and Rudy Show Hit the Road

In what can only be described as a vaudevillian act of racist proportions , President Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani , the dumber to the president ’ s dumb , are allegedly traveling to Pennsylvania on Wednesday for a meeting about election impropriety that didn ’ t happen .
According to Bloomberg , Trump ’ s visit , which was reportedly confirmed by three separate sources , was not on his public schedule , but we all know that Trump is a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-elastic-waistband kind of guy .
The president is supposed to make an appearance alongside Giuliani , the racist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lucy , for his continued wasted effort to try and reverse election results .
For the record , President-elect Joe Biden won the state by more than 80,000 votes , but that hasn ’ t stopped Trump supporters from claiming all kinds of outlandish shit to try and swing the election in their favor .
The argument , or lack thereof , is to claim that observers weren ’ t allowed to be closer to workers who were counting the ballots .
Still , Mr. Trump has publicly struggled to accept his election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give Mr. Biden ’ s team access to government resources as part of the transition process .
And he ’ s sought to appeal to lawmakers in Republican-controlled state governments to refuse to certify results that show him losing to the former vice president .
Last week , he invited Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield , both Republicans , to the White House .
But they issued a joint statement after their meeting with Mr. Trump saying they had “ not yet been made aware of any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election in Michigan.
” Those efforts also fell short in Georgia and Nevada .
And Pennsylvania Gov .
Tom Wolf , a Democrat , announced Tuesday that his state had certified the results and appointed representatives to the Electoral College .
All of this is a show at this point , and not even a fun show , just a continued display of whiteness whining about not winning .
Basically , it ’ s just Silver Spoons without Alfonso Ribeiro and way more hair dye .
Wednesday ’ s event will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim election fraud !
And if that doesn ’ t float your boat , Giuliani is going to say something .
It will probably be lies but after his face-melting , brown liquid fiasco , Giuliani has become must-see TV .
“ It ’ s in everyone ’ s interest to have a full vetting of election irregularities and fraud , ” Giuliani said in a statement , Bloomberg reports .
“ And the only way to do this is with public hearings , complete with witnesses , videos , pictures and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election.
” Pennsylvania State Sen. Doug Mastriano told Bloomberg that he requested the public hearing because voters in his state “ lost faith in the electoral system.
” “ Over the past few weeks , I have heard from thousands of Pennsylvanians regarding issues experienced at the polls , irregularities with the mail-in voting system and concerns whether their vote was counted , ” Mastriano said in a statement .
“ We need to correct these issues to restore faith in our republic.
” Yes , and the best way to do this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racist Dr. Frankenstien and his sidekick and personal lawyer Igor onto a public stage so they can perform the mime act of stealing an election without any proof .
First the Turkey and Now Michael Flynn I watched the turkey pardoning .
I did .
I ’ m not ashamed or embarrassed .
I only watched for one reason : mayhem .
It ’ s what the entire Trump presidency has been based on .
I fully expected to tune in on Tuesday and see Trump rip the head off the turkey and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being hauled away by the Secret Service .
But alas , he pardoned the turkey , a weak ending to a tumultuous presidency .
King Joffrey Baratheon would be ashamed .
Well , it looks like Trump is on a pardoning spree as he reportedly pardoned a tree , two golf balls and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham on his way back to his sleeping coffin .
He ’ s also reportedly planning to pardon “ former national security adviser Michael Flynn , who pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Axios .
Flynn didn ’ t last long in the White House as resigned only three weeks into the job after lying about his contacts with Russians .
“ He pleaded guilty in late 2017 to lying to the FBI about those contacts , but later disavowed his plea and tried to get the case thrown out .
In a shocking twist this spring , the Justice Department abandoned the case , which is still tied up in legal limbo , ” CNN reports .
And who didn ’ t see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pardon the devil ’ s necktie , also known as candy corn , for being the most offensive Halloween candy next to black licorice , which is just slave candy .
Trump will also be pardoning Kawhi Leonard ’ s New Balance sneakers , all of Tyga ’ s music and white women who wear pajamas outside of the house .

In what can only be described as a vaudevillian act of racist proportions, President Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani, the dumber to the president’s dumb, are allegedly traveling to Pennsylvania on Wednesday for a meeting about election impropriety that didn’t happen.
According to Bloomberg, Trump’s visit, which was reportedly confirmed by three separate sources, was not on his public schedule, but we all know that Trump is a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-elastic-waistband kind of guy. The president is supposed to make an appearance alongside Giuliani, the racist Ethel to the president’s racist Lucy, for his continued wasted effort to try and reverse election results.
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For the record, President-elect Joe Biden won the state by more than 80,000 votes, but that hasn’t stopped Trump supporters from claiming all kinds of outlandish shit to try and swing the election in their favor. The argument, or lack thereof, is to claim that observers weren’t allowed to be closer to workers who were counting the ballots.
From Bloomberg:
Still, Mr. Trump has publicly struggled to accept his election loss, only this week agreeing to give Mr. Biden’s team access to government resources as part of the transition process. And he’s sought to appeal to lawmakers in Republican-controlled state governments to refuse to certify results that show him losing to the former vice president. Last week, he invited Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield, both Republicans, to the White House. But they issued a joint statement after their meeting with Mr. Trump saying they had “not yet been made aware of any information that would change the outcome of the election in Michigan.” Those efforts also fell short in Georgia and Nevada. And Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, announced Tuesday that his state had certified the results and appointed representatives to the Electoral College.
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All of this is a show at this point, and not even a fun show, just a continued display of whiteness whining about not winning. Basically, it’s just Silver Spoons without Alfonso Ribeiro and way more hair dye.
Wednesday’s event will have opening statements and even witnesses who will claim election fraud! And if that doesn’t float your boat, Giuliani is going to say something. It will probably be lies but after his face-melting , brown liquid fiasco, Giuliani has become must-see TV.
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“It’s in everyone’s interest to have a full vetting of election irregularities and fraud,” Giuliani said in a statement, Bloomberg reports. “And the only way to do this is with public hearings, complete with witnesses, videos, pictures and other evidence of illegalities from the November 3rd election.”
Pennsylvania State Sen. Doug Mastriano told Bloomberg that he requested the public hearing because voters in his state “lost faith in the electoral system.”
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“Over the past few weeks, I have heard from thousands of Pennsylvanians regarding issues experienced at the polls, irregularities with the mail-in voting system and concerns whether their vote was counted,” Mastriano said in a statement. “We need to correct these issues to restore faith in our republic.”
Yes, and the best way to do this is to invite the less smart and racist Dr. Frankenstien and his sidekick and personal lawyer Igor onto a public stage so they can perform the mime act of stealing an election without any proof.
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First the Turkey and Now Michael Flynn
I watched the turkey pardoning. I did. I’m not ashamed or embarrassed. I only watched for one reason: mayhem. It’s what the entire Trump presidency has been based on. I fully expected to tune in on Tuesday and see Trump rip the head off the turkey and then smear his face with blood before being hauled away by the Secret Service.
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But alas, he pardoned the turkey, a weak ending to a tumultuous presidency. King Joffrey Baratheon would be ashamed.
Well, it looks like Trump is on a pardoning spree as he reportedly pardoned a tree, two golf balls and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham on his way back to his sleeping coffin. He’s also reportedly planning to pardon “former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI about his Russian contacts,” according to Axios.
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Flynn didn’t last long in the White House as resigned only three weeks into the job after lying about his contacts with Russians.
“He pleaded guilty in late 2017 to lying to the FBI about those contacts, but later disavowed his plea and tried to get the case thrown out. In a shocking twist this spring, the Justice Department abandoned the case, which is still tied up in legal limbo,” CNN reports.
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And who didn’t see this coming? I fully expect Trump to pardon the devil’s necktie, also known as candy corn, for being the most offensive Halloween candy next to black licorice, which is just slave candy. Trump will also be pardoning Kawhi Leonard’s New Balance sneakers, all of Tyga’s music and white women who wear pajamas outside of the house.


