Maya Pope-Chappell shares her LinkedIn staff intel about how to prosper in your career

Maya Pope-Chappell, a senior editor at LinkedIn, is the host and producer of an online series called How I Got Here where she interviews successful people about the zigs and zags along their career paths. Recently, Chappell chatted with theGrio to talk about how she got here.

The bubbly, California native shared her own story, career lessons she’s learned along the way, some of her favorite How I Got Here episodes and what she’s learned so far from her time at LinkedIn

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theGrio: Before we get to your show, I wanted to talk about how you got here. How did you get started?

Maya Pope Chappell: I’m from Oakland, CA. Went to college at UC Santa Cruz. In college, I realized I wanted to become a journalist and tell stories. Once I started writing for the school paper, I fell in love. I had an internship at Kaiser Permenente through a program called InRoads. I worked there straight out of college and the plan was to save up my money, move to NYC and become a journalist. I figured the best way to do that was to go to grad school, so I went to CUNY in New York. 

theGrio: How did New York impact your career journey?

Maya Pope-Chappell: I interned at CNN, NBC, the New York Amsterdam News, and Essence. I even wrote a few pieces for theGrio.  When I started grad school, I thought I wanted to go into magazines, but then the school was focused on new media and digital storytelling. It changed my view of what I wanted to do. I got a job at the Wall Street Journal four months after I graduated. I started out as the founding assistant web producer for the New York section and then transitioned to being the online news editor for WSJ.com based in Hong Kong and then eventually went on to become the founding social media and analytics editor for Asia.

 

theGrio: Such a bold move! You had never even been to Hong Kong  before, right? What did your family think?

Maya Pope-Chappell: Right. I had never been there before. My mom had been there when I was a kid, so I have memories of the souvenirs from that. Something that I notice is present in my own career is that I like to take on things that are new and exciting. I like to create things and start from scratch. My mom was super supportive of my move. Most people spoke English so that wasn’t an issue. I lived there for a little over two years.

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theGrio: Eventually you made your way back to the United States. I’m told you came across the LinkedIn job on LinkedIn? Normally people find other jobs on that platform.

Maya Pope-Chappell: I was ready to move back to New York and take on a new challenge and you’re right,  I came across the LinkedIn role on LinkedIn. I’ve been on LinkedIn since they started. It’s nice to have your network. I had someone who knew someone who worked here, so I had that. At the time, they were looking to expand the team. I  like that it’s a different approach to news and original content. I also really liked the mission of the company, which iss to create economic opportunity for everyone in the global workforce. It’s not only the opportunity to tell stories, but to tell stories that could create opportunities for other people. I worked for the New York office for a year and then moved back to the Bay Area about two years ago.

theGrio: For LinkedIn, you have a couple ‘founding’ adjectives in there for your various roles. This lines up with your previous experience of getting of going all out. 

Maya Pope-Chappell: Around here things changed up all the time. I’m really able to take on different tasks and I appreciate that. I have the space to do that. That’s how the How I Got Here series came about. It’s an opportunity to showcase real stories of people and success and give people something to aspire to.

theGrio: Has your own experience impacted how you approach this series?

Maya Pope-Chappell: I’ve always been fascinated by people’s stories and how they got to where they are. I consider myself to be a very ambitious person. I always want to do well and be successful. So I’m always attracted to those types of people and wondering what their stories were and how they got where they are. I want to feature not only people who are big names, but also “hidden gems.” They are people whose names you might not know, but they’ve done really extraordinary things in their careers and have really interesting stories about how they got to where they are.

theGrio: How can LinkedIn members contribute to the series? 

Maya Pope-Chappell: I want to members on LinkedIn to share their own How I Got HEre stories. There are things that could benefit someone else. I’m really calling on members to share their own storeis whether that’s in the form of  a post, video or whatever it might be.


theGrio: What’s our biggest challenge with How I Got Here? 

Maya Pope-Chappell: The biggest challenge is scheduling. It requires a lot because it’s not just a sit-down interview, it’s also gathering b-roll with that person, following them around. It requires that person to invest a lot of their team. We have a small team, but we make it work.

theGrio: I understand if you don’t want to point out favorites, but do you have favorites?

Maya Pope-Chappell: Ha! One of my favorites is Melissa Butler. She is the founder of the Lip Bar. I really like her story. She talked about rejection from Shark Tank to VCs telling her that her idea would never work. But, she persevered and ended up being very successful because she defied the odds.

Another one that stands out is Van Brooks, the founder of this non-profit in Baltimore called Safe Alternative. He suffered a really tragic accident in high school when he was playing football and ending up being paralyzed in a wheelchair. His story is so inspirational. He talks about finding his why and his purpose for doing what he’s doing nad how that accident really contributed to that. I alike all of them, but those are two of my faves.

theGrio: With all of your own experience and the super dope bird’s eye view of other people’s career paths, what advice do you have to people who are contemplating making a sharp turn in their career?

Maya Pope-Chappell: I would say do it. Take that turn. That’s something that is true for me and the series. One of the themes is don’t be afraid to deviate from your intended career path. Be willing to take chances. It’s about where you move from one level to the next or one experience to the next. Take that left turn whenever possible. Trust your gut. 

On top of that, it’s just saying yes to opportunity. First and foremost, everything starts with work ethic and focus. All of the people who I feature are super hard workers who stretch themselves to be the best and stand out. There’s a willingness to learn and seek out information. Stay curious.

Check here for the latest How I Got Here episode.

 

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Caster Semenya: IAAF wants 'swift reversal' of Swiss court's suspension of testosterone rules

The IAAF says it will seek a "swift reversal" of the decision that allows Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya to temporarily compete without taking medication.

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St. Louis and Philadelphia police investigate racist, violent and anti-Muslim Facebook posts by officers

St. Louis and Philadelphia police departments are investigating reports of racist, violent and anti-Muslim Facebook posts by some current and former city officers.

—Central Park 5 prosecutor resigns from nonprofit boards—

The Philadelphia-based The Plain View Project started examining thousands of shocking posts in 2017 from law enforcement officials in St. Louis and Philly. The group reviewed more than 5,000 posts they deemed could, “undermine public trust and confidence in police,” according to the group’s website.

“We prioritized jurisdictions that are already having conversations about police community relations. And the other consideration is geographic diversity. We didn’t want only large cites … (but) something that represented what America looked like,” said Emily Baker-White, founder and executive director of the project.

The posts included images of the Confederate flag, hateful rhetoric against Muslims, criticism of immigrants who can’t speak English and promoting violence, The Daily Mail reports.

Some supported shooting criminals and expressed hate against women.

Other big cities reviewed included Dallas and jurisdictions like Lake County, Florida, CNN reports.

—Viral ‘It’s Above Me’ guy apologizes after his transphobic tweets come back to haunt him—

According to the St Louis Post-Dispatch, a sergeant named Ron Hasty, who goes by the name “Ron Nighthawk” on Facebook appears more than 30 times in negative posts outlined in the Plain View Project’s report.

Hasty spoke with the outlet and defend himself by saying: “I’m not a racist. You can talk to any of my friends.”

“We strongly condemn violence and racism in any form. The overwhelming majority of our 7-thousand officers regularly act with integrity and professionalism,” Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5 President John McNesby said in a statement.

The investigations are still underway.

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The Return of Fake News—and Lessons From Spam

The doctored video of Speaker Pelosi proves there’s still no consensus on how to address false content. Could long-standing practices for thwarting spam provide guidance?

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A Mythical Form of Space Propulsion Finally Gets a Real Test

Scientists have debated for decades whether the propulsion concept known as EmDrive is real or wishful thinking. A sensitive new tool may at last provide an answer.

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Lee Daniels confirms Jussie Smollett will NOT appear on the final season of ‘Empire’

The final season of Empire will move forward minus Jussie Smollett, its showrunner Lee Daniels tweeted on Tuesday.

—VIDEO: Twerking shoplifter foils cops trying to catch the booty bandit—

Daniels took to Twitter to clear up a Variety report that alleged writers were prepping for the embattled actor’s Season six return.

