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Biology is not my expertise or background of knowledge. I did, though, note the oncology professor and director, [Mary] Armanios, of The Johns Hopkins Telomere Center, who said, "telomere length has a continuous range that is normal at every age." And that "small additions and subtractions" -- at minimum -- "may not be biologically meaningful."
That considered, this report on the VITAL study suggests that Vitamin D supplementation could serve as one protectant of telomeres -- at least those in the white blood cells of some populations age 50+. So even when telomere length is a questionable biomarker, does it negate that healthy supplementation with Vitamin D was beneficial in the non-control group? Vitamin D aside, I'm a little surprised -- given the popularity of their tout in human nutrition and well-being -- that Omega 3 supplementation had no comparable effect. Mass General Brigham and the Medical College of Georgia conducted the VITAL study.
An FB post via Cryonics Institute on "This Vitamin May Slow Aging Process--New Research," v24May2025 (D. Taheri)
Chromosomes (Credit: "Embroidery Chromosome Chart" by Hey Paul Studios | Licensed under CC BY 2.0)
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania (United States). You can find her writings and commentary, including "What I didn't expect from Omega 3 in telomere study," at landturn.com/blog.
Related: "Unleash the Power of Vitamin D (Matthews) (2024)
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The morning BEFORE Angie Stone's death, I was listening to "Kiss You (X Mix)" -- my favorite song from her 2023 album. I then listened to some of the throw-back "Excuse Me" (Raphael Saadiq x Angie Stone x Calvin Richardson).
[A couple years ago], I looked up Angie Stone on Youtube and came across a VladTV interview by someone who's a real fan of her music. I listened to that "Love Language" album because the interview was so good. (Interview: "Angie Stone on Recording the First Original Rap Record from a Female Group w/ The Sequence (Part 1)" -- VLADTV.) 
Author's Spotify dashboard of Angie Stone's "Love Language" album, 2023
She didn't do a lot of songwriting on it, but the songs i.e. "Kissing You (X Mix)" were really good, and each was true to the album title.
By the way, in recent years, the only other album true to its title that I've heard was "Off the Yak" (Young M.A.). In regard to Stone, "No More Rain (In This Cloud)" is a song I had heard an aunt of mine play. I was coming to age when I got that introduction to the singer/songwriter. And "Brotha" is probably one of my favorite hit singles by her. I can't forget Angie Stone. Rest in Peace.
Originally a FB post about "Angie Stone, Grammy-nominated R&B artist, dead at 63" (M. Thomas)
Angie Stone in concert (Credit: "Angie Stone" by tom.beetz | Licensed under CC BY 2.0)
In Memory of Anita ("Red Mama"), Marcel, and Juan
Related: "A Wanted Woman" (RIP Eric Jerome Dickey) (2021)
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I remember at the time of Tesla's (HQ?) relocation to Texas that Musk criticized California for not being business-friendly. Definitely didn't know the Lone Star State hosts the percentage of stateside publicly traded companies that it does; or that it leads the nation in public companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange. On another note, it'll be interesting to see what... [relocation of the NYSE headquarters] will mean for the mentioned Texas Stock Exchange. Then again, if the state "now... will become the financial capital of America," as the governor has said, maybe there's room there in Dallas for both.
A comment on "The New York Stock Exchange is coming to Texas" (L. Varanasi)
"Dallas Skyline 02" by TexasEagle | CC BY-NC 2.0
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania (United States). You can find her commentary and perspectives, including "Texas HQ for New York Stock Exchange coming soon," at landturn.com/blog.
Related: Harvard donor's DEI Nightmare on Wall Street (2024)
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The $50,000 deduction per small business startup is a 10-fold increase, and I think it's a good idea. As a start, it would bring some economy to that segment of prospective job creators. I also see the deduction growing, if you will, the number of small business startups.
It's not unreasonable to expect that many will not defy the odds and succeed. However, some will. On another note, these almighty bestowals from/for power-backed political candidates and special interests that include, but aren't limited to:
Thumbs down.
Note: Lightly edited for clarity and adaptation for a standalone blog.
Correction: Bullet point now reflects that multiple banners were flown, not a single banner or blimp; that the display included another in-state university; and that the ad campaign was by a political organization, not a candidate.
Man holding up a music emotion (Credit: "Group of diverse friends holding movie emoticons" by rawpixel - Image: 110910174 © 123RF Free Images)
A comment on "Kamala Harris' Message To BET Hip-Hop Awards Fans: Voting Allows You To 'Determine The Future Of Our Country'" (J. JoVonn)
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania (United States). You can find her commentary and editorials, including "U.S. presidential sweepstakes antry,'" at landturn.com/blog.
