Links of the Week 17 July 2009

Top Five
(In Order)
Report Identifies Characteristics of Sustainable Nonprofits

Hello From Havana
A very interesting breakdown of the ruling style of Raul Castro that includes his speaking style, sense of humor and policy changes since coming to power in 2008.

Vice Presidency Has Changed Over The Years
Interesting look at the position of the Vice Presidency and what has been done in recent administrations to change that role.

What Gov. Palin Forgot (Sen. John Kerry)
Sen. Kerry discusses a recent op-ed that Gov. Palin wrote showing that global warming is indeed a problem using examples from the state of Alaska.

Solutions: Help Madison Avenue find FauxBama Girls
This is an interesting blog search plus a chance to give little Black and Mixed girls a chance of exposure. Read post for details and disregard dates as this was tweeted this week.

Quote of the Week
“Being white and male is seen instead as a neutral condition, the natural order of things. Any “identity” — black, brown, female, gay, whatever — has to be judged against this supposedly “objective” standard. Thus it is irrelevant if Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. talks about the impact of his background as the son of Italian immigrants on his rulings — as he did at his confirmation hearings — but unforgivable for Sotomayor to mention that her Puerto Rican family history might be relevant to her work.” from A Sotomayor Sense of Justice.

Photo of the Week

Source: Keith Knight via BlackNews.com

If I Lived Inside the Beltway…
I would go to National Geographics DC African Diaspora Film Series from 23-25 July. Only $10 General Admission and $8 for Seniors/Students. Click Here for Details.

Politico
The Future of U.S. Policy in Iraq
The first 30 minutes contain the speech and the rest is question and answer.

Quotes of the Day from the Sotomayor Hearing
These quotes are from the first day of the hearing.

Amtrak unveils first rail car funded by stimulus

The House Releases Its Health-Care Reform Bill

Emily’s List: Read My Lipstick
Emily’s List now has a blog. Check it out.

Other
Top 10: Subtle Ways to Tell Her She’s Fat
I found this article horrendous but I have to admit that a few of the suggestions were clever. Please don’t try these “tips” at home!

Colleges Could See Decline in Number of Large Gifts

PETA Playmates Hit Capitol Hill to Dish Vegan Hot Dogs

Movie Studios Make Strides in Diverting Waste, Recycling Sets

Kmart’s Christmas in July: Inspiration or Desperation?
My vote is for desperation but it is a pretty crafty idea but what are they going to do come November and December to get people in their doors if they have done all their shopping in July?

Oldies But Goodies
Obama Watch Special: Back to Africa

Convention Committees: Sectors & Industries
Another useful document from OpenSecrets.org.

You Want To Run For Office. Now What?
A story about a woman who decided she wanted to run for political office that participated in The White House Project’s political training program for women.

Why You Should Listen to Obama’s "Muslim World" Speech

This morning those who have signed up to receive email messages from The White House got a message from David Axelrod concerning Obama’s speech from Cairo.

I am assuming for those who got the email that like me you receive way too many emails that you cannot possibly read each day or even this week. Well today, I decided to listen to this speech (I have a friend who researches on the Middle East so I’ve taken an additional interest in the region) – all 55 minutes of it. The speech was good but there are a few specific reasons why I think you should watch this speech:

1- President Obama discusses Women’s Rights specifically in a Muslim context (42:24);

2- President Obama gives an updated timeline for troop withdrawals from Iraq (19:58)

3- (Just for fun) To hear President Obama say certain words (like Qu’ran) with an Arabic accent (moments vary).

If you have not signed up to get updates from the Obama Administration, visit www.whitehouse.gov to sign up (see upper right hand corner).

Links of the Week 12 September 2008

Top Five
(in no particular order)

Foreign Policy Association Election Guide
Vote to give your opinion on key foreign policy issues for the next administration. See how the candidates feel on international issues such as the War in Iraq, China and Russia and more.

Brady’s injury a huge blow to many fantasy teams

If Obama Looses…
I am an optimist but my mother also taught me to have a plan B…

Minority-Oriented Private Equity Funds May Outperform Other Stock Indices, Study Finds

Two Views on Sarah Palin and Women of Color

Politics

Delaware No. 1 in E government
It’s good to be first

Where the Hell Are All the Women?