“This is not factual. Jussie will NOT be returning to Empire,” Daniels wrote.

@Variety @JoeOtterson This is not factual. Jussie will NOT be returning to Empire. -LD

— lee daniels (@leedanielsent) June 4, 2019

Last month, Fox announced the sixth season of the popular show will be its last.

Jussie Smollett had been indicted on 16 felony counts by a grand jury for falsely reporting a hate crime but the charges were later dropped.

Even though the singer and actor has always maintained his innocence, the City of Chicago still filed a lawsuit against him to recoup the cost of what they believe was an unnecessary police investigation.

Fox Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Television have since confirmed that while they extended the actor’s option for Season 6, there are currently no plans for him to take part.

His last appearance on the popular drama was in an episode where Smollett’s character, Jamal Lyon, married to his partner.

—Fourth Black transgender woman murdered in Dallas—

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Spike Lee to present Denzel Washington with AFI Award

Spike Lee will honor Denzel Washington’s career by presenting his friend and collaborator with the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award.

AFI said Tuesday that Lee will present the actor and director with the honor at a gala Thursday at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Lee has directed Washington in four films, including “Malcolm X” and “Inside Man.” He also worked with Washington’s son, John David, on the 2019 Oscar best-picture nominee “BlacKkKlansman.”

It’s a role reversal for Washington, who has helped present Lee with an honorary Oscar in 2015 and an NAACP Hall of Fame Award in 2003.

Mahershala Ali will join a star-studded list of presenters including Morgan Freeman, Chadwick Boseman and Julia Roberts.

The tribute will air on TNT on June 20 at 10 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.

The 64-year-old Washington joins the ranks of Mel Brooks, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep and Alfred Hitchcock. Last year’s AFI honoree was George Clooney.

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Bridgestone’s Turanza QuietTrack Tire Silences Electric Cars

The new rubber has specially designed threads to hush the pesky "pattern noise" that's especially noticeable in cars without loud engines.

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The WIRED Guide to Aliens

Everything you need to know about SETI, the Drake equation, ’Oumuamua, and hot tubs.

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Apple Mac vs. Windows PC: The 9 Best Mac Alternatives

If you're tired of Apple's Mac desktops or MacBook laptops, consider these Windows and Linux-powered options.

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Manal Rostom: 'I grew up hating my culture and faith'

Egyptian athlete Manal Rostom is the first woman in a hijab to be featured in a Nike campaign.

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Charges against members of violent white supremacist group tossed by judge

Federal charges against three alleged members of a violent white supremacist group accused of inciting violence at California political rallies were dismissed by a judge who found their actions amounted to constitutionally protected free speech.

Prosecutors said members of the Rise Above Movement conspired to riot by using the internet to coordinate hand-to-hand combat training, traveling to protests and attacking demonstrators at gatherings in Huntington Beach, Berkeley and San Bernardino. The group also posted videos to celebrate violence and recruit members.

Despite the group’s “hateful and toxic ideology,” a rarely used criminal statute passed during civil rights and Vietnam War protests went too far in regulating free speech, Judge Cormac J. Carney ruled Monday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

Carney said the Anti-Riot Act of 1968 — most famously used to prosecute the “Chicago Eight,” including Abbie Hoffman, Bobby Seale and Tom Hayden for conspiring to incite a riot at the ’68 Democratic National Convention — was unconstitutional in part because it criminalized advocating violence when no riot or crime was imminent. He said prosecutors cited social media posts the men made months before and months after the rallies.

“Some posts express repugnant, hateful ideas,” Carney wrote. “Other posts advocate the use of violence. Most, if not all, are protected speech.”

The judge threw out the charges and ordered the release of alleged RAM leader Robert Rundo and suspected member Robert Boman. Charges against Aaron Eason, who was free on bond, were also dropped.

Defense attorney John McNicholas, who represented Eason, said his client was never a member of RAM and committed no crime.

He said the men thought they were doing good going to conservative rallies to counter the anti-fascists known as Antifa who were “committing acts of violence to suppress speech they disagreed with.” He criticized prosecutors for not pursuing charges against Antifa members that he said instigated violence and doused rally participants with pepper spray.
“Beyond the unconstitutional nature of the statute, nothing about the case makes sense because the people inciting the riot were never charged with a federal offense,” McNicholas said.

The Los Angeles ruling alarmed groups that track white supremacist activity and fear the court victory could empower the group known for espousing anti-Semitic and other racist views.

RAM’s account on Gab, a social media network known as a haven for racists and anti-Semites, hailed the dismissals and announced it would relaunch its Right Brand clothing line.

“It underscores their sense of vindication,” said Joanna Mendelson of the Anti-Defamation League. “This court victory has the great potential of giving them renewed energy and will reinvigorate the group overall.”

Prosecutors were disappointed with the ruling and reviewing grounds for appeal, spokesman Ciaran McEvoy said.

A federal judge in Virginia reached a conclusion opposite of Carney’s in a similar case involving other California members of RAM who participated in violent white nationalist rallies in both states.

Four alleged members of the group pleaded guilty and admitted punching and kicking counter-protesters as white nationalists led a torch-lit march at the University of Virginia and at the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville in August 2017.

Defendants in those cases plan to appeal on the grounds that the statute is unconstitutional because it is overbroad, vague, and infringes on protected First Amendment activities, said Lisa Lorish, assistant federal public defender in Charlottesville. She expects the appeals court will agree with Carney’s reasoning.

There are plausible arguments in support of both decisions — with Carney taking a broad interpretation of the law and Judge Norman Moon in Virginia taking a narrow one, said Eugene Volokh, a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The conflict between the rulings on opposite coasts could rise to the Supreme Court if both rulings are appealed and circuit courts reach different conclusions, he said. But that’s far from certain.

In the California case, a fourth defendant, Tyler Laube, who pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge in November, filed papers in court Tuesday to withdraw his guilty plea and have the charges against him dismissed after Carney encouraged him to do that, attorney Jerome Haig said.

Laube was facing nearly three years in prison after he admitted that as a member of the group he assaulted counter-protesters at a “Make America Great Again” rally in Huntington Beach in 2017.

Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, said if members discussed a criminal plan and took steps to carry it out their speech was not protected.

“The Supreme Court has basically held that hateful speech is protected, however violence and conspiracies are not,” Levin said. “That’s where I think the judge may have gotten this one wrong.”

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Central Park 5 prosecutor resigns from nonprofit boards

A former prosecutor in the Central Park Five case has resigned from at least two nonprofit boards as backlash intensified following the release of the Netflix series “When They See Us,” a miniseries that dramatizes the events surrounding the trial.

On Tuesday, the president of Vassar College posted a letter on its website saying that Linda Fairstein had resigned as a Board of Trustees member.

“I am told that Ms. Fairstein felt that, given the recent widespread debate over her role in the Central Park case, she believed that her continuing as a Board member would be harmful to Vassar,” Elizabeth H. Bradley wrote.

The victims-services agency, Safe Horizon, also confirmed Fairstein’s resignation on Tuesday, thanking her for “her decades of pioneering work on behalf of victims of sexual assault and abuse.”

Messages requesting comment from Fairstein were not immediately returned.
Fairstein was the top Manhattan sex crimes prosecutor when five teenagers were charged with the 1989 rape and beating of a female investment banker jogging in Central Park.
The attack became a national symbol of urban mayhem at a time when New York City’s murder rate was nearing its historical peak.

The teens said they were coerced into confessing their involvement in the attack. Their convictions were overturned in 2002 after convicted murderer and serial rapist Matias Reyes confessed to committing the crime alone, and DNA linked him to it.

Fairstein observed the boys’ 1989 interrogation, conducted by another prosecutor and police. She didn’t personally try the case.

Since its collapse, she has denied the teens were coerced and has defended authorities’ conduct in the case, explored in a 2013 documentary by Ken Burns.

The city reached a roughly $41 million settlement with the five the next year, while not admitting any wrongdoing.