Related: How barrier for Stein as viable presidential candidate is man-made (2024)
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Man looking out window next to New York Stock Exchange (Credit: "Man Looks Out from Window - Giessen - Germany" by Adam Jones | CC BY 2.0) AND "The New York Stock Exchange [Wall Street]. New York, NY" by Kjetil Ree | CC BY-SA 2.0)
A meme on big Harvard donor Bill Ackman's Diversity/Equity/Inclusion irony (J. ExWilliams)
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania (United States). You can find her writings and commentaries, including the meme "Harvard donor's DEI Nightmare on Wall Street," at landturn.com/blog.
Related: Former board activist, 92, wielded her influence among White old money (2019)
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5. "How you don't know what day of the week it is?"
Me: Early grade school. Got the impression that it was a big deal to forget the day; didn't know why it was though.
I've since learned how to estimate the time of day when I don't have a watch, and determine at least 2 directions if I don't have a compass. Every once in a while, though, I still confuse a day of the week.
4. "If you're out past midnight, you're looking for trouble."
It turns out that NEOM is one Saudi project for the "tourism and foreign direct investment I believed to be Riyadh's intention." At the time, I noted that the 2018 "reforms on women's liberties and the political shakedown on ruling family members" gave me the impression that the Crown Prince wanted to modernize the country's world image for the future of its economy.
See "Why I think Saudi Arabia is modernizing itself right now" below. In that regard, I can't imagine Dubai -- a renown lifestyle destination there on the Arabian Peninsula -- was not an inspiration for the concept of NEOM's built environment. According to neom.com, it'll be, "The land of the future, where the greatest minds and best talents are empowered to embody pioneering ideas and exceed boundaries in a world inspired by imagination." And in April, BUSINESS INSIDER reported that the country's northwest enclave plans to have "glow-in-the-dark beaches, ski slopes, an artificial moon, robot butlers, and flying taxis." It reminds me of spectacles like the MGM Grand and the Sphinx and pyramid hotels that amused me during family trips to Vegas growing up. NEOM's vision statement above is well-stated though. Very well-stated. Earlier this year, allAfrica [distributed] a report about Waterfall City in South Africa. I haven't looked much further into the planned city of "Connection, Commerce, Care, and Community," but it is, like its Saudi peer, a smart city. However, Waterfall City is a functioning locale with residents; national; and multinational tenants. NEOM seems much larger in scale and with some features of a resort. However, the project appears to be in its planning-and-marketing phase right now. It's further evident that Saudi Arabia is active in diversifying its image and economy with its winning bid to host the WTA finals, 2024-2026. At $15.25 million, this year's prize will set a record for the women's sport.
A follow-up comment on "Why I think Saudi Arabia is modernizing itself right now" (J. ExWilliams)
Note: Slightly edited for adaptation to a standalone post. 
Two women standing in between rock formations in Hisma Desert, NEOM, Saudi Arabia (Credit: "a couple of women standing next to each other" by NEOM on Unsplash)
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania (United States). She once served as a representative of Saudi Arabia and Libya, respectively, for the Model U.N. You can find her editorials and perspectives, including "Saudi Arabia's smart city an example of my impression of its initial cultural reforms," at landturn.com/blog.
Related: Why I think Saudi Arabia is modernizing itself right now (2019)
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In February, I stayed off of social media for the entire month. Beforehand, I posted to Facebook that I would not "grant [it] and its partners access to my correspondence, intellectual property, and usage during Black History Month."
It was my acknowledgement of Black History Month as a time to commemorate/highlight/recognize historic and historical achievements and accomplishments of Black people, especially in the United States and Canada. I didn't care to relinquish my social media activity to a Black digital aggregate for business-to-consumer purposes or otherwise. In collaboration with The Markup, Consumer Reports revealed that each Facebook user who participated in its study had had, on average, 2000+ companies that shared his/her/their info with the social media clearinghouse -- I mean, company. My awareness of this mass collection of personal info is part of the reason I don't care to "download the app" or register a new online account for one-time or infrequent use (i.e. job or rental applications). For example, I used to buy work clothes/shoes from Old Navy when it required an account for online purchases. It would annoy me that there was no guest checkout for my order, which I placed every once in a while. Eventually, I signed up for a dang account. Ultimately, I took my business elsewhere. Similarly, credit cards and digital payments have dozens or more data points with which to sell, share, track, and target consumers for ads/offers/promos/disclosure/surveillance and so forth. The PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is, for example, wonderful for the industry of digital payments. I believe its best practices garner consumer trust within and across national borders for companies that facilitate Web payments. But the strength of PCI DSS is the digital data security in a payment's life cycle (e.g., storage or destruction). Very broadly, it includes but is not limited to:
I believe a federal data privacy law and FTC regulation would protect digital consumers in the United States. It would restrict the sale of consumer info from payments, invoices, bills, etc. and the misuse of consumer info shared between entities and commercial partners.