theroot--2020-11-25--Dream, Girl: Amber Riley to Star in New Musical Comedy at NBC

In a Deadline exclusive , NBC announced the development of its new musical comedy , Dream .
Former Glee star Amber Riley is set to headline as well as executive produce .
The music-driven series comes from Black-ish writer-producer Lisa Muse Bryant and will also be produced by Neil Meron ( who previously worked with Riley on The Wiz !
Live in 2015 . )
Riley posted the good news in an Instagram post saying : ANNOUNCEMENT 🔊Headliner and Co Executive Producer of “ DREAM ” .
Let your hard work speak for itself .
Jeremiah 29:11 .
# winningseason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lisamusebryant @ neilmeron .
I remember when they told me my career was over after Glee .
They were right .
Career ended , but my dreams began .
Don ’ t let anyone else write your story .
Take that BIG GIRL ENERGY and fight for your happily ever after .
Win y ’ all !
WIN !
The single-camera comedy follows former teen mom Dream Morgan ( Riley ) , who turns her life upside down in pursuit of her dream to become a singer after her son graduates college .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a potential air date for Dream , there is no doubt Riley will be more than occupied planning a dream date of her own .
The musical star recently announced her engagement to boyfriend DeSean Black with a fire-ass photo on Insta—and honestly , they couldn ’ t be any cuter .
“ There was a time when I thought I didn ’ t want or deserve this kind of love .
I ’ m looking at a man who changed my mind , ” Riley lovingly expressed .
“ My time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting comfortable with myself , prepared me for you , and prepared me for this .
I am so proud to say , I am the future Mrs. Black .
I love you @ deseanblack_official and I thank you for your patience , your friendship , and your partnership !
“ What God has joined together , let no man separate.
” # HappilyEngaged # Engaged # BlackLove .
While we await more details on Dream , Amber Riley ’ s new self-titled debut EP Riley is available to stream now .

Shanelle Genai on The Grapevine, shared by Shanelle Genai to The Root

In a Deadline exclusive, NBC announced the development of its new musical comedy, Dream. Former Glee star Amber Riley is set to headline as well as executive produce. The music-driven series comes from Black-ish writer-producer Lisa Muse Bryant and will also be produced by Neil Meron (who previously worked with Riley on The Wiz! Live in 2015.) Riley posted the good news in an Instagram post saying:
ANNOUNCEMENT 🔊Headliner and Co Executive Producer of “DREAM”. Let your hard work speak for itself. Jeremiah 29:11. #winningseason LET’S DO THIS TEAM @lisamusebryant @neilmeron. I remember when they told me my career was over after Glee. They were right. Career ended, but my dreams began. Don’t let anyone else write your story. Take that BIG GIRL ENERGY and fight for your happily ever after. Win y’all! WIN!
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The single-camera comedy follows former teen mom Dream Morgan (Riley), who turns her life upside down in pursuit of her dream to become a singer after her son graduates college. While there’s no word yet on a potential air date for Dream, there is no doubt Riley will be more than occupied planning a dream date of her own. The musical star recently announced her engagement to boyfriend DeSean Black with a fire-ass photo on Insta—and honestly, they couldn’t be any cuter.
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“There was a time when I thought I didn’t want or deserve this kind of love. I’m looking at a man who changed my mind,” Riley lovingly expressed. “My time by myself, loving on myself, getting comfortable with myself, prepared me for you, and prepared me for this. I am so proud to say, I am the future Mrs. Black. I love you @deseanblack_official and I thank you for your patience, your friendship, and your partnership! “What God has joined together, let no man separate.” #HappilyEngaged #Engaged #BlackLove.
Whew, I’m not crying—you are.
While we await more details on Dream, Amber Riley’s new self-titled debut EP Riley is available to stream now.


theroot--2020-11-25--President Barack Obama to Receive the 2020 PEN America Voice of Influence Award

When it comes to living American presidents , it ’ s indisputable ( and infuriating , if you ’ re Donald Trump ) , that President Obama remains the leader who retains the most influence and goodwill in the global sphere .
On Wednesday , PEN America recognized the indelible impact of our favorite president to date , announcing Obama as the recipient of this year ’ s PEN America Voice of Influence Award , which will be conferred during the organization ’ s virtual gala on Tuesday , Dec. 8 at 7 p.m .
ET .
The honor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , producer , and activist Ava DuVernay , comes less than a month after the release of the first volume of Obama ’ s presidential memoirs , his fourth book , not counting the numerous others he has collaborated on and penned forewords for .
As noted in a press release provided to The Root , the Voice of Influence Award is being given “ in recognition of how the former president ’ s writings throughout his career have traversed political , social , and ideological bounds and framed a self-reflective humanism that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ As an organization of writers , we have always seen President Obama not just as a leader , but as one of us : an author .
His probing and evocative narratives helped introduce the world to his unique background , and the power of his life experience as a prompt toward a more pluralistic and encompassing society , ” said PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel in a statement .
“ We are thrilled that on the occasion of the publication of A Promised Land , we will have the chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of the virtual edition of the best book party of the year : the PEN America gala.
” Following the award presentation , Obama and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Ron Chernow will engage in a wide-ranging “ exclusive author-to-author conversation ” where the two “ will discuss the freedom to write , a liberty that faces unprecedented challenges amid rising authoritarianism that parlays disinformation and distrust to impair the very function of free speech as a catalyst for revealing the truth and driving forward societal progress , ” says Nossel .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Frazier , the young woman who recorded the killing of George Floyd , will also be honored with a PEN/Benenson Courage Award this year , which will also be conferred upon former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch .
According to the release , additional honorees during PEN America ’ s 2020 virtual gala will include : “ Long before he was a politician , Barack Obama was a spectacular writer .
Since he published Dreams from My Father a quarter-century ago , America and the world have benefited from the qualities he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ superb storytelling , and a fount of hope and possibility , ” said PEN America President Jennifer Egan .
“ Now , as we conclude a year of plague and division , his voice is a tonic reminder of the power of language—and narrative—to uplift and transform .
We ’ re overjoyed that the president can join us for this special evening.
” The PEN America 2020 virtual gala is free and open to the public , though registration is required .
More information including registration and participant information can be found on @ @ @ @