In an interview with the New York Post published on Tuesday, Fairstein said she also resigned from the boards of God’s Love We Deliver and Joyful Heart Foundation, a group founded by actress Mariska Hargitay that helps survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse.

Messages requesting comment from these groups were not immediately returned.
Fairstein told the Post she was forced to act due to the “mob-mentality reaction” to the Netflix series, which has sparked a #CancelLindaFairstein movement and calls to withhold funding.

“Each of these organizations does great work,” she said. “It’s so foolish of the bullies to punish the charities. Totally pig-headed and stupid.”

Last year, the Mystery Writers of America withdrew a major honor from Fairstein, known for her best-selling novels featuring prosecutor Alex Cooper, after other authors condemned her role in the Central Park Five case.

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Tracy Morgan involved in NYC fender bender in his Bugatti

Comedian Tracy Morgan was involved in a minor traffic crash while driving his 2019 Bugatti in midtown Manhattan.

Police say the fender bender happened Tuesday afternoon near Tenth Avenue and 42nd Street.

Police say the mishap involved the 50-year-old Morgan and his white Bugatti, reportedly worth around $2 million, and a 61-year-old man driving a Honda CR-V.

A representative for Morgan says the comedian bought the vehicle an hour before the minor crash.

Police say both vehicles sustained minor damage and all parties refused medical attention, although photos of the scene show Morgan sitting in an ambulance.

In 2014, the former “30 Rock” and “Saturday Night Live” star suffered severe head trauma when a truck slammed into the back of the limo van he was riding in. Comedian James McNair, his friend and collaborator, was killed.

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For Apollonia Kotero, Prince was a king ‘When God created Prince, he composed the most perfect song’

Former Prince protege and longtime friend Apollonia Kotero said the Purple One had major plans for her before his untimely death in 2016, including new music, a possible film and even a book to follow-up his upcoming memoir.

He had even given Kotero and her Apollonia 6 bandmates the trademark to the group’s name to keep the legacy alive.

“My first thought was like, ‘Damn, I gotta hit the gym now,'” Kotero said. “We gotta rehearse. We gotta go back in vocal classes. Get this (expletive) party started, man. I was excited. He was happy. He had so many plans.”

But things changed once Prince died, sending Kotero into a “rabbit hole of severe depression” — as she put it in her first interview since Prince died on April 21, 2016.
“I just physically couldn’t cry and I was feeling ill, really ill. I just didn’t know if I was going to make it,” she recently told The Associated Press by phone in Los Angeles. “It sounds strange for me to be saying it for the first time publicly. I’ve never discussed this, other than with my loved ones. I didn’t think I was going to make it. I’d never felt that way before. I never suffered such severe depression.”

Kotero co-starred in 1984’s “Purple Rain” and was in the trio Apollonia 6 with Brenda Bennett and Susan Moonsie, former singers in Vanity 6. Kotero said she’s still in touch with her bandmates and she’s finally speaking publicly since it has been three years since Prince’s death.

“Prince and I never dated — we’re family, we were friends,” she said. “There’s a different type of respect that he had for me. He had that for me for 33 years. We had our difficulties, and I always stood up to him. I believe that’s what he respected, that I wasn’t a pushover. I said no to him for a lot of reasons professionally.”

Kotero recalled some of her last conversations with Prince, saying they talked about “family, his parents, politics, love, death, dementia, our marriages.”

“We discussed the issues that we had. All of the things that we didn’t discuss before,” she continued. “I just looked, like, ‘Man, we’re growing up. We’re old folks now.’ He gave me the look like, ‘Ain’t no old folks here.'”

She said when he asked her to be in the “Purple Rain” sequel, “Graffiti Bridge,” she turned him down.

“He sent me the script. I remember I read it. I said, ‘Oh my god, this is horrible,'” she recalled. “I said it, ‘This is a piece of (expletive).'”

She said she worked on a real sequel and pitched him the story when she visited Paisley Park in 2014.

“He liked it. It was a little bit dark because he dies in it. I gave him two reasons why he would die and he just gave me this blank look. It was just kind of, I mean, the irony of it,” she said.

Kotero said Prince wanted her to write a book after he finished his (Random House will release Prince’s “The Beautiful Ones” on Oct. 29).

“He said, ‘I want you to stop telling the priceless stories because you’re going to write a book, your biography,'” she recalled. “He said, ‘Yes, you’re going to release yours within the year after mine.'”

She also said in his vaults, Prince left her a house music album and began working on an Apollonia 6 film.

Kotero credits her faith in God for pulling her out of her depression after Prince’s death. Writing a lengthy letter to Prince — posted to her Facebook page four months after his death — was also therapeutic.

Now, she’s ready to get back to her career.

“My passion is work, singing, acting dancing, producing, writing. I’m a songwriter,” she said. “I’m feeling better about life. My life has changed. Prince changed my life when I first met him and he had me in his film. He changed my life again when he was taken away from us too soon.”

“I really believe that when God created Prince, he composed the most perfect song,” she said. “That comes from my heart. I really believe that. He is music.”

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Egypt police killed in Sinai checkpoint attack

At least eight officers died when militants struck a checkpoint in the peninsula's restive north.

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Autonomous boats can target and latch onto each other

The city of Amsterdam envisions a future where fleets of autonomous boats cruise its many canals to transport goods and people, collect trash, or self-assemble into floating stages and bridges. To further that vision, MIT researchers have given new capabilities to their fleet of robotic boats — which are being developed as part of an ongoing project — that lets them target and clasp onto each other, and keep trying if they fail.

About a quarter of Amsterdam’s surface area is water, with 165 canals winding alongside busy city streets. Several years ago, MIT and the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS Institute) teamed up on the “Roboat” project. The idea is to build a fleet of autonomous robotic boats — rectangular hulls equipped with sensors, thrusters, microcontrollers, GPS modules, cameras, and other hardware — that provides intelligent mobility on water to relieve congestion in the city’s busy streets.

One of project’s objectives is to create roboat units that provide on-demand transporation on waterways. Another objective is using the roboat units to automatically form “pop-up” structures, such as foot bridges, performance stages, or even food markets. The structures could then automatically disassemble at set times and reform into target structures for different activities. Additionally, the roboat units could be used as agile sensors to gather data on the city’s infrastructure, and air and water quality, among other things.

In 2016, MIT researchers tested a roboat prototype that cruised around Amsterdam’s canals, moving forward, backward, and laterally along a preprogrammed path. Last year, researchers designed low-cost, 3-D-printed, one-quarter scale versions of the boats, which were more efficient and agile, and came equipped with advanced trajectory-tracking algorithms. 

In a paper presented at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation, the researchers describe roboat units that can now identify and connect to docking stations. Control algorithms guide the roboats to the target, where they automatically connect to a customized latching mechanism with millimeter precision. Moreover, the roboat notices if it has missed the connection, backs up, and tries again.

The researchers tested the latching technique in a swimming pool at MIT and in the Charles River, where waters are rougher. In both instances, the roboat units were usually able to successfully connect in about 10 seconds, starting from around 1 meter away, or they succeeded after a few failed attempts. In Amsterdam, the system could be especially useful for overnight garbage collection. Roboat units could sail around a canal, locate and latch onto platforms holding trash containers, and haul them back to collection facilities.

“In Amsterdam, canals were once used for transportation and other things the roads are now used for. Roads near canals are now very congested — and have noise and pollution — so the city wants to add more functionality back to the canals,” says first author Luis Mateos, a graduate student in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP) and a researcher in the MIT Senseable City Lab. “Self-driving technologies can save time, costs and energy, and improve the city moving forward.”

“The aim is to use roboat units to bring new capabilities to life on the water,” adds co-author Daniela Rus, director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. “The new latching mechanism is very important for creating pop-up structures. Roboat does not need latching for autonomous transporation on water, but you need the latching to create any structure, whether it’s mobile or fixed.”