Markell win breaks legacy that began with Carper

Meet the most connected women in Washington

Misery Loves Democrats

Links of the Week 25 July 2008

Top Five

In No Particular Order

Black. Female. Accomplished. Attacked. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/18/AR2008071802557.html?referrer=emailarticle

Sisterhood Turns 100: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/07/20/dougherty.aka.100.cnn?iref=videosearch

The True Cost of the 100-Calorie Snack Pack http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Story?id=5373173&page=1

Why Vegan Is The New Atkins http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-freston/why-vegan-is-the-new-atki_b_114464.html

Tell Me Again, Why Is Obama Being Popular With Our Allies a Bad Thing? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/tell-me-again-why-is-obam_b_114154.html

New York Times Rejects McCain Rebuttal To Obama Op-Ed http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/21/emnew-york-timesem-reject_n_114079.html

Politics

Iraq Leader Maliki Supports Obama’s Withdrawal Plans http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,566841,00.html

McCain Owns First Foreign Policy Gaffe During Obama’s Iraq Trip (VIDEO) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/21/mccain-owns-first-foreign_n_114013.html

McCain Campaign Running Obama-Castro Ad http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/24/mccain-campaign-running-o_n_114657.html

Obama Makes $5 Million Olympics Ad Buy http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/23/obama-makes-5-million-oly_n_114630.html

Young Republicans worry about McCain’s appeal http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/24/young.gop/index.html

With Arizona Changing, McCain Focuses on Home http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/us/politics/24arizona.html?em&ex=1217044800&en=430ecb0df5aa3f01&ei=5087%0A

Two-thirds of Hispanics back Obama: study http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN2440979420080724

Hip-hop artist Nas protests Fox coverage of Obama http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-07-23-nas-fox_N.htm

Entertainment

OMG! What will ‘Gossip Girl’ do next? http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/23/tv.gossipgirlpromo.ap/index.html

All I can say is don’t read the books if you are shocked by the TV show…

Whoopi vs. Elisabeth http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/07/23/lkl.whoopi.word.cnn

Smith tops Hollywood earner list http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7522308.stm

Economics

Victoria’s Secret Pink Adds HBCU Flair http://www.blackenterprise.com/cms/exclusivesopen.aspx/id/4778&p=0

Health

While the U.S. Spends Heavily on Health Care, a Study Faults the Quality http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/17/business/17health.html?ex=1216958400&en=1f1c558ca69c9548&ei=5070&emc=eta1

Study: Fat Men Have Bad Sperm http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/09/study-fat-men-have-bad-sp_n_111683.html

International

Egypt jails 14 Facebook activists http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/Default.pl?id=27089

Tehran Debates Breaking Dress Code To Broadcast Women At Olympics http://www.rferl.org/content/Article/1185739.html

Other

Michelle Obama credited with helping recast image of U.S. black women http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080720/FEATURES01/807200469/1025/FEATURES

WNBA reviewing Sparks-Shock skirmish in entirety http://sports.espn.go.com/wnba/news/story?id=3501654

Facebook challenges German rival http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7516821.stm

Something is lost when things get too big. Good luck to the German social network on fighting Facebook who has seemed to lost sight of their original vision a long time ago.

Black and single: Is marriage really for white people? http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/07/22/single.black.women/index.html

Many Women ‘Regret Tattoos within Five Years’ http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24073092-662,00.html?from=public_rss

Links of the Week 13 June 2008

Top Five
In No Particular Order

Sexism Might Sell But I’m Not Buying It: http://www.womensmediacenter.com/sexism_sells.html

States Seize Stimulus Checks: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91303980&ft=1&f=1001

Women, Repeat This: Don’t Ask, Don’t Get: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/jobs/06pre.html?scp=21&sq=women&st=nyt

Colleges should explain why costs are so high: http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080608/OPINION09/806080407/1004/OPINION

BBC uncovers lost Iraq billions: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7444083.stm

Health

Worst Food in America: http://www.menshealth.com/eatthis/20-Worst-Foods/1_The_Worst_Food_in_America.php
The winner is Outback’s cheese and bacon fries. I don’t eat meat or dairy anymore but I do remember that these fries were GOOD, just not good for you.