Request that Congress keep up with the 21st Century. Enact FEDERAL legislation to protect our data privacy. Sign the petition from Consumer Reports. 
Man holding $20 (Credit: "A bespectacled man in business suit holding a banknote" by inspirestock - Image: 26134815 | © 123RF Free Images)
A response to the email "Protect My Privacy! Ask Congress to Pass a Strong Privacy Law" (Consumer Reports)
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania (United States). You can find her editorials, including "Data privacy law would upgrade Congress to the 21st Century," at landturn.com/blog.
Related: Ecosia over Google (2020)
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Note: Today I learned that Mr. Slayman died earlier this month. This post was adapted from my comment just yesterday to "Ill. man, 50, underwent 6 organ transplants," which is linked far below.
In March, a Massachusetts man became the first patient to survive transplantation of a pig kidney. Previously, "Rick" Slayman, 62, had a human kidney transplant, reported usatoday.com, but his blood clotting before that transplant didn't stop with that transplant.
He ended up back on dialysis. When I trained for and worked as a CNA, some of the nursing home residents I dressed and groomed were preparing for dialysis or had returned from it. Upon treatment, they'd appear exhausted, in pain, and frail. There's blood throughout the human body, and our kidneys, among other functions, clean the waste from our blood. I think its vital, lifelong function is the reason why we tend to have two. If one is removed, injured, diseased or what not, we still have a chance at survival. However, I had an awful impression of the necessary dialysis treatment that helps some of us perform this function. Also see "Ill. man, 50, underwent 6 organ transplants" below. Again, Slayman is only the first successful recipient of any animal-to-human kidney, so I'm curious to see more examples of this kind of xenotransplantation. Given its novel success and experimental nature, how well the kidney might function captures my interest before the duration that kidney might function. So far, Slayman's off to a good start. Dr. Tatsuo Kawai was the surgeon in Slayman's transplantation team at Massachusetts General Hospital. The porcine kidney turned pink immediately, he told reporters. A good sign. "It was truly the most beautiful urine I have ever seen," Kawai said. 
Doctor giving the thumbs up (Credit: "Doctor hand with a stethoscope and human sign social" by Ingram/stock.picvario.media)
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania (United States). You can find some of writings and perspectives, including "What interests me 1st about a successful animal-to-human kidney transplant," at landturn.com/blog.
Related: Ill. man, 50, underwent 6 organ transplants (2022)
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A distress call from students at one major university and an endorsement by an advisor to world bodies of government at another speaks to Jill Stein's viability as a U.S. presidential candidate.
However, she faces an uphill climb in a populous state with one of the most stringent requirement to ballot access for third-party and independent candidates. New York requires 45,000 valid signatures in just one month. In 2020, I learned from the Howie Hawkins campaign about the electoral tariff imposed on such candidates in his home state. Perhaps it builds fortitude that most PA election cycles, for example, require that individual strangers request dozens of other strangers to commit their name & address on a petition to get a third-party or independent candidate on the ballot. The year after Biden's election, Hawkins, a retired Teamster, traveled to Harrisburg from Syracuse to help me petition outdoors for several hours in the middle of summer. In regard to Stein, her May 3 rally with guest Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University saw $45,000 for a NY effort that requires more than 7X the people power. Cornel West -- who I've supported since his announcement last year -- faces the same electoral tariff in addition to no singular party backing or previous electoral profile. To those of you in New York or PA who commit your valid signatures: Thank you.
A comment on the event "Jill Stein Virtual Rally with Jeffrey Sachs" (J. Stein)
Jill Stein 2024 campaign logo (jillstein2024.com)
Green Party's 10 Key Values: 1) Grassroots Democracy 2) Ecological Wisdom 3) Global Responsibility & Personal Responsibility 4) Community-Based Economics & Economic Justice 5) Non-Violence 6) Feminism & Gender Equity 7) Respect for Diversity 8) Future Focus & Sustainability 9) Social Justice & Equal Opportunity 10) Decentralization
Note: First paragraph was lightly edited for clarity in a standalone blog.