Joining Mateos on the paper are: Wei Wang, a joint postdoc in CSAIL and the Senseable City Lab; Banti Gheneti, a graduate student in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Fabio Duarte, a DUSP and Senseable City Lab research scientist; and Carlo Ratti, director of the Senseable City Lab and a principal investigator and professor of the practice in DUSP.

Making the connection

Each roboat is equipped with latching mechanisms, including ball and socket components, on its front, back, and sides. The ball component resembles a badminton shuttlecock — a cone-shaped, rubber body with a metal ball at the end. The socket component is a wide funnel that guides the ball component into a receptor. Inside the funnel, a laser beam acts like a security system that detects when the ball crosses into the receptor. That activates a mechanism with three arms that closes around and captures the ball, while also sending a feedback signal to both roboats that the connection is complete.

On the software side, the roboats run on custom computer vision and control techniques. Each roboat has a LIDAR system and camera, so they can autonomously move from point to point around the canals. Each docking station — typically an unmoving roboat — has a sheet of paper imprinted with an augmented reality tag, called an AprilTag, which resembles a simplified QR code. Commonly used for robotic applications, AprilTags enable robots to detect and compute their precise 3-D position and orientation relative to the tag.

Both the AprilTags and cameras are located in the same locations in center of the roboats. When a traveling roboat is roughly one or two meters away from the stationary AprilTag, the roboat calculates its position and orientation to the tag. Typically, this would generate a 3-D map for boat motion, including roll, pitch, and yaw (left and right). But an algorithm strips away everything except yaw. This produces an easy-to-compute 2-D plane that measures the roboat camera’s distance away and distance left and right of the tag. Using that information, the roboat steers itself toward the tag. By keeping the camera and tag perfectly aligned, the roboat is able to precisely connect.

The funnel compensates for any misalignment in the roboat’s pitch (rocking up and down) and heave (vertical up and down), as canal waves are relatively small. If, however, the roboat goes beyond its calculated distance, and doesn’t receive a feedback signal from the laser beam, it knows it has missed. “In challenging waters, sometimes roboat units at the current one-quarter scale, are not strong enough to overcome wind gusts or heavy water currents,” Mateos says. “A logic component on the roboat says, ‘You missed, so back up, recalculate your position, and try again.’”

Future iterations

The researchers are now designing roboat units roughly four times the size of the current iterations, so they’ll be more stable on water. Mateos is also working on an update to the funnel that includes tentacle-like rubber grippers that tighten around the pin — like a squid grasping its prey. That could help give the roboat units more control when, say, they’re towing platforms or other roboats through narrow canals.

In the works is also a system that displays the AprilTags on an LCD monitor that changes codes to signal multiple roboat units to assemble in a given order. At first, all roboat units will be given a code to stay exactly a meter apart. Then, the code changes to direct the first roboat to latch. After, the screen switches codes to order the next roboat to latch, and so on. “It’s like the telephone game. The changing code passes a message to one roboat at a time, and that message tells them what to do,” Mateos says.

Darwin Caldwell, the research director of Advanced Robotics at the Italian Institute of Technology, envisions even more possible applications for the autonomous latching capability. “I can certainly see this type of autonomous docking being of use in many areas of robotic ‘refuelling’ and docking … beyond aquatic/naval systems,” he says, “including inflight refuelling, space docking, cargo container handling, [and] robot in-house recharging.”

The research was funded by the AMS Institute and the City of Amsterdam.

from MIT News http://bit.ly/2QL6DGB
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Companies Expect Climate Change to Cost Them $1 Trillion in 5 Years

Many corporations see climate change posing a significant threat to their business within the decade, according to a new report.

from Wired http://bit.ly/2KsoAZp
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DR Congo Ebola outbreak: More than 2,000 cases reported

Hostility to medical staff is hindering efforts to tackle the deadly disease.

from BBC News - Africa https://bbc.in/2wAvXpd
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Why Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard is suing Nike

Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard has more on his mind these days than just defeating the Golden State Warriors for a championship title.

The NBA star alleges that Nike stole his logo and infringed on his design when they filed for a copyright.

—Lala Anthony joins ‘90210’ revival: ‘I’m Glad They Are Bringing Some Color’—

On Monday, Leonard reportedly filed a federal lawsuit in Southern California to stop the brand and fight for his ‘Klaw’ logo. The athlete alleges that Nike filed the copyright without his authorization and under “false representation” that “Nike authored the logo.”

“Leonard traced his notably large hand, and, inside the hand, drew stylized versions of his initials “KL” and the number that he had worn for much of his career, ‘2,'” the suit reads, according to The Portland Business Journal.

“Unbeknownst to Leonard and without his consent, Nike filed an application for copyright registration of his logo and falsely represented in the application that Nike had authored the logo.”

Nike reportedly was granted the copyright called the ‘Kawhi Leonard logo’ (the ‘Klaw’ logo) on May 11, 2017. Leonard wants control and says Nike has no rights and that he designed the elements of the logo when he was in college.

—Marlon Wayans wishes daughter ‘Happy Pride’ and claps back at trolls for hateful comments—

The issue likely stemmed from Leonard’s previous endorsement deal with the company’s Jordan Brand when he gave them approval to use the logo but with restrictions. That deal dissolved September 30, 2018 when he copped a multi-million dollar New Balance deal in November.

Leonard has helped the Raptors secure a Game one win against the Golden State Warriors and now the series is tied 1-1.

The post Why Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard is suing Nike appeared first on theGrio.

from theGrio https://on.thegrio.com/2WdWt22
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Why I May Never See ‘When They See Us’

I may never see When They See Us, Ava DuVernay’s groundbreaking, disturbing and necessary documentary for Netflix about the Central Park Five saga, one of the worst chapters in New York City’s long tradition of racially biased law enforcement and mass media.

If I were still raising minor children, I’d be watching When They See Us with them, just as my mother required us to watch the groundbreaking Roots miniseries in 1977 (Her oldest child, I was 17 then).

However, I lived through the whole Central Park Five (Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam and Korey Wise) media massacre—and the false narrative of young black and brown males “wilding” through the city that it justified—both personally, as a resident of Brooklyn, and professionally as a New York journalist. I’ve reached a stage of my life where I do my best to avoid unnecessarily re-traumatizing experiences.

I’m not saying I’ll never watch the documentary, but… let’s just say that I’m going to protect my mental health and spiritual peace, PERIOD.

The people who most need to watch When They See Us (in addition to young people) are those who are in deepest denial of the racial injustice that contaminates both law enforcement and mass media—which puts the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness of black people, and young black males in particular, at ever present risk.

What made Roots matter was not that it was a revelation for black people (other than us kids at the time), but for white people (including many of my high school classmates) who were ignorant or in denial of the reality of slavery. The same must happen for content like When They See Us if we hope for comparable impact. (By the way, the media currently showering this doc with accolades—and likely to add more than a few well-deserved awards in the future—is the same media that vilified the Central Park Five, and continues to vilify victims of police brutality today.)

As for me, I’ve seen this “movie” too many times. The Scottsboro Boys. Jena Six. And countless others too numerous to name. I’ll pass on When They See Us, at least for now.

---

The ideas and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author’s and not necessarily the opinion of Black Enterprise.

 

from Black Enterprise http://bit.ly/2QJ5C1t
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The Physics of the Millennium Falcon's Jump to Hyperspace

The faster-than-light travel in *Star Wars* involves some otherworldly acceleration. Here's how to calculate the g-forces of a hyperspace jump.

from Wired http://bit.ly/2JWhjBG
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Tanzania's President Magufuli shops with basket after plastic bag ban

John Magufuli's defiance of Tanzanian convention is likely to help stamp out the use of plastic bags.

from BBC News - Africa https://bbc.in/2WappZ2
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We Are #BlackLove | Meet Keondra and Alicia

Ciara opens up about how she healed relationship scars with Future on ‘Red Table Talk’

Ciara sat down at the Red Table and picked open an old wound when she discussed the fractured relationship she had with rapper Future that left her emotionally scarred.