Japan, Seeking Trim Waists, Measures Millions: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/world/asia/13fat.html?em&ex=1213502400&en=c6f2623fbee96495&ei=5087%0A
Article discusses new waist limits in Japan for those between the ages of 40 and 74.

Sports

Celtics fully grasp urgency of Finals: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/ian_thomsen/06/13/lakers.collapse/index.html?eref=si_topstories

Griffey’s journey untainted: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jack_wilkinson/06/09/griffey.600/index.html?eref=si_topstories
Ken Griffey Jr hit is 600^th homerun, the sixth Major League player to do so and the third “clean” player, according to the author.

Politics

Defeat is the Clintons’ new challenge: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/06/09/america/clinton.php

Hillary Clinton, Master Thespian: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/opinion/08dowd.html?scp=2&sq=women+and+politics&st=nyt
I’m glad that I’m not the only one that sees that HRC lost because she did not run a good campaign NOT because of sexism or because the country is not ready for a woman president.

Boys on the Bias: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/opinion/08whitman-1.html?scp=5&sq=women+and+politics&st=nyt
This short op-ed by former NJ Governor Whitman showed some of the best examples of sexism in the 2008 Presidential Nominee race.

Another Green World: My candidate wins the nomination for the Presidency: http://another-green-world.blogspot.com/2008/05/my-candidate-wins-nomination-for.html
Cynthia McKinney has gained more than 50% of the delegates in the Green Party’s nomination party. Looks like this really is a historic election season- The first Black man candidate, the First Black and Woman Candidate and the Oldest Candidate; though the middle situation is not official yet.

In California, a House Divided Stands Strong: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/us/politics/13split.html
A cute story highlighting the Governor of CA and his wife and also showing what occurs in mixed political party families.

World/Other

Europe looks at Putin with prudence and respect, and at Bush with indifference: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/06/09/europe/politicus.php

Looking to the future, Feminism Has to Focus: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/06/AR2008060603494.html?sid=ST2008060900950

Links of the Week 16 May 2008

Top Five of the Week
(in no particular order)
HRC Saturday Night Live Parody: http://zennie2005.blogspot.com/2008/05/snl-hillary-clinton-opening-my-supports.html
This is the SNL skit where HRC lays out why she will be the Democratic nominee.Multilateral Like Bush: http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=ab15aa4c-568a-4000-ad7d-7cda6d2b2695
So this article shows McCain’s stances on various foreign policy situtations.

If Clinton Wants VP, Obama Can’t Stop Her: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/05/if_clinton_wants_to_be_vp_obam.html

Clinton’s Biggest Mistake: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/05/clintons_biggest_mistake.html
I have to say this guy is right on the money with his article. I feel two words describe the failure of HRC’s campign — lazy & cocky.

Robert Creamer: Top 10 Reasons Obama Defeated Clinton…: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-creamer/top-10-reasons-obama-defe_b_101307.html
I have to say I agree with Creamer. He said things in this article that I have said since the beginning.

Business/Technology
Steven Levy: Getting Scholarships on FastWeb: http://www.newsweek.com/id/135371/page/1

This is an article criticizing Fastweb.com, now owned by Monster. I have to say I agree with Steven Levy. Do you?

Landlines go dead as more users rely on cell phones: http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/05/14/cell.phones.ap/index.html

Environment/Health

Green Girl Turns the Tide on Laundry: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/green-girl-turns-the-tide-on-laundry.html

Be careful what you allow into your body.

Hey, Maybe Wind’s No Joke Afterall: http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/environmentandenergy/archive/2008/05/13/maybe-wind-s-no-joke-after-all.aspx
A good quick look at the development of wind power as a clean energy source in the United States.

Under Water: Insiders Question Off Shore Wind Power: http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2008/05/08/under-water-insiders-question-offshore-wind-power/
A look at new challenges to off shore wind power.

10 Healthiest Desserts: http://www.vitaljuicedaily.com/2008/03/12/10-healthiest-desserts/?=SpaWeek

It’s not easy being green: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24228167/
Transcript from a story that ran on Dateline NBC.