When it comes to living American presidents, it’s indisputable (and infuriating, if you’re Donald Trump), that President Obama remains the leader who retains the most influence and goodwill in the global sphere. On Wednesday, PEN America recognized the indelible impact of our favorite president to date, announcing Obama as the recipient of this year’s PEN America Voice of Influence Award, which will be conferred during the organization’s virtual gala on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. ET.
The honor, which was awarded last year to director, producer, and activist Ava DuVernay, comes less than a month after the release of the first volume of Obama’s presidential memoirs, his fourth book, not counting the numerous others he has collaborated on and penned forewords for. As noted in a press release provided to The Root, the Voice of Influence Award is being given “in recognition of how the former president’s writings throughout his career have traversed political, social, and ideological bounds and framed a self-reflective humanism that has marked his influence on public life.”
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“As an organization of writers, we have always seen President Obama not just as a leader, but as one of us: an author. His probing and evocative narratives helped introduce the world to his unique background, and the power of his life experience as a prompt toward a more pluralistic and encompassing society,” said PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel in a statement. “We are thrilled that on the occasion of the publication of A Promised Land, we will have the chance to honor President Obama with this award as part of the virtual edition of the best book party of the year: the PEN America gala.”
Following the award presentation, Obama and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Ron Chernow will engage in a wide-ranging “exclusive author-to-author conversation” where the two “will discuss the freedom to write, a liberty that faces unprecedented challenges amid rising authoritarianism that parlays disinformation and distrust to impair the very function of free speech as a catalyst for revealing the truth and driving forward societal progress,” says Nossel.
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As previously reported by The Root, Darnella Frazier, the young woman who recorded the killing of George Floyd, will also be honored with a PEN/Benenson Courage Award this year, which will also be conferred upon former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch. According to the release, additional honorees during PEN America’s 2020 virtual gala will include:
Patti Smith, recipient of the PEN/Audible Literary Service Award; Hearst’s Frank A. Bennack Jr., this year’s Corporate Honoree; and Chinese dissident writer Xu Zhiyong, who will receive in absentia the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award. Additional participants include Bono, Emma Thompson, Spike Lee, Madeleine Albright, Soledad O’Brien, Cory Booker, and many more.
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“Long before he was a politician, Barack Obama was a spectacular writer. Since he published Dreams from My Father a quarter-century ago, America and the world have benefited from the qualities he brought to that memoir: empathy, superb storytelling, and a fount of hope and possibility,” said PEN America President Jennifer Egan. “Now, as we conclude a year of plague and division, his voice is a tonic reminder of the power of language—and narrative—to uplift and transform. We’re overjoyed that the president can join us for this special evening.”
The PEN America 2020 virtual gala is free and open to the public, though registration is required. More information including registration and participant information can be found on the event website.


theroot--2020-11-25--Memphis Grizzlies Pay Tribute to Isaac Hayes, Stax Records With Soul City Edition Jerseys

This pandemic hasn ’ t exactly given us much to celebrate , so for the Memphis Grizzlies ’ upcoming season , they ’ ll be relishing the team ’ s bright future by taking a bit of a voyage into the past .
It ’ s no secret that Memphis has a rich music history , having the unique distinction of serving as the birthplace of everything from rock n ’ roll to Three 6 Mafia .
And in tapping into that lineage , on Tuesday , the Grizzlies unveiled their Memphis Soul City Edition Nike uniforms which they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Also , aside from celebrating the life of soul legend Isaac Hayes and the legacy of Stax Records , it sounds like the organization was very intentional in conveying the meaning behind the Soul City Edition jerseys in how they were crafted .
The uniform ’ s black background and vertical stripes represent the grooves in the vinyl records Stax produced , delivering Memphis soul and music to the world .
The gold and turquoise colors throughout the uniform are pulled from Hayes ’ 1972 Cadillac El Dorado , displayed today at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gold records and legendary , international hits pouring out of Stax during the 1960s and 1970s .
The ornate “ MG ” pattern trimming the neckband , shorts and left side panel of the uniform , inspired by African Kente cloth , represents Hayes ’ flair for fashion and voice for social activism .
The vents on each side of the shorts accent the uniform with a Stax logo and Hayes ’ trademark sunglasses while Hayes ’ name is emblemized just above the jersey tag to represent the mark he left on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ music industry .
Of course , the fact that they look dope doesn ’ t hurt either .
The Grizzlies intend to wear the Soul City Edition jerseys about 10 times next season , and in speaking to The Undefeated , Isaac Hayes III appreciates the love the team has for his father .
“ It means a lot that a relevant team like the Grizzlies in his hometown of Memphis decided to honor him in this way , ” Hayes III said .
“ [ W ] e can ’ t wait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person .
[ ... ] They captured the soul and the energy and the flair of Isaac Hayes.
” Check the Grizzlies new jerseys below and hit up their website for more info .

This pandemic hasn’t exactly given us much to celebrate, so for the Memphis Grizzlies’ upcoming season, they’ll be relishing the team’s bright future by taking a bit of a voyage into the past.
It’s no secret that Memphis has a rich music history, having the unique distinction of serving as the birthplace of everything from rock n’ roll to Three 6 Mafia. And in tapping into that lineage, on Tuesday, the Grizzlies unveiled their Memphis Soul City Edition Nike uniforms which they’ll rock during the 2020-21 NBA season.
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Also, aside from celebrating the life of soul legend Isaac Hayes and the legacy of Stax Records, it sounds like the organization was very intentional in conveying the meaning behind the Soul City Edition jerseys in how they were crafted.
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From NBA.com:
The uniform’s black background and vertical stripes represent the grooves in the vinyl records Stax produced, delivering Memphis soul and music to the world. The gold and turquoise colors throughout the uniform are pulled from Hayes’ 1972 Cadillac El Dorado, displayed today at the Stax Museum, and echo the gold records and legendary, international hits pouring out of Stax during the 1960s and 1970s. The ornate “MG” pattern trimming the neckband, shorts and left side panel of the uniform, inspired by African Kente cloth, represents Hayes’ flair for fashion and voice for social activism. The vents on each side of the shorts accent the uniform with a Stax logo and Hayes’ trademark sunglasses while Hayes’ name is emblemized just above the jersey tag to represent the mark he left on the design, in Memphis and on the music industry.
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Of course, the fact that they look dope doesn’t hurt either.
The Grizzlies intend to wear the Soul City Edition jerseys about 10 times next season, and in speaking to The Undefeated, Isaac Hayes III appreciates the love the team has for his father.
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“It means a lot that a relevant team like the Grizzlies in his hometown of Memphis decided to honor him in this way,” Hayes III said. “[ W] e can’t wait to see [the uniforms] in person. [...] They captured the soul and the energy and the flair of Isaac Hayes.”
Check the Grizzlies new jerseys below and hit up their website for more info.