—Marlon Wayans wishes daughter ‘Happy Pride’ and claps back at trolls for hateful comments—

The Level Up singer appeared on an episode of Red Table Talk with Jada Pinkett-Smith, Willow and Adrienne Banfield-Norris and got real about how she healed her relationship scars and turned them into beauty marks.

Ciara said the pain she endured while engaged to Future (the two split just three months after she gave birth to their son, Future Jr) served as the catalyst that helped her eventually develop a wonderful marriage to NFL star, Russell Wilson.

Ciara explains that although looking ahead she realized the road ahead would be rough in the role as a single mother, but she said she doesn’t regret the course of action she took and knows it was the best decision to split, PEOPLE reports.

“I grew up with my mom and dad being together. The idea of it being mommy and daddy that made baby,” she said Monday.

She continued, “The one thing I fear in life is really wasting my life. I really fear that ‘cause you realize that time does not stop and it will be the worst scenario to stay in a situation that it’s just not healthy, it’s not going to get any better. I realized that I have to start making different decisions.”

She said the decision to end the relationship didn’t come easy.

“When I was thinking about my son, I know what I want to feel. I know the kind of love that I want for us,” she said. “What I did was – [son] Future was like my teddy bear. So I was like, we gon’ go. We ‘bout to do this thing together.”

—Lala Anthony joins ‘90210’ revival: ‘I’m Glad They Are Bringing Some Color’—

When it came to Wilson, Ciara, who released her seventh album Beauty Marks in May, said it was a different kind of love that lured her in.

“It was different,” she said. “I never had that feeling in my life. It was just like, it was calm … It’s a different level of love.”

The two married in July 2016 and share a daughter Sienna Princess, born in April 2017.

The post Ciara opens up about how she healed relationship scars with Future on ‘Red Table Talk’ appeared first on theGrio.

from theGrio https://on.thegrio.com/2HUxnl0
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How Early-Stage VCs Decide Where to Invest

You don't have a lot of financial metrics to go on, but yes, the team is very very important. Also, look for good ideas that look like bad ideas.

from Wired http://bit.ly/2HSEJFD
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You Could Live Forever With This Sci-Fi Time Hack

In science fiction, time passes in funny ways—vastly slowed down, insanely sped up. Maybe this trope is the secret to eternal life in the real world.

from Wired http://bit.ly/2IgRdWM
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A women-only trekking adventure in the Atlas Mountains

The Travel Show's Cat Moh meets Berber women who share their life experiences with her.

from BBC News - Africa https://bbc.in/2XkPqpP
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Marlon Wayans wishes daughter ‘Happy Pride’ and claps back at trolls for hateful comments

How Mattel Shrinks Cars Into Hot Wheels (Crash Test Included)

Before a Hot Wheels car hits a store shelf, it must pass the "launcher on speed 2" test, and the "side slam launcher" test, among others.

from Wired http://bit.ly/2QIs6jr
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The Beauty and Madness of Sending a Man to the Moon

From the delicate engineering of the landing module, to the self-contained globe of the spacesuit, the astronauts took the world with them—and brought another one home.

from Wired http://bit.ly/2WDEGpu
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New York's Privacy Bill Is Even Bolder Than California's

New York is poised to become the next battleground in the fight for consumers' rights over their personal data.

from Wired http://bit.ly/2WEgqnd
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Neal Stephenson's Latest Book Dodges Its Scariest Premise

In Fall; or, Dodge in Hell: A Novel, the sci-fi author tracks our inevitable descent into AR-enabled filter bubbles—only to leave it all behind.

from Wired http://bit.ly/2WMGbl6
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Oscar-winner Barry Jenkins to direct film about choreographer Alvin Ailey

Barry Jenkins will direct a film based on the life of choreographer Alvin Ailey.

A spokesperson for Fox Searchlight on Monday confirmed that the studio is developing the project, with the “Moonlight” filmmaker directing. Jenkins last helmed the Oscar-nominated James Baldwin adaptation “If Beale Street Could Talk.”

Raised in segregated rural Texas, Ailey became a pioneering choreographer, dancer and director who helped popularize modern dance. He died in 1989 at the age of 58 from AIDS-related complications. In 2014, President Barack Obama awarded him a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The film will be partly based on Jennifer Dunning’s biography “Alvin Ailey: A Life in Dance.” Searchlight last year began developing the film after securing the rights to Ailey’s choreography from the Ailey Organization.

The post Oscar-winner Barry Jenkins to direct film about choreographer Alvin Ailey appeared first on theGrio.

from theGrio https://on.thegrio.com/2Xqn4dE
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June Ambrose SLAMMED for Kate Spade flub at CFDA Awards

June Ambrose is usually at the top go her game when it comes to the fashion world but the costume designer made a major flub while hosting the CFDA Awards red carpet at the Brooklyn Museum on Monday night.

While chatting up entrepreneur Hannah Bronfman, she asked if deceased designer, Kate Spade would be attending the event before wondering aloud if she skipped her spot not he red carpet.

Obviously, Ambrose didn’t recall that Kate Spade committed suicide last year, although she referred to her as one of her favorite American designers.

“Are you here with Kate? Is she here?,” Ambrose asked.

“I’m here with the Kate Spade New York team,” Bronfman replied after June Ambrose repeated the puzzling quandary.

Of course, viewers went wild on social media and accused Ambrose of being insensitive.

“Why did the host at @cfda just ask someone if Kate Spade was there?!!!? Insensitive af. Wow,” one user tweeted.

“This girl is hosting the CFDA live stream needs to be fired. How do you not know kate spade passed away like whattttt and she knows nothing about these people,” said another.

Celebrity stylist June Ambrose debuts shoe line for Home Shopping Network

June Ambrose has yet to formally address the mistake, but briefly alluded to it before she signed off.

“It has been my honor and pleasure to host, screw up and cause chaos tonight on this carpet for you,” she said at the end of her hosting stint. “I hope you enjoyed and learned as much as I did.”

 

 

The post June Ambrose SLAMMED for Kate Spade flub at CFDA Awards appeared first on theGrio.

from theGrio https://on.thegrio.com/2XwoyU5
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FIRST LOOK: Check out Beyonce as Nala in ‘The Lion King’

Disney just dropped the first trailer for The Lion King that shows Beyonce voicing Nala.

The film that hits theaters on July 19 also stars Donald Glover as the voice of Simba along with a star-studded lineup of talent.

Jame Earl Jones will reprise his role from the animated original, voicing Mufasa in the live-action adaptation. Chiwetel Ejiofor will voice Scar, Seth Rogen will play Pumbaa and Billy Eichner will play Timon.  JD Mccrory will voice Young Simba and Us star, Shahadi Wright Joseph will voice Young Nala while Keegan-Michael Key plays Kamari.

‘Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé’ brings Bey’s brilliance and Blackness to Netflix

The film, directed by Jon Favreau (The Jungle Book), journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.

According to the press release, The Lion King tells the story of what happens when after the murder of his father, a young lion prince flees his kingdom only to learn the true meaning of responsibility and bravery.

PHOTOS: Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams and more stars stun at WACO Wearable Art Gala

Considering how Beyonce slayed in her Lion King-inspired ensemble at the third annual WACo Wearable Art Gala over the weekend, we can’t wait to see (or rather, hear) her turn as Nala when the movie hits theaters on July 19.

Check out the trailer:

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from theGrio https://on.thegrio.com/2Ieva2O
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Serena Williams makes history as first athlete ever to make Forbes’ list of World’s Richest Self-Made Women

Serena Williams just made history…again. 

The superstar athlete with 23 Grand Slam titles under her belt is the first athlete ever to make Forbes‘ coveted list of the World’s Richest Self-Made Women.

According to the magazine, she’s sitting on an estimated $225 million fortune, thanks in large part to her business savvy.

Celebs like Jay-Z, Serena Williams, Jaden Smith invest $300 million in plant-based Impossible Foods

While she’s arguably the best female athlete on the planet, she’s also a super smart business woman who has quietly invested in 34 startups over the past five years. In April, she announced the launch of her investment entity, Serena Ventures, which will focus on funding companies founded by women and minorities.

