Penny Franklin

Unconquered (and inspired)

While serving 27 years in prison Nelson Mandela recited this poem.
After his release he went on to become President of South Africa and a champion for human rights.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and...
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Toby Swordis

Signals in Store Aisles

I am reviewing a proposal to install customer guidance systems (CGS) in larger stores. Basically this means signals and stop signs where aisles meet to prevent people from running into one another. Great idea I think.

I witnessed a near collision the other day in a Walmart between a very focused wheel chair person and an intent motorized shopping cart driver. Visions of personal injury, lawsuits, and people impoverished or bankrupt from the ensuing medical bills. How can America not...
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Off The Record

Ladies Lunch: Marie Claire Commemorates 50th Anniversary of Equal Pay Act

Katie Couric. (Photo credit: Kevin Mazur, Getty Images).

On a rainy Monday, Marie Claire threw a luncheon at Marea, the chic Columbus Circle seafood spot, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Equal Pay Act. And how better to acknowledge the state of working women (we hear they are leaning in of late) than by eating lobster salad and listening to highly accomplished women recount their early successes?

Speaking at the lunch...
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Obama Joins G-8 Allies Isolating Putin Over Assad

bloomberg.com - By Mike Dorning & Ilya Arkhipov - ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland - President Barack Obama and European allies moved to further isolate Russian president Vladimir Putin for supporting the regime in Syria even as the leaders sought a way to push both sides in that nation’s civil war into talks. “Of course, our opinions do not coincide, but all of us have the intention to stop the violence in Syria,” Putin said yesterday after meeting with Obama on the sidelines of the summit.

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Study: Reading novels makes us better thinkers

salon.com - By Tom Jacobs - New research says reading literary fiction helps people embrace ambiguous ideas and avoid snap judgments - Are you uncomfortable with ambiguity? It’s a common condition, but a highly problematic one. The compulsion to quell that unease can inspire snap judgments, rigid thinking, and bad decision-making. Fortunately, new research suggests a simple anecdote for this affliction: Read more literary fiction.

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Which Websites Are Under NSA surveillance: This May Shock You!

beforeitsnews.com - (Be The Media) – One of BIN contributor, Ye Olde False Flag, recently posted an excellent article about a Firefox plug-in that warns computer users about potential government surveillance.

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Jeb Bush says Immigrants Are More Fertile - Are the Engine of Economic Prosperity

cnsnews.com - Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a Republican, said that immigrants to America “are more fertile,” have “more intact families,” and "are the engine of economic prosperity” that could improve the U.S. economy and help the government to cover the rising cost of entitlements.

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Man calls Solihull police to complain about prostitute's looks

bbc.co.uk - A man has been warned after he dialled 999 to complain about a prostitute's looks after meeting her. West Midlands Police said they were contacted by the caller who said he "wished to report her for breaching the Sale of Goods Act". The force said the call was received at about 19:30 BST on Tuesday complaining that the woman was not as attractive as she had claimed. Officers have now sent the man a letter warning him about wasting police time.

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Doug Ernst

Snyder’s ‘Man of Steel’ hits audiences with big ideas, soars over small-minded critics

Zack Snyder’s ‘Man of Steel’ aims for epic, and on almost every level it delivers. That is probably why it set a new best-ever opening weekend record for June. It has grossed $125.1 million by its first Sunday in theaters. Audience reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, and yet the “professional” critics have been less kind. That is because ‘Man of Steel’ is about big ideas, and many critics have small minds.

A snapshot of some of...
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Ashley Angeles

Rockstar Couple #1

There’s something so interesting in looking at the various relationships rockstars have.  This picture really caught my eye…

 

Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull

 

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Doctor Bizarre

After pulling pressure cookers, Williams-Sonoma mulls embago on forks, knives

The Boston Terror attack occurred less than a month ago, but its repercussions will go on for years. Dzhokha Tsarnaev is in custody and Tamerlan is dead — but so are sales of pressure cookers in Boston-area Williams-Sonoma stores.

Patch reports:

Williams-Sonoma, the specialty retailer of home furnishings and gourmet cookware with over 250 stores in the United States, has pulled pressure cookers from their shelves following the Boston Marathon bombing.

“It...
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Greg David

A man for all (special interests)

If the buzz is correct, sometime later this month the United Federation of Teachers will endorse former comptroller Bill Thompson for mayor. After all, he has proposed what appears to be a significant weakening of mayor control by giving up a majority on the panel that approves policy changes, and he was a friend of the union when he chaired the old school board. He also hasn't ruled out a big retroactive increase for the member of the Federation.

At the same time, Mr....
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