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania. You can find her editorials and perspectives, including "How barrier on Stein as viable presidential candidate is man-made," at landturn.com/blog.
Related: U.S. presidential sweepstakes a Public-Pop Partnership for Almighty Interests (2024)
Related: Discrepancy with Green presidential candidate: my correspondence (2021) Related: Discrepancy with Green presidential candidate: my correspondence, II (2021) Related: Getting on the ballot as a third-party candidate in Pennsylvania (2022) Related: Getting on the ballot as a third-party candidate in Pennsylvania, II (2022) Related: "The Case for an Independent Left Party" (Hawkins) (2020) Related: Reaching out to third-party candidates for Harrisburg candidate forum (2022) Related: Opportunity exists for Pa. third-party candidates despite gerrymandering (2022) Related: How rent control is more helpful than affordable housing alone (2023)
I heard no mention of it besides my answer to someone who had asked me, "What is today?"
I appreciate that the Green Party recognizes May Day in support of labor -- period. I believe the Democratic Party supports mainly American labor if organized into a likely voting bloc -- i.e. labor unions. That's no shade on labor unions -- just the Dems' alignment to organized labor if the benefactor of its members' collective vote in elections. Labor as a voting bloc can be seen from outfits aligned with the Republican Party, too. Dave Sunday (D.A., York), for example, won the PA Republican primary for attorney general recently. Besides the PA Republican Party, endorsements for his stauncher rival Craig Williams (state rep., Delaware) came from a York County police lodge and the PA Sheriffs Association PAC.
A post shared from a May Day message on Facebook by the Green Party of the United States
Cooks preparing food (Credit: "working behind the line" by Amy C. Evans - Southern Food Alliance)
Note: Post was lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania (United States). You can find her editorials, including "When Democrats, Republicans are kind-of for labor" at landturn.com/blog.
Related: The marijuana advocacy one Pa. legalization lawmaker overlooked (2021)
Related: What influenced me to reconsider participation in electoral policies (2019) Related: "The Case for an Independent Left Party" (Hawkins) (2020) Related: Working conditions as a home health aide (2019) Related: Why rent control is more helpful than affordable housing alone (2023) Related: How employment might boost wellness in a pandemic (2020) Related: Opposition candidate for president reacts to Trump, Biden debate (2020) Related: How barrier for Stein as viable presidential candidate is man-made (2024)
Wish I had seen this [trial flier] earlier. Made it to the trial though. Michael Bagdes-Canning represented himself. Great showing by supporters. Came from at least 8 counties and 3 states, including PA.
Yesterday he was found guilty of blocking, I assume, the public sidewalk. The sidewalk abuts the restaurant's entrance. On the other hand, the prosecution did not pursue the initial assault-like charge because the defendant had not resisted arrest. However, the prosecution altogether avoided that Officer [sic] Regan (R-York) forced Badges-Canning, the defendant, to the ground. For more info, see PA lawmaker holds fundraiser as new chair of influential committee below. The footage was first published by the Pennsylvania Capital-Star but is also available from the senator's hometown newspaper(s). Some of the occupants in the courtroom appeared still and a little disturbed by it. But maybe it was the volume during cross-examination by Bagdes-Canning.
An extended Facebook post on the defendant's flier image for his trial
PA state senator forces 69-year-old protester to the ground outside fundraiser. (@pennslinger)
So long as the whole of Palestinians confined in Gaza must gamble their survival against the superior might and capacity of a compulsory Israel military, the "Israel-Hamas War" advantages the decimation of a stateless people.