“I learned you can’t overspend, but I also learned that I love seed investing,” she told Forbes.“It’s fun to get in there. I don’t gamble. I don’t jump off buildings…I’m the most non-taking-a-chance kind of a person, but I felt like seed was where we wanted to be.”

Serena Williams slays French Open in outfit emblazoned with female empowerment themes

Aside form her investments, she also has multiple clothing lines and endorsement deals bringing in major money.

“I want to be in the infrastructure. I want to be the brand, instead of just being the face.”

Serena Williams discusses sister’s murder during inaugural episode of digital series, DiversiTea

Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, weighed in on his wife’s inspiring vision.

“Firms know Serena is a hugely valuable strategic investor,” he told Forbes. “I think it is the best of all opportunities, and she can essentially cherry-pick from the top VC firms on deals that are interesting that come her way and at the same time she still has her own deal flow from folks who want her to invest.”

 

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from theGrio https://on.thegrio.com/2IhB5nS
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Cardi B, Lil NAS X, Lizzo, H.E.R. and more stars set to perform at BET Awards

BET just announced an impressive list of performers set to take the stage at the 19th annual BET Awards. Cardi B, DJ Khaled, Migos, H.E.R., Lil Nas X, Lizzo,  City Girls’ Yung Miami, and Kiana Ledé are just a few of the stars who will perform at the annual event hosted by Regina Hall.

“The BET Awards stage has become synonymous with powerful and groundbreaking performances that are authentic and bold, celebrating the influence and power of black culture,” said Connie Orlando, Executive Vice-President, Head of Programming at BET. “We are thrilled to have been and continue to be the launch pad and home for some of today’s most talented and inspiring voices, as BET continues to showcase the impact of established and up-and-coming artists, providing them a global stage to share their art and creativity.”

Cardi B, Drake, Beyonce lead 2019 BET Awards nominations + full list

Aside from the all-star lineup of performers, several other stars will be on deck to present award to the best and brightest stars across music, television, film, sports, and philanthropy..

Taraji P. Henson, Lena Waithe, Morris Chestnut, Yara Shahidi, and Marsai Martin are among the first presenters the network has announced.

When it comes to this year’s nominees, Cardi B leads the pack with seven nods including ‘Best Female Hip Hop Artist,’ two separate nods in both the ‘Best Collaboration’ and ‘Video of the Year’ categories, ‘Album of the Year’ and the ‘Coca-Cola® Viewers’ Choice Award.’

Riding into the Money: 5 fascinating facts about Lil Nas X

Drake follows with five nominations including one for ‘Best Male Hip Hop Artist,’ ‘Video of the Year,’ ‘Best Collaboration’ and the ‘Coca-Cola® Viewers’ Choice Award.’ Beyoncé, Travis Scott and J. Cole all scored four nominations each, while Bruno Mars, 21 Savage, Childish Gambino, H.E.R. and Ella Mai each scored three nominations.

The late, Nipsey Hussle is up for Best Male Hip Hop Artist and Queen Bey will face off against her own protégées, Chloe x Halle in the Best Group category, where she’s nominated with her husband, Jay-Z as The Carters.

The BET Awards 2019 will air LIVE on Sunday, June 23rd at 8 pm ET from the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on BET.

The post Cardi B, Lil NAS X, Lizzo, H.E.R. and more stars set to perform at BET Awards appeared first on theGrio.

from theGrio https://on.thegrio.com/2MuTyTc
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A 3-D printer powered by machine vision and artificial intelligence

Objects made with 3-D printing can be lighter, stronger, and more complex than those produced through traditional manufacturing methods. But several technical challenges must be overcome before 3-D printing transforms the production of most devices.

Commercially available printers generally offer only high speed, high precision, or high-quality materials. Rarely do they offer all three, limiting their usefulness as a manufacturing tool. Today, 3-D printing is used mainly for prototyping and low-volume production of specialized parts.

Now Inkbit, a startup out of MIT, is working to bring all of the benefits of 3-D printing to a slew of products that have never been printed before — and it’s aiming to do so at volumes that would radically disrupt production processes in a variety of industries.

The company is accomplishing this by pairing its multimaterial inkjet 3-D printer with machine-vision and machine-learning systems. The vision system comprehensively scans each layer of the object as it’s being printed to correct errors in real-time, while the machine-learning system uses that information to predict the warping behavior of materials and make more accurate final products.

“The company was born out of the idea of endowing a 3-D printer with eyes and brains,” says Inkbit co-founder and CEO Davide Marini PhD ’03.

That idea unlocks a range of applications for Inkbit’s machine. The company says it can print more flexible materials much more accurately than other printers. If an object, including a computer chip or other electronic component, is placed on the print area, the machine can precisely print materials around it. And when an object is complete, the machine keeps a digital replica that can be used for quality assurance.

Inkbit is still an early-stage company. It currently has one operational production-grade printer. But it will begin selling printed products later this year, starting with a pilot with Johnson and Johnson, before selling its printers next year. If Inkbit can leverage current interest from companies that sell medical devices, consumer products, and automotive components, its machines will be playing a leading production role in a host of multi-billion-dollar markets in the next few years, from dental aligners to industrial tooling and sleep apnea masks.

“Everyone knows the advantages of 3-D printing are enormous,” Marini says. “But most people are experiencing problems adopting it. The technology just isn’t there yet. Our machine is the first one that can learn the properties of a material and predict its behavior. I believe it will be transformative, because it will enable anyone to go from an idea to a usable product extremely quickly. It opens up business opportunities for everyone.”

A printer with potential

Some of the hardest materials to print today are also the most commonly used in current manufacturing processes. That includes rubber-like materials such as silicone, and high-temperature materials such as epoxy, which are often used for insulating electronics and in a variety of consumer, health, and industrial products.

These materials are usually difficult to print, leading to uneven distribution and print process failures like clogging. They also tend to shrink or round at the edges over time. Inkbit co-founders Wojciech Matusik, an associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science, Javier Ramos BS ’12 SM ’14, Wenshou Wang, and Kiril Vidimče SM ’14 have been working on these problems for years in Matusik’s Computational Fabrications Group within the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL).

In 2015, the co-founders were among a group of researchers that created a relatively low-cost, precise 3-D printer that could print a record 10 materials at once by leveraging machine vision. The feat got the attention of many large companies interested in transitioning production to 3-D printing, and the following year the four engineers received support from the Deshpande Center to commercialize their idea of joining machine vision with 3-D printing.

At MIT, Matusik’s research group used a simple 3-D scanner to track its machine’s progress. For Inkbit’s first printer, the founders wanted to dramatically improve “the eyes” of their machine. They decided to use an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanner, which uses long wavelengths of light to see through the surface of materials and scan layers of material at a resolution the fraction of the width of a human hair.

Because OCT scanners are traditionally only used by ophthalmologists to examine below the surface of patients’ eyes, the only ones available were far too slow to scan each layer of a 3-D printed part — so Inkbit’s team “bit the bullet,” as Marini describes it, and built a custom OCT scanner he says is 100 times faster than anything else on the market today.

When a layer is printed and scanned, the company’s proprietary machine-vision and machine-learning systems automatically correct any errors in real-time and proactively compensate for the warping and shrinkage behavior of a fickle material. Those processes further expand the range of materials the company is able to print with by removing the rollers and scrapers used by some other printers to ensure precision, which tend to jam when used with difficult-to-print materials.

The system is designed to allow users to prototype and manufacture new objects on the same machine. Inkbit’s current industrial printer has 16 print heads to create multimaterial parts and a print block big enough to produce hundreds of thousands of fist-sized products each year (or smaller numbers of larger products). The machine’s contactless inkjet design means increasing the size of later iterations will be as simple as expanding the print block.

“Before, people could make prototypes with multimaterial printers, but they couldn’t really manufacture final parts,” Matusik says, noting that the postprocessing of Inkbit’s parts can be fully automated. “This is something that’s not possible using any other manufacturing methods.”

