WSSN Stories

By Lou Yeboah

Ain’t that ’bout a pickle! The point being that a dog is no more revolted by its own vomit than a fool by his own folly; they both go back to that which is vile and disgusting.  Why? Because the dog doesn’t have any sense and neither does the fool. The point Solomon makes is simple: Fools keep on returning to their dirty old habits, no matter how disgusting they are. [Proverbs 26:11].  I urge you though, to hear the warning of the Lord to a lame man that He healed, “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee” [John 5:14]. I tell you, it’s time to stop going around and around the “mountain” in your life and be the “overcomer” God has created you to be. Choose to “put off your old self” and “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God …” [Ephesians 4:22, 24].

Granted, so many times people, not knowing any better, just live the way they have always lived…  suffering from the outcome of broken lives and wounded souls.  Overwhelmed by the sins of their past and the sins committed against them. The truth is though, you do not have to be broken anymore!  You don’t have to be overcome by those sins that have so easily ensnared you. Instead you can be the overcomer God wants you to be.  I assure you: If you would say to your mountain that continue to ensare you, “Be lifted up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will happen, it will be done for you. Can you believe today?  Are you ready to be an overcomer?

I’m telling you, you don’t have to go around that mountain anymore. You don’t have to continue in sin.   Whatever the mountain is today is your day to cast it into the sea.  If only you would face your mountain by faith in the name of Jesus and declare, “Get behind me, Satan!” It is finish! No more, in the name of Jesus! For there is absolutely nothing that the power and grace of God cannot set you completely free from. So declare and decree that, “sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer subject to the law, which enslaves you to sin. Instead, you are free by God’s grace.”

For “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [[Matthew 6:14-15]

 “What shall you say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” [Romans 6:14-15]. Don’t let the power of sin hold you hostage. Realize sin’s power is broken and you are free in Jesus Name. No more bondage. Amen and Amen.

By Corey Jackson

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)—- Our Society Is Sick. It’s infected with Hate. This is the reality I came to after the death of Diego at Landmark Middle School and while watching the DC movie JOKER (I should get paid for the plug), it broke my heart to see adults pushing and threatening for the incarceration of the students involved. It was disappointing to see the tragedy being laid at the feet of their parents. What was even more disgusting to see adults using hate and violence to deal with this issue.

This is but a reflection of our society as a whole. You see, violence and hate is taught. It is modeled so perfectly by the actions and words of you and me. No one is innocent.

We saw the sickness again when Brandt Jean hugged his brother’s killer Amber Guyger. Throughout this nation, we saw our friends, family, and self-proclaimed Christians attack a young man in mourning, for showing LOVE to a fellow human being who will receive consequences for her crime. Yes, she is a murderer.  Yes, racism was probably involved. However, true LOVE has nothing to do with the actions of the other person. It is not based on how we feel about someone else. Instead of responding with hate, he chose to respond with love. Love doesn’t mean no consequences. Love doesn’t mean support injustice. Love means challenging you to be your better self. Love means a commitment to social justice in the face of hate and oppression.  Love means, leave hate and join me. That is BEAUTIFUL.

Hate is on the rise all over the world. After a study by the European Union, they concluded that “Racist and intolerant hate speech in public discourse is escalating; the main targets are asylum-seekers and Muslims,” the council’s Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) said in the report.

We are witnessing a global sickness that possesses a greater threat than Ebola, AIDS, or the Bird Flu. And we all have it. What is the cure? We must reach down deep in our soul to see what is causing it. Is this who we want to be? We must stop being silent when racism and hate is around us. We must call it out.

We must turn hate into love. It is easier to hate. It is easier to blame. It is harder to love. Let us choose the harder road.

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Corey Jackson is the Director of the Center Against Racism & Trama (CART) and Chairman/CEO of SBX Youth & Family Services

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media

Two African-American women, both Democrats, are among Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 11 new appointees to California superior court judgeships in seven counties. 

Newsom announced the appointments last Friday, his first batch of Superior Court nominations since becoming governor in January.

