Torre ‘Rips’ Steinbrenner A New A-Rod

Books

One would assume the final Sunday in January is the dullest day of the year when it comes to baseball news (not). Most years one would be right .

Yet there’s no way that’s the case today. As I type, the baseball blogosphere is ablaze over reports in the New York Post and Daily News that Joe Torre’s forthcoming book on his 12-season tenure with the Yankees is sure to be a much talked-about page turner once it’s released by Doubleday on Feb. 3.

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The First Kids Of The White House

Politics

At only 10 and 7, Malia and Sasha Obama are unquestionably the world’s most famous tweens, but do they have even a chance at the normal existence in the White House?

… A look at history suggests that the media, at least, will keep their distance. (Jan. 25)

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‘Pride’ To King And Obama By U2

Politics

Samuel L. Jackson speaks of Martin Luther King Jr. and the speech he gave at the Lincoln Memorial and that leads to Irish rockers U2 — arguably the world’s biggest band — playing their tribute to Dr. King Pride (In the Name of Love). 

As U2 finishes Pride, Bono shouts “let freedom ring!” and tells Obama that it’s an honor for “four boys from Dublin” to sing for him. That leads the band into City of Blinding Lights, a song often heard at Obama rallies last year and known for it’s crowd-pleasing “oh, you look so beautiful tonight” line.

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Gillibrand And Sharpton In Harlem

Politics

From the Associated Press on Yahoo.com

New York‘s new senator-designate Kirsten Gillibrand has started a statewide get-to-know-you tour with a visit to the Rev. Al Sharpton’s headquarters in Harlem.

The upstate congresswoman is largely unknown in New York City and Saturday’s visit with Sharpton was seen as part of a campaign to win over liberals.

She spoke to a few hundred people at Sharpton’s weekly rally, telling the crowd her top priority is the economy.

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Food And Hunger With Heather

Food

Heather Johnston, food and wine blogger, from SoGood.TV reports on her attendance at the Action Center conference about world hunger.

Food Fight: Cleaning Up the Mess

LG’s New Watch Phone (video)

Technology

Dick Tracy-style LG Watch Phone gives fans a chance to speak at the flick of a wrist.

Wired on Youtube.com

NYTimes Pick: ‘Malcolm X’ (video)

A. O. Scott reviews Spike Lee’s biopic about Malcolm X, whose repeated acts of self-transformation inspired the young Barack Obama.

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“I Have A Dream”, Michael Eric Dyson

Author and commentator Michael Eric Dyson reflects on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Dyson lists specific grievances with racial injustice addressed by the speech.

Michael Eric Dyson addresses the Georgetown community in a lecture titled, “No Dreams Deferred?” Professor Dyson is an outspoken scholar who exploded on to the national scene in a public dispute with Bill Cosby over poverty and the black underclass – Georgetown University.

More ‘Dear Mr. President’ Responses

We continue to recieve responses from our viewers regarding our “Dear Mr. President Obama” editorial. Here are afew more:

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It’s a great day! I’m not looking for Obama to change my life but he IS the premiere symbol of motivation for me to change and improve my own life.  – Pro, Los Angeles, CA

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Honestly, I’m excited to see we finally have an American president of African  descent . And though I’m excited that does not blind my judgment. President Obama I believe Is a very Intelligent man  and is genuinely interested in change . But he’s not the messiah , America as a whole still has the same problems it had before he was in office. It’s going to take more than the efforts of one man to create real change ….It’s going to take all of us working together black,white , brown etc. to truly envoke change…….but with the the inductionof our new president I think we’re off to a good start. – Tyrone, Manhattan, NY

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What do you think?

Sasha And Malia Dolls Hit Shelves

The list of traits characterizing President Barack Obama and his family include popular, prominent and prestigious…and now “plush.” Toy maker Ty Inc., creator of the famous Beanie Babies stuffed animals, recently released its newest sensation: “Sweet Sasha” and “Marvelous Malia” dolls.

New York retailers are already in line, ready to advertise the dolls ostensibly inspired by President Obama’s daughters.

“They’ll definitely sell, everybody’s Obama crazy,” said Steven Telvi, owner of toy and party store Source, on Third Avenue and 80th Street. He is in the process of ordering both dolls.

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The End Of Black History?

Books

From Philip Leventhal, Columbia University Press

I thought you might be interested in  “The End of Black History,” by Robert J. Harris and Rosalyn Terborg-Penn, the co-editors of The Columbia Guide to African American History Since 1939. Please feel free to link to or excerpt from the post.

Harris and Terborg write, “Some pundits have predicted that Barack Obama’s inauguration as the 44th President of the United States spells the end of Black History. That his election as president is the fulfillment of Dr. King’s dream, the culmination of the civil rights movement, the dawn of a post-racial society, and the demise of multiculturalism.

WE-ACT: Spotlight Peggy Shepard

Founded in the late 1980′s West Harlem Environmental Action (WE ACT) has been committed to protecting, defending and cleaning up northern Manhattan’s environment. In this interesting profile, Gotham Gazette examines the organization’s exceptional successes. WE ACT’s founder, Peggy Shepard, is an NYLCV board member.