Giving
Younger Donors As Generous as Other Generations: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=214400037

Chinese Open Wallets for Quake Aid: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/16/AR2008051600181.html?wpisrc=newsletter&sid=ST2008051201226

Politics
Obama and Oregon: More In Common Than O: http://wtop.com/?nid=213&pid=0&sid=1404304&page=1
A breakdown of the Oregon electorate and Obama and Clinton in relation to that electorate.

Clinton: All about 2012?: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/14/1018609.aspx

Miss. Democrat wins GOP House Seat: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24605489/

Q&A With Bob Barr, Libertarian for President: http://www.newsweek.com/id/136847/page/1

The McCain Archives: http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=2ba6e0c3-20ff-4fa0-9574-ef989fd88877
A series of The New Republic Articles about John McCain.

It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue: http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=de28547d-1946-4d87-b233-c47c8c964cd3
An interesting piece discussing what Obama needs to do to improve his chances of beating McCain in the fall.

Maybe We Can’t: http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=331c77bb-9591-422c-aa2b-11a741c6ebb9&p=1
An article about an African American man who supported Hillary Clinton and why. Here is the link to a response about the article on The New Republic’s staff blog The Plank: http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/05/14/i-take-issue-with-quot-the-black-case-for-obama-skepticism-quot.aspx

Democrats Need Quick End to In Fighting: http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2008/0507_elections_fullilove.aspx?emc=lm&m=215464&l=53&v=738384

The Warrior and Her Throne: Once Confident Clinton Camp Under Seige: http://www.spiegel.de/international/us-elections/0,1518,552948,00.html

Edwards to endorse Obama: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/14/edwards.obama/index.html

Cindy McCain Sells Funds Tied to Sudan: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/15/us/politics/15cindy.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

The Politics of the Lapel, When It Comes to Obama: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/15/us/politics/15flag.html\

Clinton’s 11th Hour Push: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/clintons-11th-hour-push-2008-05-14.html

McCain Aide Trains His Sights on Obama: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121080096992092987.html
Meet John McCain’s speechwriter in this article.

McCain envisions how first term will go: http://wtop.com/?nid=213&sid=1404252
I have to say I do like some of McCain’s ideas. Read this article with an open mind.

Republicans fear public has lost confidence: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-05-14-gopfallout_N.htm
The Republic Congressional Campaign Committee has less than 10 million on hand. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is close to 45 million…

Farm Bill Passes by Veto-Proof Margin: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/14/AR2008051400371.html
But will congress be able to override this bill when it is more than likely vetoed?

Is Clinton Right that She’s the Stronger Candidate?: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/05/is_clinton_right.html?nav=rss_blog
A good breakdown of HRC’s arguments and of the general election race in general.

The Campaign That Wasn’t: http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=1d0dfb69-5765-4927-bc96-350556e16e69
A look at the best of HRC and BHO and the ponderings if the best of these two candidates ran against each other during the whole 2008 Democratic Primary season.

The GOP Must Stand for Something: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121081030507093579.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries

Steeling Obama: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-schoen15-2008may15,0,5541828.story
How Obama can prepare for the General Election and why the long primary battle is in his favor.

Biden: Bush’s Comments were Bull…: http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0508/Biden_Bushs_comments_were_bullshit.html

GOP’s New Slogan Already Used to Market Anti-Depressant: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/12/gops-new-slogan-already-b_n_101376.html

McCain Sees U.S.Troops Leaving Iraq by 2013: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/15/AR2008051500005.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&sid=ST2008051503444

Joe Biden: McCAin Has Zero Plan to Get Us Out of Mess President Bush Has Created: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-biden/mccain-has-zero-plan-to-g_b_101979.html

Other

MySpace wins $230 million in Internet spam case: http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/05/13/myspace.spam.award.ap/index.html

Size no longer stops short, stylish men: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/homestyle/05/13/short.men.fashion.ap/index.html
Little men need love too…

ABC-TV will have only 2 new fall shows: http://www.newsweek.com/id/136757/page/1
The canceled Women’s Murder Club =(