Israel declared war on Hamas after Hamas fighters breached the border and killed some 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians. They further took 250 people hostage. In turn, Israel has killed 25,000 Palestinians, mainly civilians in Gaza, and cut the enclave's supply or transmission of water, fuel, and electricity. If assuming 1,700 Israeli deaths so far, the casualty ratio alone is 250:17. My home is all-electric, so it is the cut to electricity that was part of my inspiration for this peaceful direct action inspired by the autobiography Burglar for Peace. The book had nothing to do with the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, but I began it just weeks before the Hamas attack on Oct. 7. It's been 42 days since I limited the heating of my home in solidarity with ordinary Palestinians in war-weary Gaza. What began as 90 minutes of day became 60 minutes at the start of this year. I recall that 750,000 Rohingya, another stateless people, were forced from their native Rakhine state into Bangladesh in 2017. A backdrop to their expulsion by vigilante and military forces was the refusal to regard the religious minority as fellow citizens of Myanmar. At the time, it surprised me that Aung San Suu Kyi, an actual Nobel laureate, did not intervene. Maybe it was ahead of an election that she was asked about their return. If they want to, she said, or words to that effect. Ultimately, The Gambia filed a suit against Myanmar for genocide with the International Court of Justice. On an individual level, the myriad peaceful ways not to standby during bloodletting in faraway lands had not occurred to me till recently. Late last month, South Africa filed a suit against Israel for genocide with The Hague. Regardless, I'll continue to heat my home for 60 minutes a day for the rest of the winter. I'll provide graphs of my 24-hour household electric use on the coldest days/nights, denoted in red. In the meantime, here's a table of my daily heat use. /cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/PSAYTK7TE5JE5INKTLEL7PP3PA.jpg)
Palestinian children await meal from soup kitchen in Rafah, Gaza (© REUTERS | Ibraheem Abu Mustafa)
*** weather.gov. Accessed 22 January 2024.
** Converted with UnitConverters.net. * Max usage assumed in lieu of notes misplaced or not indicated.
Related: "Burglar for Peace" (Glick) (2023)
Related: "Frankenstein in Baghdad" (Saadawi) (2023) Related: "This Life or the Next" (Vitanza) (2019) Related: "The Incendiaries: A Novel" (Kwon) (2019) Related: "Alek: From Sudanese Refugee to International Supermodel" (2019) Related: Why the first airstrike under Biden was sloppy (2021) Related: "A Christmas in Calcutta" (Sardar) (2019) Related: NZ prime minister "very honored" after 4th bug named after her (2021) Related: U.S. presidential sweepstakes a Public-Pop Partnership for Almighty Interests (2024)
Dr. Julianne Malveaux has face value, name recognition, and a competence in the issues of women, Black people, and Black women. So I thought that she was the perfect fit for Bennett College for Women -- an HBCU.
It was, however, a radio interview from the economist and public intellectual that I learned that heading a college involves, in large part, fundraising. By that time, she had left the college after what seemed to be a brief presidency. Malveaux gave one account of a student whose mother asked Malveaux's permission to live with her daughter in the dorm. "No, ma'am!" she said. "No, you canNOT" (or words to that effect). Similarly, there's a Cheyney student who doesn't have available, suitable housing or housing in commutable distance going into finals or winter break. However, I learned today that the university has a Student Housing Fund. Please join the #CheyneyChallenge, a monthly donation campaign for America's first HBCU. Today I made my most recent donation of $18.37 to the Student Housing Fund in particular. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania cheyney.edu Est. 1837
The Cheyney Challenge is an initiative of alumnus Mr. Bright. I committed to it on WURD's Radio Courtroom in 2015, and began donating the following year.
Two college women at computer (@NappyStock | CC0 1.0 Universal)
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania (United States). You can find her website at landturn.com.
Related: October Cheyney Challenge (2023)
Related: November Cheyney Challenge (2022) Related: January Cheyney Challenge (2023) Related: Why rent control is more helpful than affordable housing alone (2023) Related: Why Booker's sights for HBCUs has my support (2019) Related: How Hennessy partnership can payoff for HBCU business students (2019) Related: One way to boost enrollment at HBCUs (2020)
With respect to Philly gun violence or otherwise, Mr. Jamal's methods for non-violent direct action aren't easy to imitate. As stated in the article, he "led seven 150-mile walking trips to Washington..., another to Harrisburg, and a 26-day hunger strike, to name a few of his efforts." And he did so while a grandfather and disabled veteran.
I read this article days ago and couldn't find the words to share it right away. There aren't a lot of Mr. Jamals out here, and I'll miss him and his dedication and perspective. It now occurred to me: If Mr. Jamal was on another level despite the naysayers/physical demands/etc., then his retirement with less of them might be as well. We want pictures, sir!!!
A FB post about "Prominent Philly anti-gun violence activist steps back from his on-the-ground work after nearly a decade" (N. Thompson)
Jamal Johnson and fellow marchers, including Jubalyn, conclude the Stop Killing Us March/Walk - Day 1, Philly (Courtesy of Jamal Johnson SKU, H. Arias)
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania (United States). Under Mr. Jamal's tutelage, she marched in small part and promoted the Stop Killing Us March/Walk during three of its annual missions.
