The State of My Being

This blog contains those things which move my spirit, peak my interest, speak to my heart, cause me to wonder, and remind me to breathe ~ shaping me to be

[ithelpstodream]

Meanwhile it has officially been ruled it an “accident”. He was raped with a baton so violently he needed emergency surgery. There have to be consequences for the officers. This is not right.

[pinkgliitter]

An accident? What the fuck

[badgyal-k-deactivated20190901]

…

[politico]

Office of Government Ethics website breaks after Conway promotes Ivanka's brand

By KYLE CHENEY

The website of the federal government’s ethics watchdog has been inaccessible for hours, and agency officials say it’s because of surging traffic.

“We received a high volume of traffic and we are looking at ways to redirect traffic and add capacity,” a spokesman for the Office of Government Ethics said.

Attempts to reach OGE’s website have been unsuccessful since early Thursday morning. Several hours after the site became inaccessible, the agency tweeted, “OGE’s website, phone system and email system are receiving an extraordinary volume of contacts from citizens about recent events.”

Read more here

[politico]

Trump: 3 executive actions coming Thursday

By MATTHEW NUSSBAUM

President Donald Trump will sign three executive actions Thursday that are “designed to restore safety in America,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.

“We face the menace of rising crime and the threat of deadly terror,” Trump said, speaking shortly before Jeff Sessions was sworn in as attorney general. “I’m signing three executive actions today designed to restore safety in America.”

One would take aim at “criminal cartels,” while another would create a “task force on reducing violent crime,” Trump said. The third order would call on the Justice Department to start a program to prevent crime against law enforcement officers. Later on Wednesday, the White House made public the text of those three orders ahead of the daily press briefing. They were as Trump advertised, entitled "Enforcing federal law with respect to transnational criminal organizations and preventing international trafficking,” “preventing violence against federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement officers” and the creation of a “task force on crime reduction and public safety,” respectively.

“A new era of justice begins and it begins right now,” Trump said.

After a flurry of executive orders in his first days in office, the pace of Trump’s executive actions has slowed. His most controversial order, barring people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the country, is temporarily suspended by a federal court. Another order, on implementing new regulations, is also facing a court challenge.

[therougelippedlady]

Because Jollof rice is life, and what can I say? I’m a canivore.

[politico]

The county Obamacare forgot

With Aetna's exit, residents of Pinal County, Ariz., may be unable to get subsidized health coverage at all next year. By RACHANA PRADHAN

An Arizona county is poised to become an Obamacare ghost town because no insurer wants to sell exchange plans there.

Aetna’s announcement that it would exit most of the states where it offers Obamacare plans leaves residents of Pinal County, Arizona, without any options to get subsidized health coverage next year, unless regulators scramble to find a carrier to fill the void between now and early October.

About 9,700 people in Pinal signed up for Obamacare plans this year, according to administration data.

The predicament of Pinal County is an extreme example of the contraction of insurers in the Obamacare markets expected in 2017. The federal health care law was supposed to offer a range of affordable health care plans through competition among private insurers. But that competition has dramatically declined in some states as a result of pullbacks by national insurers and failed co-op plans. Decline in competition means fewer choices and, often, higher prices for consumers.

Read more here

[blacksinhistory-deactivated2018]

The Shout: We Rise

Date: Aug 30th 7pm - 10pm

Location: Obsidian Theater 3522 White Oak Dr, Houston, Texas 77007

“Some people will never know what it’s like to lose a Star… We take their source of light for granted because we’re so busy looking down at our own two feet. Pushing through life like we’re the only thing that matters. Tonight I finally looked up at the sky and it seems a little bit darker… And I know that it will never shine the same”- Rayla Crawford

Featuring some of the best poets, musicians and artists that Texas has to offer, this month’s Shout honors Dominique Thibodeaux… a light that shined particularly bright. She was mother, sister, and so much more to those who where blessed to encounter her pure spirit. A graduate of Lamar University as well as a member of The Order of the Eastern Star (Rising Star #14), Dominique used her talents and benevolent heart for service to impact the community in multiple ways. 

On Monday, November 9, 2015, Dominique was murdered by her ex-husband. In the years prior to her death, Dominique endured domestic violence, and took all of the necessary steps to create a safe and healthy environment for herself and her daughter Audrey Carter. In honor of her life we will come together to share our art, poetry, and visions for change. We will continue to shout until the echoes of change can be heard all around the world. This Shout will also serve as fundraiser for Dominique’s daughter to create a college fund. The following website will teach you more about her story and ways to become a part of the movement to end domestic violence. http://www.whataboutuschildren.com/#!about-us/hw0qt

[blacksinhistory-deactivated2018]

“We’re doing it for the people who didn’t know how to get out of their situation. For those who fought tooth and nail. For those who told their stories to help those who needed faith to know it could be done.

For the people we’ve loss For the people who fell… We Rise✊🏾” - Rayla Crawford

[theninetynine]

U.S. Government Bans Native American Tribe From Protesting On Their Own Land – Send In Police To Remove Protesters

A North Dakota federal court has prohibited indigenous tribes from protesting the Bakken pipeline on their own reservations. Dakota Access, a developer of the pipeline, filed the report citing "Worker and law enforcement safety was at risk". This reaction originates from the non-violent protest by the Sanding Rock, Rose Bud and lower Brule Sioux.Dave Archambault II, chairman of the Standing Rock ...

[blackourstory]

The battle to save Langston Hughes' home from gentrification

Langston Hughes' Harlem home has shot up in value in recent years. A group of writers is raising money to save it from being turned into condos or coffee shops.

[almalexias]

Louisiana is experiencing the worst flooding in the history of the state.