Eight of the 11 appointees are women. All of them are filling vacancies left open by retired justices.

Black women only make up around 5 percent of California’s more than 1,500 trial court judges. And only 19 out of the state’s 58 counties have ever had Black women superior court justices. 

“Thus in 39 counties, no African-American woman’s experiences have brought life to the law,” writes Alameda County Judge Brenda F. Harbin-Forte in the Daily Journal. Harbin-Forte, who is Black, researches and writes about the history of African Americans in the state’s judiciary.

“Gov. Gavin Newsom follows the hard act of Gov. Jerry Brown,” she added. Former Gov. Brown, Harbin-Forte says, “made many historic appointments and created the most diverse court system in the history of our great state.”

One of the two new African-American judges, Terrie E. Roberts, 54, lives in Chula Vista. She will now serve as a San Diego County Superior Court Judge. 

The other, Tricia J. Taylor, 39, who lives in the city of Los Angeles, is joining two others the governor appointed to serve as Los Angeles County Superior Court judges. 

“Roberts and Taylor’s appointments are significant, said Dezie Woods-Jones, state president of Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA).  “These appointments speak volumes. I am extremely pleased and excited that there are two new highly professional and qualified African-American Women judges appointed to the California Superior Court.” 

Roberts, a former prosecutor and public defender, and Taylor, a former deputy district attorney, both bring broad experience in private law – as well as public law – to their new roles as justices.  

Since 2008, Roberts served as a commissioner at the San Diego County Superior Court. Before that, she was deputy district attorney at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. Roberts has also worked in private practice and served as a deputy public defender in San Diego County.

Before becoming deputy D.A. in Los Angeles County, Taylor also worked in private practice and at the Children’s Law Center, a public interest law firm and advocacy group. 

In California, all of the state’s 58 counties have now voted to have a single superior court in each of their jurisdictions. That county superior court serves as the main trial court for each county. In June 1998, California voters approved Proposition 220, a constitutional ammendment that allowed the counties to fold their municipal and superior courts into one unified county superior court.  Annually, county superior court justices earn $213,833 and they serve nearly 34 million people across the state, according to the Judicial Council of California. 

This week two different celebrations take place, with shared themes of recognizing and celebrating otherwise taboo topics surrounding death and dying. USC experts explore the origins of the traditions, dig into death rituals and explain why we love all things scary.

Day of the Dead celebration has indigenous roots

“Given the timing, it may be tempting to equate Day of the Dead with Halloween, a ghost-themed U.S. holiday. But the two holidays express fundamentally different beliefs.

“Spanish conquerors faced difficulty in convincing native peoples to give up their rituals honoring death goddess Mictecacihuatl. The compromise was to move these indigenous festivities from late July to early November to correspond with Allhallowtide – the three-day Christian observance of All Saints’ Eve, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

“With this move, the holiday was nominally connected to Catholicism. But many practices and beliefs associated with the worship of the dead remained deeply indigenous.”

Kirby Farah is an anthropological archaeologist and lecturer in the Department of Anthropology at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. Her research and teaching interests intersect archaeology, ethnohistory and critical cultural heritage. This commentary originally appeared in The Conversation.

Contact: kirbyfar@usc.edu

Are human wired to enjoy being terrified?

“Some of the attraction of being scared comes from the deviation of having a new experience that we know is safe. We like novelty, something that departs from our everyday experience.

“Your amygdala will give you a fear response, an avoidance response to stay away from something that is legitimately frightful.”

Irving Biederman is a specialist in cognitive neuroscience and the Harold W. Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on the brain’s role in vision, investigating the brain processes underlying humans’ ability to quickly recognize and interpret what they see.

Contact: bieder@usc.edu or (310) 614-3903

What’s at the core of a good horror movie?

“Horror as a genre is an expression of the collective anxieties of a society at the time in which these films are made. They allow us to collectively get a sense of catharsis by the vanquishing of these fears.

“Conquering the fear of death is at the core of all horror films. It’s the way in which that problem is presented by the film that speaks to the specifics of the society at any given time.”