Related: "Burglar for Peace" (Glick) (2023)
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A Q&A with the 51st Miss Cheyney University followed her coronation earlier this month. Eventually, Tamiah Morrison, the titleholder, revealed that she was losing one of her major senses -- an ultimate result that she was forewarned of growing up.
I didn't expect the bitter-sweet revelation. In May, I nodded my head in support of her impending reign for 2023-2024. At that time, CU shared on Facebook Morrison's statement as Miss Cheyney elect. "My [platform] A.V.E.N.G.E.R.S stands for Assertive, Visionary, Encouraging, Noble, Genuine, Ethical Revolutionary and Strong," She later continues, "We... encourage students to join organizations... form their own platform to engage one another and formulate lifelong connections.... That is why my slogan is “Be Your Own Hero” I would like to motivate my peers to not only step out their comfort zones but to TRY NEW THINGS, PUSH TO BE THE BEST THEM... and BEAT THE ODDS society has put against them...." (Emphasis mine.) Please join the #CheyneyChallenge, a monthly donation campaign for America's first HBCU. I made my most recent donation of $18.37 today. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania cheyney.edu Est. 1837
The Cheyney Challenge is an initiative of alumnus Mr. Bright. I committed to it on WURD's Radio Courtroom in 2015, and began donating the following year.
Cheyney students | © The Philadelphia Tribune (Used by permission)
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania (United States). You can find her website at landturn.com.
Related: October Cheyney Challenge (2022)
Related: January Challenge Challenge (2023) Related: How Hennessy partnership can payoff for HBCU business students (2019) Related: Why Booker's ambitious sights for HBCUs has my support (2019) Related: One way to boost enrollment at HBCUs (2020)
I appreciated the text-based material as a primary format of instruction for dense or technical material. But I also enjoyed the videos with high-quality imagery that reinforced it. (I've never seen so many server rooms depicted before.) The <Redacted> skits and acting, especially Keith's journey from family business to information systems security and the expressed competence of the woman newly promoted to management. The guidance [counselor] and the professor, who otherwise shared little of their professional experience, also provided continuity throughout the course.
Woman on computer with her coffee (Credit: "Young woman with laptop holding a hot coffee closeup." by shixart1985 | CC BY 2.0)
Note: Mandatory evaluation submitted at completion of official course for (ISC)2 CC today.
Related: Cybersecurity (Quiz)
Related: Cybersecurity: final project (Assignment) Related: "Cybersecurity and Cyberwar" (Singer & Friedman) (2020) Related: My super-brief history using computer technology (2021) Related: Artificial Intelligence x Human Cognition (2020) Related: This LinkedIn course helped me spruce up my resume and profile (2019)
Cheyney students began a new school year this month while I almost forgot about the #CheyneyChallenge. It was only after I observed the Blue Supermoon last night that I remembered. And today I made my most recent donation of $18.37.
I'm adhering to a regular sleep schedule for the first time in a while, but I'll credit the Blue Supermoon to my remembering this time. At any rate, please join the #CheyneyChallenge, a monthly donation campaign for America's first HBCU. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania cheyney.edu Est. 1837
The Cheyney Challenge is an initiative of alumnus Mr. Bright. I committed to it on WURD's Radio Courtroom in 2015, and began donating the following year.
Cheyney students | © The Philadelphia Tribune (Used by permission)
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania (United States). You can find her website at landturn.com.
Related: July Cheyney Challenge (2023)
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One presidential candidate is speaking up for people who are not traditionally among reliable voters. Cornel West -- scholar, activist, public intellectual, and theologian -- has called for "housing justice" for renters paying high rent-to-income and the homeless as part of his presidential campaign. The call for a federally backed cap on rent is part of that.