theroot--2020-11-26--The 10 Best Deals of November 26, 2020

The 10 Best Deals of November 26, 2020

My favorite Thanksgiving pastime is ripping the Black Friday ads out of newspapers , tuning out my family as they engage in small-town gossip , or worse yet , politics .
In a way , I now feel like the torch has been passed on to me .
Newspaper ads aren ’ t as prevalent as they once were , and Kinja Deals has given me—and my team—an immense platform to shop around and share our findings .
Though the biggest shopping day of the year doesn ’ t officially kick off until tomorrow , many deals have already started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll find here , or should nothing pique your interest , in Thursday ’ s best deals overall .
I ’ m no stranger to the AirPods Pro magic Kinja Deals readers have gone apeshit over ever since Apple ’ s true wireless active noise-canceling earbuds first went on sale .
Between the H1 chip—which allows for automatic pairing to iPhones and iPads and pretty damn seamless pairing to everything else as well—and their better than expected ability to block out ambient sound , the AirPods Pro are close to perfect .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the original AirPods due to the lack of rubberized tips , these boast substantive upgrades over their younger sibling and predecessor , including sweat and water resistance for intense exercise .
And , for a limited time only I presume , they ’ re discounted $ 79 on Amazon .
Note that the full discount appears in your cart !
Although I ’ ll admit the battery life leaves something to be desired , unless transparency mode is enabled , AirPods Pro are some of the best true wireless earbuds you can buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their size with active noise canceling functionality .
Just see what our friend Adam Clark Estes had to say in his review for Gizmodo : One of his few complaints about AirPods Pro was the steep price tag , $ 249 MSRP .
At $ 170 ( again , price shown in cart ) , however , little more than a pair of Bose Soundsport Free and Jabra Elite 75t which don ’ t tout ANC technology or always-on pairing , AirPods Pro are a steal you don ’ t want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ originally published by Gabe Carey .
Lets ’ a go !
Super Mario 3D All-Stars is down to $ 50 at Walmart today , a familiar price for anyone who grew up playing the games included in the collection .
Back in 2002 , I remember getting $ 50 from my mom so I could go to the mall and gleefully pick up a copy of Super Mario Sunshine .
Then there was 2007 's Super Mario Galaxy , one of the first games I bought on my own when I went off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 seemed like a real investment .
Seeing that price tag on these classic games is kind of nostalgic , isn ’ t it ?
Okay , I ’ m reaching .
It ’ s a little bizarre that the collection was $ 60 to begin with , but the price reduction here is a welcome one .
Super Mario 3D All-Stars will literally vanish from shelves in March , so if you ’ ve been hoping for a discount , now might be the time to jump to it .
This deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thanksgiving traditionally is the day the holiday decorations go up and stay up until New Year ’ s Day .
This year I ’ ve had a lot of friends put their trees and yuletide wares up as soon as November hit .
2020 has been hot garbage and anything that brings you holiday cheer you go ahead and put it up whenever .
Lights are quintessential and having extras or replacing old ones is not a bad idea .
Right now Macy ’ s has 50 Multicolor LED Bulb String Lights for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runs 37 ft. long with 9 '' in between the LED bulbs .
There are four colors : red , green , blue , and yellow .
These are newer so unlike the ones your grandparents had they ’ re more energy-efficient and have a longer life .
And if one goes out all the others stay lit making it super easy to replace .
You ’ ll definitely get spare bulbs in case that happens .
This pack also has an extra flasher bulb and replacement fuse .
These are safe for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to roofs and bushes/plants .
This set does not have an end connect plug so you ’ ll need to grab one of those .
Free shipping on all orders over $ 25 .
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari .
For those overwhelmed by the sheer volume of Black Friday deals we ’ ve managed to post this year , fret not , the countless hours we ’ ve invested in finding the best discounts on all the hottest products need not go without some much needed R & R—for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll be working 12 hour days through the end of Cyber Monday , you can do whatever the hell you want .
It ’ s the holidays , go spend time with your family , preferably not in person !
And once you inevitably flip back to your phone to avoid listening to yet another rant from your uncle about how the election was stolen by JFK Jr. or whatever , pop a bottle of spearmint- and cinnamon-spiced CBD drops for 25 % off the list price using our exclusive promo code KINJAHS25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I ’ ll say it again , when I need a little CBD in my life , Sunday Scaries always comes through , and though I haven ’ t tried the spiced drops myself , if they ’ re anything like the Gummies for Chillin ’ —my personal favorite product of theirs—you can rest assured they ’ ll be as tasty as they are effective .
Calm down and cool off by the fireplace , and roast some chestnuts for God ’ s sake !
Throw on that Donny Hathaway and don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by this vegan , non-psychoactive cannabinoid snack .
Embrace it .
Happy holidays from Kinja Deals .
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey .
If you were hoping for a quick Assassin ’ s Creed Valhalla price drop this Black Friday , your patience has paid off .
Walmart now has the brand new release ( like , really brand new ) down to $ 50 .
That even includes the PlayStation 5 version , though Walmart will ask you to enter your name and email to reveal the price like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retail magic trick .
The price cut is pretty surprising given just how new Valhalla is , but Ubisoft appears to be quick on the price slashes this Black Friday season .
Both Watch Dogs : Legion and Just Dance 2021 are heavily discounted at the moment less than a month after their release .
Valhalla probably won ’ t drop to half price any time soon like Watch Dogs , so this might be one of the lowest prices you ’ ll be able to get it at this year .
Happy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ originally published by Giovanni Colantonio .
This Black Friday season is apparently a bidding war for who can have the lowest price on Marvel ’ s Avengers .
Despite only coming out in September , the superhero game is now at its lowest price yet : $ 27 .
The base game isn ’ t the only version getting a discount .
The Deluxe Edition is selling for $ 40 , which is still less than the price of the game at full retail .
Even crazier , the $ 200 Earth ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The package features a bunch of physical Avengers goodies , including a big honking statue of Captain America .
It ’ s hard to imagine those prices getting much lower , but I ’ ll believe anything when it comes to this game at this point .
This deal was originally published by Giovanni Colantonio .
If you ’ re a photographer or a vlogger , it can be a challenge to get the right lighting , especially if you ’ re indoors for now .
This is where the Selfie Ring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tripod and a phone holder , so you can easily record video or take those important shots at the right height and angle .
There is a remote control that can control the temperature of the selfie ring to 30 different levels , and it can also control the camera app when paired to an Android or iPhone device .
It ’ s an ideal peripheral at 32 % off , especially if you need to teach a class through Skype or Zoom , and you want to get the right height and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was originally published by Daryl Baxter .
At this time of year a slow cooker is an ideal option to test the waters of other foods you want to try out around Thanksgiving and Christmas .
This is where the Instant Pot Aura comes in , where you can sauté vegetables , bake some lasagne or steam some hams to your heart ’ s content .
At 54 % off for Black Friday it ’ s a great option to keep that dinner warm and have it exactly to your standards , mainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Keep Warm ’ functions .
For the coming holidays , it ’ s an ideal option to showcase your cooking skills , either with family or across Zoom .
This deal was originally published by Daryl Baxter .
While visiting the UK in 2007 I ran into Boots ( an awesome drug store chain ) because I was looking for lotion .
The flat I was staying in made my skin so dry but lucky for me I discovered The Righteous Butter from Soap & Glory and we ’ ve been together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take 30 % off everything from one of the best brands I ’ ve ever tried .
Another old favorite that we can all use right now is Hand Food ( $ 6 ) .
If you ’ re compulsively washing your hands and noticing they ’ re going through the wringer treat them to some silky soft relief .
It ’ s non-greasy and is made with shea butter , macadamia oil , and marshmallow .
It ’ s slightly scented but in no way overwhelming .
I usually have a travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Exfoliating is important to achieving soft skin .
Cleaning away dead skin , dirt , and grim is the way to get there .
I use Scrub Of Your Life ( $ 8 ) when I want something a little more heavy-duty .
This is usually when I plan on using a tattoo balm and the only way to make those pieces sing is by really scrubbing them first .
This buffs each tattoo , but also scrubs dry elbows in winter , and deep cleans my pores when needed .
It has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” again not too much but just a hit of floral and fruit .
This will leave your skin in the perfect spot for ultimate moisturizing .
Say hello to my new favorite product .
My face has never been so soft in my life .
The Glow Your Mind Nourishing Cleansing Balm ( $ 10 ) far exceeded my expectations .
It ’ s velvety and gentle but still finds away to get rid of makeup remnants .
Whatever Soap & Glory is doing with this product , keep doing it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ every day .
They call it a balm-to-milk formula that ’ s got vitamin C and 4 loving oils : marula , avocado , apricot , and jojoba .
This one is virtually scentless but total perfection .
Free shipping on all orders over $ 35 .
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari .
TV speakers suck .
You know this .
I know this .
Your DAD knows this .
But the alternative , soundbars or full-on home theater surround sound systems , can get expensive , often approaching a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also take up a lot more space on your TV stand , and if you ’ ve got a dedicated streaming device up there already—as many of us do—they ’ ll make your setup look cluttered too .
The Roku Streambar , reviewed by Gizmodo staff reporter Catie Keck just last month , solves both these problems .
Measuring 14 '' x 4.2 '' x 2.4 '' , it occupies very little console real estate and has Roku 4K HDR streaming functionality built-in .
For Cyber Week , the Roku Streambar is down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price—on Amazon and at Best Buy .
While it doesn ’ t support many of the bells and whistles that even the Roku Ultra does , it ’ s a great way to consolidate your devices , which you can ’ t really say of any set-top box .
That said , if you ’ re unconvinced but still need a way to watch your shows , a bunch of Roku devices are still on sale on Amazon and at Best Buy and Staples .
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey @

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

Thursday’s Best Deals | Kinja Deals
My favorite Thanksgiving pastime is ripping the Black Friday ads out of newspapers, tuning out my family as they engage in small-town gossip, or worse yet, politics. In a way, I now feel like the torch has been passed on to me. Newspaper ads aren’t as prevalent as they once were, and Kinja Deals has given me—and my team—an immense platform to shop around and share our findings.
Though the biggest shopping day of the year doesn’t officially kick off until tomorrow, many deals have already started, the best of which you’ll find here, or should nothing pique your interest, in Thursday’s best deals overall.
#1: airpods pro
I’m no stranger to the AirPods Pro magic Kinja Deals readers have gone apeshit over ever since Apple’s true wireless active noise-canceling earbuds first went on sale. Between the H1 chip—which allows for automatic pairing to iPhones and iPads and pretty damn seamless pairing to everything else as well—and their better than expected ability to block out ambient sound, the AirPods Pro are close to perfect.
While I wasn’t a fan of the original AirPods due to the lack of rubberized tips, these boast substantive upgrades over their younger sibling and predecessor, including sweat and water resistance for intense exercise. And, for a limited time only I presume, they’re discounted $79 on Amazon. Note that the full discount appears in your cart!
Although I’ll admit the battery life leaves something to be desired, unless transparency mode is enabled, AirPods Pro are some of the best true wireless earbuds you can buy right now, and probably the best in their size with active noise canceling functionality. Just see what our friend Adam Clark Estes had to say in his review for Gizmodo:
I’ve never loved the AirPods. That’s mainly because I’m one of the few people whose ears just don’t fit with the mostly universal design. But they wouldn’t be so popular if they weren’t great earbuds. So when Apple announced the AirPods Pro with different fit options and a flurry of new features, I thought it must be time for me to be a fanatic. I’ve been using them for a week, and I love them.
One of his few complaints about AirPods Pro was the steep price tag, $249 MSRP. At $170 (again, price shown in cart), however, little more than a pair of Bose Soundsport Free and Jabra Elite 75t which don’t tout ANC technology or always-on pairing, AirPods Pro are a steal you don’t want to miss out on.
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey.
#2: super mario 3d all-stars
Lets’a go! Super Mario 3D All-Stars is down to $50 at Walmart today, a familiar price for anyone who grew up playing the games included in the collection. Back in 2002, I remember getting $50 from my mom so I could go to the mall and gleefully pick up a copy of Super Mario Sunshine. Then there was 2007's Super Mario Galaxy, one of the first games I bought on my own when I went off to college. At the time $50 seemed like a real investment. Seeing that price tag on these classic games is kind of nostalgic, isn’t it? Okay, I’m reaching. It’s a little bizarre that the collection was $60 to begin with, but the price reduction here is a welcome one. Super Mario 3D All-Stars will literally vanish from shelves in March, so if you’ve been hoping for a discount, now might be the time to jump to it.
This deal was originally published by Giovanni Colantonio.
#3: multicolor string lights
Thanksgiving traditionally is the day the holiday decorations go up and stay up until New Year’s Day. This year I’ve had a lot of friends put their trees and yuletide wares up as soon as November hit. 2020 has been hot garbage and anything that brings you holiday cheer you go ahead and put it up whenever. Lights are quintessential and having extras or replacing old ones is not a bad idea. Right now Macy’s has 50 Multicolor LED Bulb String Lights for only $4.
This mini-light set runs 37 ft. long with 9" in between the LED bulbs. There are four colors: red, green, blue, and yellow. These are newer so unlike the ones your grandparents had they’re more energy-efficient and have a longer life. And if one goes out all the others stay lit making it super easy to replace. You’ll definitely get spare bulbs in case that happens. This pack also has an extra flasher bulb and replacement fuse. These are safe for outdoors so go ahead and add them to roofs and bushes/plants. This set does not have an end connect plug so you’ll need to grab one of those.
Free shipping on all orders over $25.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#4: sunday scaries cbd drops
For those overwhelmed by the sheer volume of Black Friday deals we’ve managed to post this year, fret not, the countless hours we’ve invested in finding the best discounts on all the hottest products need not go without some much needed R&R—for you at least. While I’ll be working 12 hour days through the end of Cyber Monday, you can do whatever the hell you want. It’s the holidays, go spend time with your family, preferably not in person! And once you inevitably flip back to your phone to avoid listening to yet another rant from your uncle about how the election was stolen by JFK Jr. or whatever, pop a bottle of spearmint- and cinnamon-spiced CBD drops for 25% off the list price using our exclusive promo code KINJAHS25.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, when I need a little CBD in my life, Sunday Scaries always comes through, and though I haven’t tried the spiced drops myself, if they’re anything like the Gummies for Chillin’—my personal favorite product of theirs—you can rest assured they’ll be as tasty as they are effective. Calm down and cool off by the fireplace, and roast some chestnuts for God’s sake! Throw on that Donny Hathaway and don’t mind the groove brought on by this vegan, non-psychoactive cannabinoid snack. Embrace it. Happy holidays from Kinja Deals.
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey.
#5: Assassin’s creed valhalla
If you were hoping for a quick Assassin’s Creed Valhalla price drop this Black Friday, your patience has paid off. Walmart now has the brand new release (like, really brand new) down to $50. That even includes the PlayStation 5 version, though Walmart will ask you to enter your name and email to reveal the price like it’s doing some sort of retail magic trick. The price cut is pretty surprising given just how new Valhalla is, but Ubisoft appears to be quick on the price slashes this Black Friday season. Both Watch Dogs: Legion and Just Dance 2021 are heavily discounted at the moment less than a month after their release. Valhalla probably won’t drop to half price any time soon like Watch Dogs, so this might be one of the lowest prices you’ll be able to get it at this year. Happy raiding, Vikings.