Inkbit's 3-D printer can produce multimaterial objects (like the pinch valve shown above) at high volumes. Courtesy of Inkbit

The novel capabilities of Inkbit’s machine mean that some of the materials the founders want to print with are not available, so the company has created some of its own chemistries to push the performance of their products to the limit. A proprietary system for mixing two materials just before printing will be available on the printers Inkbit ships next year. The two-part chemistry mixing system will allow the company to print a broader range of engineering-grade materials.

Johnson and Johnson, a strategic partner of Inkbit, is in the process of acquiring one of the first printers. The MIT Startup Exchange Accelerator (STEX25) has also been instrumental in exposing Inkbit to leading corporations such as Amgen, Asics, BAE Systems, Bosch, Chanel, Lockheed Martin, Medtronic, Novartis, and others.

Today, the founders spend a lot of their time educating product design teams that have never been able to 3-D print their products before — let alone incorporate electronic components into 3-D-printed parts.

It may be a while before designers and inventors take full advantage of the possibilities unlocked by integrated, multimaterial 3-D printing. But for now, Inkbit is working to ensure that, when that future comes, the most imaginative people will have a machine to work with.

“Some of this is so far ahead of its time,” Matusik says. “I think it will be really fascinating to see how people are going to use it for final products.”

from MIT News http://bit.ly/2Z6TI4M
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Lala Anthony joins ‘90210’ revival: ‘I’m Glad They Are Bringing Some Color’

READY TO LAUGH? Tracy Morgan will host the 2019 ESPYs

Tracy Morgan has signed on to host the 2019 ESPYS Presented by Capital One. The  acclaimed actor and comedian who currently stars on The Last O.G. will be joined by top celebrities from sports and entertainment to commemorate the past year in sports by recognizing major sports achievements, reliving unforgettable moments, and saluting the leading performers and performances.

The Last O.G. renewed with Tiffany Haddish and Tracy Morgan

“I am very excited to be hosting The ESPYS,” Morgan said in a statement. “I hope my Uncle Sidney Poitier is there with my biological father Tony Dorsett and my second cousin Herschel Walker. And Bo Jackson I want my two dollars back!”

The actor also shared the goodness on social media.

Guess what??? I AM HOSTING THE 2019 #ESPYS! @espn going to let me shock the the world on July 10th on @ABCNetwork. @BoJackson is going to pay me me the money he owes me too! #redacted pic.twitter.com/SjO9v3srxl

— Tracy Morgan (@TracyMorgan) June 3, 2019

 

Tracy Morgan received an Emmy Nomination for his work on 30 Rock and is a nine-time NAACP Image Award nominee. Morgan also received an Emmy nomination for his triumphant return to Saturday Night Live, where he had previously starred for seven seasons.

Tracy Morgan says Jordan Peele’s humor helped him recover from accident in 2014

“Tracy is effortlessly funny and deeply passionate about sports,” said ESPYS executive producer Maura Mandt. “He’s a natural choice to host The ESPYS and we’re thrilled to have him. Few people can own a room like Tracy Morgan, and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for the show.”

The ESPYS helps to raise awareness and funds for the V Foundation for Cancer Research, the charity founded by ESPN and the late basketball coach Jim Valvano at the first ESPYS back in 1993. ESPN has helped raise close to $97 million for the V Foundation over the past 26 years. Tickets are available for public purchase at AXS.com. The ESPYS are executive produced by Maura Mandt and co-produced by Maggievision Productions.

Tracy Morgan takes jabs at Jussie Smollett on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’

The ESPYS will be broadcast live on ABC on Wednesday, July 10, at 8 p.m. ET from Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

The post READY TO LAUGH? Tracy Morgan will host the 2019 ESPYs appeared first on theGrio.

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The One Free Press Coalition Spotlights Journalists Under Attack

Jamal Khashoggi, the murdered columnist for *The Washington Post*, remains atop the list, as does independent Tanzanian journalist Azory Gwanda.

from Wired http://bit.ly/2KqGNXk
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Black Enterprise 2009 Woman of Power Legacy Award Honoree Leah Chase Passes Away

Chef, entrepreneur, and civil rights icon Leah Chase passed away on Saturday at 96-years-old. Chase was executive chef of Dooky Chase’s—a New Orleans landmark restaurant where many black leaders including Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King Jr., Hank Aaron, Ernest Gaines, Quincy Jones, and Barack Obama dined, and strategized during the Civil Rights era.

The restaurant opened its doors in 1941, founded by Emily and Dooky Chase, Sr. Their son, Edgar Dooky Chase, Jr. married Leah Lange Chase in 1946. Leah Chase helped propel the restaurant into the national spotlight with her Creole cuisine cooking and emphasis on showcasing black art and music in the establishment.

Dooky Chase’s was shuttered for two years in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. After a rebuild and assistance from the community, the restaurant re-opened and emerged even stronger.

Several notable black celebrities took to social media to pay respects to Chase. Chef Marcus Samuelsson called her a “true mentor, friend and inspiration” in a post on Facebook:

 

Saddened to learn of the passing of Leah Chase. I was with her family earlier this year and I send them my deepest condolences. They spoke of her civil rights activism, love of family, and passion for food. The Queen of Creole Cuisine will be dearly missed. pic.twitter.com/Vou1wEUXaA

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 2, 2019

 

Saddened to hear of the passing of the legendary Leah Chase at 96 years old. This is a photo of Aisha and my daughters Dominique and Ashley with her in her New Orleans Resturant #DookyChase. May she Rest in Power pic.twitter.com/NGbUTXQPg4

— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) June 2, 2019

 

In 2009, Chase was honored as a BLACK ENTERPRISE Woman of Power Legacy Award. In an interview with BE she said, “My father taught us to live by three rules: Pray, work, and do for others.” Watch the entire video interview with Leah Chase below:

 

 

from Black Enterprise http://bit.ly/2wAKn8U
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Asma Elbadawi: The hijabi basketballer who changed the rules

Basketballer Asma Elbadawi battled the sport's governing body to allow hijabs on-court.

from BBC News - Africa https://bbc.in/2Xp3wXd
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The Best Way for a Mouse to Escape a Cat, According to Math

A mouse is stuck swimming in a pool while a cat paces, ready to strike. Here's how to calculate that mouse's optimal strategy.

from Wired http://bit.ly/2wzDa9m
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Lenovo Smart Clock With Google Assistant Review: Timely Talker

This cute little alarm clock has Google Assistant inside.

from Wired http://bit.ly/2Z45Nra
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Tired: Eating Bugs. Wired: Eating Bug Meat Grown in a Lab

According to a group of researchers, culturing insect cells could be easier and more efficient than culturing cow cells.

from Wired http://bit.ly/2wAAQPg
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Star Wars News: Meet the New New Class of 'The Rise of Skywalker'

The next film in the franchise is all about millennials. Kinda.

from Wired http://bit.ly/2IcA3cG
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How President Obama received a hero’s welcome and upstaged Drake at NBA Finals

On Sunday, the former commander-in-chief, Barack Obama, was hailed like a hero with a standing ovation during Game 2 of the NBA Finals in Toronto, Canada.

—Drake gets in his feelings and trash talks Draymond Green during Game one of NBA Finals—

Trying to be covert doesn’t come easy for the beloved basketball fanatic and our forever POTUS but he was front and center to watch the Raptors take on the Golden State Warriors.

Toronto gives an extended standing ovation to 44th US President Barack Obama pic.twitter.com/ae25dIWtKx

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) June 3, 2019

And while the Warriors ultimately tied the series with the night’s 109-104 win, the real MVP of the night was Obama who received an enthusiastic welcome from the crowd as they chanted “MVP” to remind him that he is and will remain the GOAT.

Take that tacky Trump!

POTUS was looking cool and casual wearing a black leather jacket as he sat courtside and chopped it up with celebrities and later ESPN sports presenter Michael Wilson, The Daily Mail reports.

And of course, the court-jester Drake couldn’t be outdone and made sure he shook hands and got a hug with the former president as the crazed Raptors fans fanned the flames of his antics.