West started by urging the Seattle City Council to pass rent control legislation introduced by Councilwoman Kshama Sawant. Last week, however, 6-of-8 council members voted it down. It was a decision that ended an opportunity for the city to accommodate more of its residents. Speaking of accommodation, Seattle was the place I first used accessible crosswalks. The signal to walk was automated, so it required no push of a button; and a chirping bird sounded for an audible queue to cross. That was in 2000 or 2001. Nowadays, the visual-and-auditory automation of crosswalks isn't uncommon in the commercial centers of major U.S. cities. Except for its well-to-do, upwardly mobile, or financially stable residents, though, I consider Seattle a non-livable city. I've had the impression that it's somewhat like Silicon Valley and the Bay Area: a pricey region that, in part, attracts transplants in well-paying and high-demand fields. In recent years, I've coupled that impression with one that it's another costly West Coast city with rampant homelessness. I've even come across the hint of homelessness there in contemporary fiction. Barry Eisler -- thriller novelist and former Ivy League-trained attorney -- depicts a homeless character in the action scene(s) of at least one of his Livia Lone books and another in The Chaos Kind (which I intend to finish). Both are set in Seattle. In contrast, I don't recall the presence of a homeless character in The Killer Collective or A Clean Kill in Tokyo. Both are set in Japan. Maybe my impression of its affluence was not unfounded. Based on earned income alone, half of all households in Seattle bring in more than $105,000 a year (2017-2021). To put it another another way, 50% of households in Seattle bring more than $35,000 above the national median. Further, its poverty rate (10%) in that period is slightly less than the national average (11.6%). So why would I say rent control for residents of this prosperous city, for example?
With Tavis Smiley, Cornel West co-authored The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto (2012). According to its description, he and Smiley partook in an 18-city poverty tour. Barack Obama was president at the time, and I remember that "middle-class" was his stated constituency du jour. West was also one of the myriad speakers at the Moral March on Washington and to the Polls (Poor People's Campaign) last year.
Whether or not West wins the presidency -- or the Green Party nomination -- he and his campaign are poised to set the stage for rising rents, income-stressed rents, and renters themselves on political campaign trails. West has also issued regular press releases since he announced his candidacy for president. For further info on his campaign, visit CornelWest2024.com.
* Rounded to the nearest $1,000
A post on "Cornel West to Seattle City Council: 'Vote YES on rent control. It is a moral imperative." (Cornel West for President)
Black cat in purse (Credit: "Ava in another one of my purses" by ShanMcG213 | CC BY-SA 2.0)
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania (United States). You'll find her editorials and at times interpretation of basic data, including "Why rent control is more helpful than affordable housing alone," at landturn.com/blog.
Commemorating 5 years of landturn.com (2019 - 2023)
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One summer night, some years ago, I woke up in the complete darkness of a university library. At the side of each desk, tree tops that blanketed the hillside were visible from a cozy, personal-size window. There in the upper stacks, atop the campus, I dozed off at one of those desks in my favorite part of that library.
Cheyney's L.P. Hill Library doesn't compare in scenery, size, or scale, but it's no less a resource for students, faculty, and staff. Recently, I learned that a flood in January caused damage to it. Ironically, I was last at the Cheyney library 4 years before the flood, and it was under construction at the time. The flood of L.P. Hill Library marks the third of such notable Black or Black-owned institutions in recent years. Third World Press (Chicago) also flooded in January. And in 2020, the Marian Anderson Museum (South Philly) had flooded as well. Thanks to the ALA's Building Library Capacity Grant, the L.P. Hill Library will, as a start, replace the iMac computers that were well-used by students and faculty. At any rate, please join the #CheyneyChallenge, a monthly donation and promotional campaign for America's first HBCU. I made my most recent donation of $18.37 today. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania cheyney.edu Est. 1837
The Cheyney Challenge is an initiative of alumnus Mr. Bright. I committed to it on WURD's Radio Courtroom in 2015, and began donating the following year.
Girl sleeping at table (Credit: "Sleeping girl" by exit78 | Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania (United States). You can find her website at landturn.com.
Related: July Cheyney Challenge (2020)
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Note: Thanks again to Myrna for sharing this cited article with me several days ago. My email response to her was edited below for typos, and extended for clarification and further commentary.
If Air-gen technology were stackable or far larger than a fingernail, then it could be deployable for the energy needs of, say, a vehicle. Those factors are what UMass engineering professor Jun Yao and his colleague, graduate student Xiaomeng Liu, are working on. Yao also noted that storage is an issue, but a different one.
The Air-gen generates an electric charge imbalance from the humidity that percolates its tiny pores, which are far thinner than hair strands. However, most any material smashed into particles will do if those microscopic pores are present. Electricity converted from moisture? That reminds me: Given the storage, this would be more efficient for electric vehicles than charging stations or operating wind turbines in the peak hours of the night, like in Texas.
A post adapted from an email response to "Scientists find way to make energy from air using nearly any material" (D. Rosenzweig-Ziff)
Understory of a rainforest (Credit: "Dark tropical forest with ferns and palm leaves. 3d render" by virtosmedia - Image: 198350696 | © 123RF Free Images)
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania (United States). You can find her commentary and and perspectives, including "Humidity converted to electricity with device by UMass professor," at landturn.com/blog.