This deal was originally published by Giovanni Colantonio.
#6: marvel’s avengers
This Black Friday season is apparently a bidding war for who can have the lowest price on Marvel’s Avengers. Despite only coming out in September, the superhero game is now at its lowest price yet: $27. The base game isn’t the only version getting a discount. The Deluxe Edition is selling for $40, which is still less than the price of the game at full retail. Even crazier, the $200 Earth’s Mightiest edition is now $80. The package features a bunch of physical Avengers goodies, including a big honking statue of Captain America. It’s hard to imagine those prices getting much lower, but I’ll believe anything when it comes to this game at this point.
This deal was originally published by Giovanni Colantonio.
#7: ring light
If you’re a photographer or a vlogger, it can be a challenge to get the right lighting, especially if you’re indoors for now.
This is where the Selfie Ring comes in; it acts as a tripod and a phone holder, so you can easily record video or take those important shots at the right height and angle.
There is a remote control that can control the temperature of the selfie ring to 30 different levels, and it can also control the camera app when paired to an Android or iPhone device.
It’s an ideal peripheral at 32% off, especially if you need to teach a class through Skype or Zoom, and you want to get the right height and lighting for the students.
This deal was originally published by Daryl Baxter.
#8: instant pot aura
At this time of year a slow cooker is an ideal option to test the waters of other foods you want to try out around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
This is where the Instant Pot Aura comes in, where you can sauté vegetables, bake some lasagne or steam some hams to your heart’s content.
At 54% off for Black Friday it’s a great option to keep that dinner warm and have it exactly to your standards, mainly thanks to its 10 smart programs and ‘Keep Warm’ functions.
For the coming holidays, it’s an ideal option to showcase your cooking skills, either with family or across Zoom.
This deal was originally published by Daryl Baxter.
#9: soap & glory skincare
While visiting the UK in 2007 I ran into Boots (an awesome drug store chain) because I was looking for lotion. The flat I was staying in made my skin so dry but lucky for me I discovered The Righteous Butter from Soap & Glory and we’ve been together since. For the next two days take 30% off everything from one of the best brands I’ve ever tried.
Another old favorite that we can all use right now is Hand Food ($6). If you’re compulsively washing your hands and noticing they’re going through the wringer treat them to some silky soft relief. It’s non-greasy and is made with shea butter, macadamia oil, and marshmallow. It’s slightly scented but in no way overwhelming. I usually have a travel size of this in my bag.
Exfoliating is important to achieving soft skin. Cleaning away dead skin, dirt, and grim is the way to get there. I use Scrub Of Your Life ($8) when I want something a little more heavy-duty. This is usually when I plan on using a tattoo balm and the only way to make those pieces sing is by really scrubbing them first. This buffs each tattoo, but also scrubs dry elbows in winter, and deep cleans my pores when needed. It has as the classic “pink fragrance,” again not too much but just a hit of floral and fruit. This will leave your skin in the perfect spot for ultimate moisturizing.
Say hello to my new favorite product. My face has never been so soft in my life. The Glow Your Mind Nourishing Cleansing Balm ($10) far exceeded my expectations. It’s velvety and gentle but still finds away to get rid of makeup remnants. Whatever Soap & Glory is doing with this product, keep doing it. I actually get excited to use this every day. They call it a balm-to-milk formula that’s got vitamin C and 4 loving oils: marula, avocado, apricot, and jojoba. This one is virtually scentless but total perfection.
Free shipping on all orders over $35.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#10: alpha industries sitewide
TV speakers suck. You know this. I know this. Your DAD knows this. But the alternative, soundbars or full-on home theater surround sound systems, can get expensive, often approaching a grand or more. Soundbars in particular also take up a lot more space on your TV stand, and if you’ve got a dedicated streaming device up there already—as many of us do—they’ll make your setup look cluttered too. The Roku Streambar, reviewed by Gizmodo staff reporter Catie Keck just last month, solves both these problems. Measuring 14" x 4.2" x 2.4", it occupies very little console real estate and has Roku 4K HDR streaming functionality built-in.
After weeks with the Streambar, I’m convinced it’s a solid choice for people who would like to improve the sound on a TV without dropping an eye-popping amount of money on a pricey sound system, or even someone in need of a 4K streaming device who is willing to drop a few extra bucks on a connected smart speaker. I want to stress again that this is not a top-of-the-line soundbar option, at least not without a boost from additional speakers. But the ability for this tiny but mighty speaker to be expanded upon for a fuller surround system—all while delivering many of the benefits of premium streaming sticks and boxes—makes it a hell of a steal for the price.
For Cyber Week, the Roku Streambar is down to $100—23% off the list price—on Amazon and at Best Buy. While it doesn’t support many of the bells and whistles that even the Roku Ultra does, it’s a great way to consolidate your devices, which you can’t really say of any set-top box. That said, if you’re unconvinced but still need a way to watch your shows, a bunch of Roku devices are still on sale on Amazon and at Best Buy and Staples.
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey.


theroot--2020-11-26--Publisher Hires White Man to Narrate Black Woman's Outkast Essay, White Man Reads in the Worst South

Publisher Hires White Man to Narrate Black Woman's Outkast Essay, White Man Reads in the Worst Southern Blaccent Ever