Over 7,000 people have been rescued and over 5,000 people are in shelters unable to return to their homes. In addition, over 1,000 drivers are stranded on Interstate 12 between Baton Rouge and Slidell, who today received supplies flown in via helicopter. AT&T service has been down throughout the Baton Rouge metro area. One of my former professors told me he’s been living in Louisiana for 44 years, and has never witnessed flooding this severe.

In Denham Springs (about 10 miles from Baton Rouge), the Amite river is currently at 46′ and rising. Flood stage for the river starts at 29′. 

This is bad, really bad. Places that only flood once every 500 years are flooding. Unfortunately, these are also places where people don’t have flood insurance because they don’t live in a flood plain.

There was no warning for this, at least with hurricanes we can see them coming and have time to prepare or evacuate.

Please, if you can, donate to the victims through the Red Cross. Or, if you are interested in helping with post-flood disaster assistance, please sign up with Volunteer Louisiana.

If you live in the effected area and are in need of a shelter, This Link has a list of shelters in Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberia, Lafayette, Livingston, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Vermillion, West Feliciana, and Washington Parishes.

If you are in need of rescue please call:

Baker: [phone]

Baton Rouge: [phone]

Central: [phone]

Livingston Parish: [phone]

St. Helena Parish: 222-4413 - press 0

Patients in need of kidney dialysis: [phone]

[the-lonely-one96-deactivated202]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE BOOST THIS! I AM NOT IN THE FLOODING BUT FAMILY IS VERY VERY CLOSE. SOME ARE STILL WAITING TO BE RESCUED SO PLEASE PLEASE SPREAD THIS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

[afrodesiacworldwide]

Want a portrait? 🎨 Portraits start at $15 *PayPal only* Dm me or email me @ [email protected] with the subject line irokart portrait. You can send me three clear picture options. $5 extra for one of my themes $10 extra for a customized theme Enter for a chance to win a free portrait 3 winners will be chosen by August. Rules 1. You must follow/like my Facebook, Instagram and tumblr page [irokart] 2. Take a selfie and tell me how you express yourself creatively ex. Art, hair, fashion, jewelry, etc 3. Hashtag #irokart You can also submit your selfies and how you express yourself on tumblr. I will be posting winners on all my social media. Good luck and I love the support @irokart

[hydramoon]

Anyone in Orlando or has followers from the area please!

AB, O+ and O- blood donors needed ASAP!!! Due to the shooting overnight, the hospital and blood bank is critically low right now for donated blood. If you are able, please go this morning to donate at one of the locations below. This valuable gift you can give is a direct way to help those injured from this tragic incident. The Orange, Osceola, and Seminole locations open today are:

Orlando - West Michigan Donor Center 345 West Michigan St #106 Orlando, FL 32806 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Sun: 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Orlando - Main Donor Center 8669 Commodity Circle Orlando, FL 32819 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Sun: 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Apopka Donor Center 131 North Park Ave Apopka, FL 32703 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Sun: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Kissimmee Donor Center 1029 North John Young Pkwy Kissimmee, FL 34741 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Sun: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Oviedo Donor Center 1954 West 426 #1100 Oviedo, FL 32765 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Sun: 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Lake Mary Donor Center 105 Waymont Ct #101 Lake Mary , FL 32746 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Sun: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

[kateordie]

Reblogging this again to add some pertinent links, because I couldn’t find one definitive roundup post. A note: Blood banks in Orlando are reporting that they are AT CAPACITY and urge people to make appointments to return in the coming days. Blood has a shelf life. Also, unfortunately, no FDA bans have been lifted, which means gay men are still restricted from donating. I agree, that’s horrible. The Washington Post has a large collection of links and information which is updating as news develops, including articles to send your racist relatives who insist this attack wasn’t homophobic in nature. It was.

Need to talk?

You can call The Trevor Project at [phone]. The Trans Lifeline in the US: [phone] and Canada: [phone]. Scarleteen is open all day. You can text them at [phone].

Want to donate?

Equality Florida has set up a GoFundMe for victims of the Pulse shooting. This is the best place to donate. You can donate to Orlando hospitals through the Orlando Health Foundation. The Orlando Youth Alliance provides services to LGBTQ+ youth. The Center is Orlando’s largest LGBTQ+ organization and is taking donations.

Remember, even the shooter’s father insists this was not based on religious beliefs or ideologies. Do not use this horrific incident as an excuse to attack Muslims. These were the actions of one person driven by hate. Don’t perpetuate that hate. The Medium has posted a guide to contacting your local representatives about gun control, which you should if you are able to.

Equality Florida has an updating list of links and information as well.

[huffpost]

So many lives lost too soon to a single type of weapon that is too easy to obtain.

[everyoneisgay]

[guardian]

Language matters. When newspapers call women mistresses or “homewreckers”, they are not just using an identifying term. They are also making a value judgement about what happened in a relationship – a judgment that often places the blame on women, even though there are two people involved in an affair.

Jessica Valenti, on why we need to stop using gendered words like mistress, damsel, vixen, diva and slut, that simplify situations by blaming women.  (via guardian)

[blkproverbs]

Don’t talk about it, be about it.

African American proverb (via blkproverbs)

[dailyinspirationquotes]

Please Like Our Facebook Page: Daily Inpspirational Quotes

Check this article to improve your intimate life:

Can You “Cheat-Proof” Your Relationship

Is there a way to prevent a partner from straying? How can you learn to trust again after getting betrayed? Continue reading

[obamawhitehouse]

“We’re no longer just talking about closing the gender gap in tech—we’re actually doing it.” —Girls Who Code Founder Reshma Saujani. Make sure your friends see this if you’re ready for next week’s summit on The United State of Women.