Commemorating 5 years of landturn.com (2019 - 2023)
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Many of the Cheyney students who were sophomores or juniors during the height of the coronavirus pandemic graduated this month as the class of 2023. Much congratulations!
It was only last month that Cheyney lifted its COVID restrictions, following the end of its designation as a national emergency by U.S. President Joe Biden. Curtis Stockley, IV had a little to say about that. CU's 2023 valedictorian is also a first-generation college student who, at age 12, lost his father. “I believe my purpose is to act as a beacon of hope to the youth who come after me," he said. "I want to show them they are more than their environment and that their fate is determined by their aspirations and work ethic in the face of hardships.” (Emphasis mine.) I appreciate that Stockley acknowledges that hardships (as opposed to setbacks) might be the condition with which the next generation contend. He studied Social Relations and concentrated in American Political Studies. Jazmin Walker joins him as salutatorian. Among her leadership roles, The Keystone Honors Academy Scholar studied Communications and minored in Psychology. Please join the #CheyneyChallenge, a monthly donation campaign for America's first HBCU. I made my most recent donation of $18.37 today. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania cheyney.edu Est. 1837 The Cheyney Challenge is an initiative of alumnus Mr. Bright. I committed to it on WURD's Radio Courtroom in 2015, and began donating the following year.
A post about "Cheyney Transforms Undergraduates, Provides Opportunities" (cheyney.edu)
Cheyney students | © The Philadelphia Tribune (Used by permission)
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania (United States). You can find her website at landturn.com.
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Good lecture!
In 1-on-1 breakout sessions, attendees had the opportunity to [respond to] questions posed after each segment. I liked that: the exchange of thoughts and perspectives with someone who did the same. One of the memorable moments was a clip of Joe Biden in his late 20s. The interviewer asked his thoughts on bribery in politics. The circumstance Biden raised struck a chord with me: The next course of action on part of the bribee when in agreement with the briber. Moreover, the multiple versions of bribery in state government were my lecture takeaways. And the real-life examples of current and former state lawmakers who took that extra plate? ... smh. Too funny. MarchOnHarrisburg's 25+ city "Disrupt the Corrupt" tour has pledged stops within 1 hour of each person in PA. Next stop is Pittsburgh April 14-15. Find the nearest one at disrupt-the-corrupt.org. 
Harrisburg, PA map key (Credit: "map of pennsylvania state" by captainvector | © 123RF Free Images)
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania (United States). In 2022, she marched the last leg (12+ mi) of MarchOnHarrisburg's three-day march from York to Harrisburg. You can find her writings and commentary, including one on the "Disrupt the Corrupt Tour" stop in Harrisburg a thumbs up," at landturn.com/blog.
Commemorating 5 years of landturn.com (2019 - 2023)
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Please join the #CheyneyChallenge, a monthly donation campaign for America's first HBCU. I made my most recent donation of $18.37 today.
As mentioned at the beginning of the year, I've had no automated donations deducted from my bank account since 2021. That remains the case so far in 2023. Also see January Cheyney Challenge below. As of this month, I made no attempt to re-enroll in the university's online payment system. I'll probably call and let the Cheyney Foundation know about this before my April Cheyney Challenge. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania cheyney.edu Est. 1837
The Cheyney Challenge is an initiative of alumnus Mr. Bright. I committed to it on WURD's Radio Courtroom in 2015, and began donating the following year.
Cheyney students | © The Philadelphia Tribune (Used by permission)
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Vis-à-vis one peer nation, the U.S. can credit its healthcare industry with one positive health outcome. You must be deeply overweight to realize it though.
Swedish men with severe obesity are at greater risk (5X) of dying a premature death from cardiovascular diseases than similar American men, according to one Swedish university study. IN OTHER WORDS, American men with severe obesity (and cardiovascular disease?) may be more likely (5X) to live a prolonged life than their Swedish counterparts.
A post about "Fat Chance: Sweden's Obesity Hits Max as Half Population Tackles Excess Weight" (I. Kuznetzov)
Originally posted to my Facebook on date above.
Heart hour glass by vantuz - Image: 20857481 | © 123RF Free Images
Jubalyn ExWilliams lives in Pennsylvania (United States). You can find her commentary and perspectives, including the one Kuznetzov's "Fat Chance: Sweden's Obesity Hits Max as Half Population Tackles Excess Weight," at landturn.com/blog.
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