Every once in a while , I think to myself : “ You know what ?
Maybe I use the word “ caucasity ” too often in my writing.
” But every time I have that thought , a fresh white person surfaces and reminds me that it is not me who uses the word too much , it is white people who perpetrate acts of caucasian-flavored audacity too often , necessitating excessive usage of the term .
Meet Dr. Regina Bradley , a professor at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw , Georgia , and author of the book , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hip Hop South .
This book explores how southern hip hop , and specifically my favorite rap group Outkast , influences the post-civil rights era culture in the South .
Y ’ ALL , THERE IS AN ACADEMIC BOOK ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF OUTKAST !
!
!
Fun fact : Outkast ’ s debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik was the first album I ever spent my own money on .
( Yes , it was the cassette , and please stop asking me how old I am . )
So what great offense of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noble project ?
I n this book , is an essay titled “ Da Art of Speculatin ’ ” which is a play on Outkast ’ s “ Da Art of Storytellin ’ ” from their album Aquemini .
According to the Daily Dot , Pablo Defendini , of publisher Fireside Fiction , in his infinite white wisdom , hired white voice actor Kevin Rineer to narrate Bradley ’ s essay for Fireside Quarterly .
Rineer , in his infinite white audacity , decided to read the essay in what he thought was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reading the title in what sounds like a mayonnaise -infused fake Jamaican accent .
( Nigga , when I tell you this shit is fucked . )
Bradley posted a clip of this blasphemous display of unmitigated whiteness to Twitter on Tuesday .
Needless to say , Rineer and Fireside Fiction got dragged all up and down these internet streets prompting apologies from both Rineer and Defendini .
Rineer ’ s apology came via YouTube video .
The video is currently unavailable , apparently , because Rineer closed his account , but Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You might recognize me as a gigantic fuck-up , ” Rineer says in the video .
“ I know that it was completely inappropriate for me to record , especially with that accent … It was horrible , disgusting , and a complete miss.
” Pablo Defendini , the publisher of the Fireside Fiction Company , tweeted an apology on Tuesday morning acknowledging the decision to hire a white voice actor to narrate the essay was “ racist ” and “ violent.
” “ That was ridiculously careless , and frankly , racist—it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violent , and it ’ s insulting .
I apologize , ” Defendini wrote .
He also said he took full responsibility for the incident and reached out to the author and editor of the book to apologize and “ make sure that they can be part of the process of making this right if they want to be.
” “ Just to be explicitly clear : I ’ m the only one who manages the audio production process—this was entirely my doing , and no one else who works on Fireside had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much less rectify , ” Defendini tweeted in a mea culpa that still doesn ’ t quite explain how the fuck he listened to a blaccent that managed to be worse than Gary Owen ’ s and still let this happen .
“ This is all absolutely my fault , no one else ’ s .
I ’ ll have more to say soon.
” Bradley basically responded to Defendini ’ s apology by saying , “ fuck your weak-ass ‘ I ’ m sorry ’ and your white-ass feelings , ” because—by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mention—she said she “ wasn ’ t asked to record it.
” “ I saw the apology .
I don ’ t care .
I am angry , ” Bradley tweeted Tuesday .
“ Seething from centuries of silenced Black women angry .
The voice I speak with and write with is not my own .
To have that taken away is unacceptable .
Unforgivable .
And to ask me to consider it is equally trifling and unforgivable.
” So the moral of the story for Black writers everywhere is simple : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not using the word “ caucasity ” too often .

Every once in a while, I think to myself: “You know what? Maybe I use the word “caucasity” too often in my writing.” But every time I have that thought, a fresh white person surfaces and reminds me that it is not me who uses the word too much , it is white people who perpetrate acts of caucasian-flavored audacity too often, necessitating excessive usage of the term.
Meet Dr. Regina Bradley, a professor at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia, and author of the book, Chronicling Stankonia: the Rise of the Hip Hop South. This book explores how southern hip hop, and specifically my favorite rap group Outkast, influences the post-civil rights era culture in the South.
Advertisement
*ahem*
Y’ALL, THERE IS AN ACADEMIC BOOK ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF OUTKAST!!!
Fun fact: Outkast’s debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik was the first album I ever spent my own money on. (Yes, it was the cassette, and please stop asking me how old I am.)
Advertisement Advertisement
So what great offense of the caucasified persuasion could have befallen such a noble project?
I n this book, is an essay titled “ Da Art of Speculatin’” which is a play on Outkast’s “Da Art of Storytellin’” from their album Aquemini.
Advertisement
According to the Daily Dot, Pablo Defendini, of publisher Fireside Fiction, in his infinite white wisdom, hired white voice actor Kevin Rineer to narrate Bradley’s essay for Fireside Quarterly.
Rineer, in his infinite white audacity, decided to read the essay in what he thought was a generic southern Black woman accent after reading the title in what sounds like a mayonnaise -infused fake Jamaican accent. (Nigga, when I tell you this shit is fucked.)
Advertisement
Bradley posted a clip of this blasphemous display of unmitigated whiteness to Twitter on Tuesday.
Advertisement
Needless to say, Rineer and Fireside Fiction got dragged all up and down these internet streets prompting apologies from both Rineer and Defendini .
Rineer’s apology came via YouTube video. The video is currently unavailable, apparently, because Rineer closed his account, but Daily Dot transcribed some of it:
“You might recognize me as a gigantic fuck-up,” Rineer says in the video. “I know that it was completely inappropriate for me to record, especially with that accent … It was horrible, disgusting, and a complete miss.” Pablo Defendini, the publisher of the Fireside Fiction Company, tweeted an apology on Tuesday morning acknowledging the decision to hire a white voice actor to narrate the essay was “racist” and “violent.” “That was ridiculously careless, and frankly, racist—it’s blackface, it’s violent, and it’s insulting. I apologize,” Defendini wrote. He also said he took full responsibility for the incident and reached out to the author and editor of the book to apologize and “make sure that they can be part of the process of making this right if they want to be.”
Advertisement
Advertisement
“Just to be explicitly clear: I’m the only one who manages the audio production process—this was entirely my doing, and no one else who works on Fireside had a chance to hear the audio, much less rectify,” Defendini tweeted in a mea culpa that still doesn’t quite explain how the fuck he listened to a blaccent that managed to be worse than Gary Owen’s and still let this happen. “ This is all absolutely my fault, no one else’s. I’ll have more to say soon.”
Advertisement
Bradley basically responded to Defendini’s apology by saying, “fuck your weak-ass ‘I’m sorry’ and your white-ass feelings,” because—by the way, I may have forgotten to mention—she said she “ wasn’t asked to record it.”
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“ I saw the apology. I don’t care. I am angry,” Bradley tweeted Tuesday. “ Seething from centuries of silenced Black women angry. The voice I speak with and write with is not my own. To have that taken away is unacceptable. Unforgivable. And to ask me to consider it is equally trifling and unforgivable.”
Advertisement
So the moral of the story for Black writers everywhere is simple: No. No, you’re not using the word “caucasity” too often.