Drake wore a “Home Alone” movie hoodie with McCaulay Culkin’s character Kevin McAllister on the back with the infamous hands on his face pose followed by a bunch of question marks as a knock to Kevin Durant who has been sidelined with a right calf strain.

—Victim’s mom says Kim Kardashian is misinformed about Kevin Cooper—

As a clapback, the real Culkin hit Drake, tweeting:

“Hey @Drake I’m right here, bro. DM me. See you at the BBQ.”

Hey @Drake I’m right here, bro. DM me. See you at the BBQ. pic.twitter.com/GTHMKg6LWU

— Macaulay Culkin (@IncredibleCulk) June 3, 2019

The post How President Obama received a hero’s welcome and upstaged Drake at NBA Finals appeared first on theGrio.

from theGrio https://on.thegrio.com/2Mrp04T
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Sephora to close all 400 stores for inclusion workshops after SZA is racially profiled by security

Sephora is launching a day of “inclusion workshops” and closing all 400 of its stores June 5 to teach employees about how not to be racist after the singer SZA claimed she was racially profiled in its Calabasas store.

—SZA says ‘Sandy Sephora’ racially profiled her while she was shopping for Fenty—

The platinum-selling artist reportedly was trying to buy some Fenty beauty products in peace when she was targeted by a woman she renamed as “Sandy Sephora.”

When the 28-year-old chart-topper was looking for cosmetics from Rihanna’s Fenty line, she said she was confronted by mall security. She was then informed that a store employee had accused her of theft and called authorities to detain her.

In April, SZA wrote about her experience: “Lmao Sandy Sephora location 614 Calabasas called security to make sure I wasn’t stealing,” the singer wrote on Twitter. Adding, “Can a b***h cop her fenty in peace er whut.”

After the troubling incident, Rihanna surprised SZA with a Fenty Beauty gift card and posted a supportive message on Instagram.

“Go buy yo Fenty Beauty in peace sis!” wrote Rihanna, who launched the cosmetics brand in 2017.

“Tanks queen!” SZA replied.

In response to the makeup debacle, Sephora posted on social media of their intent to close their locations and asked their customers to join in their efforts to build a more inclusive beauty community, The Daily Mail reports.

“Sephora believes in championing all beauty, living with courage, and standing fearlessly together to celebrate our difference,” the beauty company wrote.

“We will never stop building a community where diversity is expected, self-expression is honored, all are welcomed, and you are included.”

The brand also included a link to its We Belong to Something Beautiful campaign.

—Victim’s mom says Kim Kardashian is misinformed about Kevin Cooper—

“These values have always been at the heart of Sephora, and we’re excited to welcome everyone when we reopen.”

Time will tell if Sephora employees truly change the tide on the store’s culture.

The post Sephora to close all 400 stores for inclusion workshops after SZA is racially profiled by security appeared first on theGrio.

from theGrio https://on.thegrio.com/2EM6aPl
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Another MacOS Bug Lets Hackers Invisibly Click Security Prompts

Yet again, a bug in Apple's safeguards against "synthetic clicks" allows hackers to slip past Mojave's security restrictions on apps.

from Wired http://bit.ly/2KnJCbx
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Cardi B goes naked in photos for new single ‘Press’

Cardi B went full bare-naked lady for the visuals for the highly anticipated release of her single, “Press.”

—Cardi B blings out her baby Kulture with $80k worth of jewels—

Cardi seems to always be charged with something – whether making an outrageous confession that she used to be about that life robbing men for their dividends to being blamed for ordering her bodyguards to attack women in a strip club – so her artwork for
“Press” is perfect given that her life events are always making headlines.

The 26-year-old appears to be surrounded by paparazzi and members of the press in one shot while she’s being escorted naked with her hands behind her back, seemingly handcuffed as two bars obscure her breasts and her lady parts perfectly. And all the men in the visual, for some reason, are white men who look like old farts with mob ties.

Cardi also appears to look like she’s in court in another shot, giving a flagrant middle finger while wearing a leopard catsuit with a big bouffant hairdo. In another she’s styled the same way while giving a Mick Jagger type snarl to the camera while in handcuffs.

That pose actually was a nod to serial killer Aileen Wuornos infamous mugshot, after being found guilty and ultimately executed in 2002 after killing seven men, PEOPLE reports.

Cardi’s body looks great in the artwork, given that she’s now had to take a backseat and rest after post-baby plastic surgery complications.

—Georgia still has no hate crimes law despite many tries—

The Money rapper recently revealed that she was losing lots of cash after her doctors ordered her to take some time off to heal after plastic surgery following the birth of her baby Kulture.

“You know, I hate canceling shows because I love money,” Card said. “But like, health is wealth, so I have to do what I have to do.”

“My job as an entertainer is a 24-hour job, bro. So, no, I don’t have time to work out,” she continued. “And I wanted specific things that I know that no matter how much I work out, is not going to get fixed. Like my boobs, no matter how much I work out, they’re not going to lift themselves. So yeah, I have to get f— surgery. That’s right. All right? My breasts gotta f— heal, and it is what it is.”

The post Cardi B goes naked in photos for new single ‘Press’ appeared first on theGrio.

from theGrio https://on.thegrio.com/2JUJPUi
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2020 hopeful Cory Booker rolls out Iowa steering committee

Democratic White House hopeful Cory Booker is rolling out his Iowa steering committee, a team of activists and operatives that features party powerbroker Jerry Crawford, who played a key role in each of Bill and Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaigns in the state.
Crawford, a Des Moines-area attorney who also played leading roles on Al Gore and John Kerry’s campaigns, said he’s been courted by multiple campaigns but told The Associated Press in an interview he’s backing Booker because of the New Jersey U.S. senator’s positive message.

“I’m very much drawn to his passion for civility and his determination to pursue healing,” Crawford said.

Crawford is among 10 Iowa activists, operatives and elected officials who plan to provide strategic advice and operational support to Booker’s campaign as part of his Iowa steering committee, being rolled out Monday. The group includes four other previously unannounced endorsers: former Iowa state House minority leader Rep. Mark Smith and city councilmembers Dale Todd, of Cedar Rapids, and Mazahir Salih and Bruce Teague, both of Iowa City. Booker’s campaign said it hopes all three will help organize African American support for him in their respective cities.

The other five steering committee members are state Reps. Amy Nielsen and Jennifer Konfrst; Iowa Democratic Party central committee members Landra Jo Reece and Melinda Jones; and former American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees political director Marcia Nichols, all of whom previously expressed their support for Booker.

“From local activists to council members and state representatives, these individuals have been on the forefront of standing up for their communities,” Booker said in a statement.
Crawford, whose weekend conversation with the AP was interrupted by a call from Booker, said he plans to be in touch with the Booker campaign multiple times a week and has already begun efforts to convince other major Iowa political players to get on board with the campaign. Besides gathering support for the candidate over the next nine months, Booker’s team sees the members of his steering committee as key forces on caucus night, the kind of voices who could win over persuadable caucus-goers in key precincts.

With at least 50 staffers on the ground, Booker’s Iowa team is widely seen inside the state as one of the strongest and most seasoned, behind only Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s in numbers. But thus far, Booker’s staffing strength hasn’t translated to support in the polls: Booker still draws only low single-digit support in nationwide and state surveys.

Booker’s staff and advisers dismiss the polls as too early to be predictive and argue that the senator is running more of a slow burn-style campaign that will ensure he has the operation in place to harness any momentum in the fall if he does catch fire — and enough resources to sustain it through the caucuses and beyond.

“This is a horrible time to be one of the front-runners,” Crawford said, noting that early Iowa front-runners “don’t do very well, historically speaking.”

Crawford said he expects to see Booker surge around Thanksgiving, but right now, “Cory’s exactly where you want to be.”

The post 2020 hopeful Cory Booker rolls out Iowa steering committee appeared first on theGrio.

from theGrio https://on.thegrio.com/2WDJhbf
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