theroot--2020-11-26--LA County Moves to Overhaul Its Juvenile Detention System to Prioritize 'Care First' Over Punishment

It ’ s easily arguable that American society isn ’ t very forgiving to people who have committed crimes .
For Black people and people of color especially , it often seems like rehabilitation is a concept the criminal justice system accepts in theory —not so much in practice .
It ’ s easily arguable that America is a nation that prioritizes punishment , not rehabilitation , for people who find themselves on the wrong side of the law .
In Los Angeles County , officials are taking steps in the right direction by gearing its justice system towards reform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ith our youth .
After years of incremental reform , Los Angeles County is moving to dismantle the largest youth justice system in the country in favor of a “ care-first ” model that would look less like prison and would emphasize emotional support , counseling and treatment .
The plan calls for children and young adults who have committed crimes to be served in home-like settings , and includes 24/7 youth centers and support teams that establish relationships with young people who might otherwise be locked in facilities far from home .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday took the first steps to transition juvenile probation to a proposed new Department of Youth Development , in a three-phase approach that will take at least five years .
Similar approaches have been tried in San Francisco ; Houston ; New York City ; King County , Wash. ; and Oregon .
This is the kind of system that will take things like poverty , trauma and systemic bias into account before deciding a “ juvenile delinquent ” ( I put it in quotes because I hate that term ) is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ model in the county remains hyper-focused on punishment and forced accountability because that is simply the nature of any model rooted in the principles of probation and law enforcement systems , ” Sheila Kuehl and Mark Ridley-Thomas wrote in their motion .
The board also denounced the “ ’ tough on crime ’ philosophy of the late 1980s and early 1990s , “ saying it “ has been universally debunked by research from across many fields including neuroscience , psychology , and child development.
” Of course , at least one official of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took exception to the board ’ s characterization of his agency and suggested that what the supervisors want to do might not work .
More from the Times : Interim Chief Probation Officer Ray Leyva , who was unavailable Tuesday for an interview , said in a letter to the board that he rejected the notion by advocates who he said want to “ defund and discard ” his agency and have focused much attention on its past weaknesses , rather than its “ track record of recent reforms.
” He said there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the overhaul that youth advocates want to see , including a lack of county housing options and the lack of a robust network of community services and supports .
He also raised concerns about redirecting “ substantial work from dedicated and committed county staff to private agencies , without sustainable infrastructures.
” The union that represents about 3,400 detention service officers has similar concerns .
I ’ m not going to lie : The activist in me can ’ t help but wonder if these juvenile detention officials are more worried about their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than they are about the wellbeing of the youth confined in their facilities .
After all , officials with the Justice Department spent six years investigating L.A. County detention centers after there were repeated reports of abuse , unsafe conditions and widespread civil rights violations in the county ’ s 19 probation camps .
Don ’ t get me wrong : There are certain people , even young people , in this world who present a real danger to the general public and probably need to spend their journeys toward rehabilitation locked up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while still advocating for a kinder environment for offenders , according to the Times .
“ Now , we will always have young people that need to be isolated from the community because they ’ re dangerous and it ’ s [ best for ] public safety , ” Kuehl said .
“ So , there will be locked facilities , but I don ’ t believe that we want to see them look like prisons with barbed wire.
” Anyway , the new proposal—which the board approved unanimously— ” calls for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s juvenile operations and an initial $ 75 million investment in the Department of Youth Development in the next county budget , which is approved in June , ” the Times reports .

It’s easily arguable that American society isn’t very forgiving to people who have committed crimes. For Black people and people of color especially, it often seems like rehabilitation is a concept the criminal justice system accepts in theory —not so much in practice. It’s easily arguable that America is a nation that prioritizes punishment, not rehabilitation , for people who find themselves on the wrong side of the law.
In Los Angeles County, officials are taking steps in the right direction by gearing its justice system towards reform where it matters the most — w ith our youth.
Advertisement
From the Los Angeles Times:
After years of incremental reform, Los Angeles County is moving to dismantle the largest youth justice system in the country in favor of a “care-first” model that would look less like prison and would emphasize emotional support, counseling and treatment. The plan calls for children and young adults who have committed crimes to be served in home-like settings, and includes 24/7 youth centers and support teams that establish relationships with young people who might otherwise be locked in facilities far from home. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday took the first steps to transition juvenile probation to a proposed new Department of Youth Development, in a three-phase approach that will take at least five years. Similar approaches have been tried in San Francisco; Houston; New York City; King County, Wash.; and Oregon.
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This is dope.
This is the kind of system that will take things like poverty, trauma and systemic bias into account before deciding a “ juvenile delinquent” (I put it in quotes because I hate that term) is disposable.
Advertisement
“The current youth justice model in the county remains hyper-focused on punishment and forced accountability because that is simply the nature of any model rooted in the principles of probation and law enforcement systems,” Sheila Kuehl and Mark Ridley-Thomas wrote in their motion. The board also denounced the “’ tough on crime’ philosophy of the late 1980s and early 1990s, “ saying it “ has been universally debunked by research from across many fields including neuroscience, psychology, and child development.”
Of course, at least one official of the “ current youth justice model” took exception to the board’s characterization of his agency and suggested that what the supervisors want to do might not work.
Advertisement
More from the Times:
Interim Chief Probation Officer Ray Leyva, who was unavailable Tuesday for an interview, said in a letter to the board that he rejected the notion by advocates who he said want to “defund and discard” his agency and have focused much attention on its past weaknesses, rather than its “track record of recent reforms.” He said there are substantial challenges ahead in carrying out the overhaul that youth advocates want to see, including a lack of county housing options and the lack of a robust network of community services and supports. He also raised concerns about redirecting “substantial work from dedicated and committed county staff to private agencies, without sustainable infrastructures.” The union that represents about 3,400 detention service officers has similar concerns.
Advertisement
I’m not going to lie: The activist in me can’t help but wonder if these juvenile detention officials are more worried about their jobs and the funding of their departments than they are about the wellbeing of the youth confined in their facilities.
After all, officials with the Justice Department spent six years investigating L.A. County detention centers after there were repeated reports of abuse, unsafe conditions and widespread civil rights violations in the county’s 19 probation camps.
Advertisement
Don’t get me wrong: There are certain people, even young people, in this world who present a real danger to the general public and probably need to spend their journeys toward rehabilitation locked up. In fact, Kuehl acknowledged that while still advocating for a kinder environment for offenders, according to the Times.
“Now, we will always have young people that need to be isolated from the community because they’re dangerous and it’s [best for] public safety,” Kuehl said. “So, there will be locked facilities, but I don’t believe that we want to see them look like prisons with barbed wire.”
Advertisement
Anyway, the new proposal—which the board approved unanimously—” calls for a gradual wind-down of the probation department’s juvenile operations and an initial $75 million investment in the Department of Youth Development in the next county budget, which is approved in June,” the Times reports.