Alex Ago is a horror movie buff and director of programming and special projects at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

Contact: aago@cinema.usc.edu or (213) 740-2330

With burials on the decline, is the cemetery dead?

“Today, we’re in a very extraordinary moment. For over a hundred years, Americans have taken care of their dead in very specific ways, and each of these is being challenged. Each of these is being a little pushed by what’s happening in our world.

“If everyone can scatter their ashes or have them in their home, then you don’t need a cemetery.”

David Sloane is a professor at the USC Price School of Public Policy and an expert in urban history, health disparities and community development, and public and private commemoration. He comes from a long line of cemetery superintendents and is the author of Is the Cemetery Dead?

Contact: dsloane@price.usc.edu or 213-740-5768

Photos via Pixabay.

Photos by John Coleman, Community Photographer

Family,  faculty and friends from the CSUSB community,  co-workers, students, and others,  from far and near,  whose professional and academic careers  Dr. Rosemary McCaslin had helped to facilitate attended the Saturday,  beautiful  ‘Indian Summer’  afternoon  Memorial Ceremony,  held October 19, 2019,  on the campus of  the California State University,   San Bernardino.

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As text-obsessed as we’ve become as a society, there’s still an argument to be made for making a human connection. Here, T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile’s digital etiquette expert offers 12 tips on how to perfect the art of mobile communication.

With more ways to communicate on our phones than ever before, it’s no surprise that the etiquette around choosing a method to deliver your message is far from clear. A text often seems exceedingly more convenient than a phone call, but, as digital etiquette expert, Elaine Swann, explains, texting is not always appropriate.

When should I text?

1. Logistics CoordinationAccording to Swann, daily situations involving logistics — directions, arrival times, departure times, etc. — are always better suited to a text message, as the recipient will have the information easily at hand on their mobile device should they need to review it.

2. Requests / FavorsSwann notes that it’s perfectly fine to send a “Running late, could you pick me up something?” request that involves daily routines like procuring food or running errands.

3. NewsSwann’s rules here are simple: “If it’s big news you’re texting, it should only be good news like I got the job, we got the house, etc.”

It’s also okay to text when the news isn’t so good, but only if you aren’t able to talk or if people are awaiting an update. An example would be, “We’re at the hospital, keep us in your thoughts — can’t talk.” Or, if someone is having surgery, texting an update to loved ones is acceptable.

4. LengthThis has less to do with the content of the text, and more to do with how long your message may be. Swann says that if your note is short, a text is fine, but if it goes beyond a few short sentences or becomes complex in nature, then that would be your indication to pick up the phone.

5. If you can’t talk, don’t answerThis is a perfectly acceptable — and common — situation to send a text that you’ll call the person back when you’re free.

When should I talk?
1. Big [Happy] AnnouncementsThe rule here, according to Swann, is that huge life-changing news, like a new baby, wedding, engagement, etc., should be delivered over the phone, especially to a close loved one. Although joyful in nature, its more respectful to deliver these kinds of big announcements over the phone.

2. Not-So-Good NewsWhen news is life-changing and not in a good way, Swann says this should always be a phone call.

3. When You’re Concerned About Someone“If you kind of get the feeling that a person is taking a little mental break, it’s fine to text to touch base letting them know you’re thinking of them,” Swann says. “But, if you’re gravely concerned about their wellbeing, then a phone call is more appropriate.”

4. When There’s Lots to SayTypically, Swann says, you should try to respond in the same manner that you were contacted. However, if you receive a text and have a lengthy response, it would be more appropriate to call the person instead of text back.

5. When You’re DrivingOne instance where you should not text, even in response to someone, is of course when you’re driving. If you’re able to use your device hands-free, call the person and tell them you’re on the road and can’t text back.

6. To Clarify an Increasingly Difficult Thread“We all know that technology doesn’t always translate everything well,” Swann says. “Instead of sending three or four text messages to clarify something — a location to meet, understanding directions, etc. — it’s a good idea to call someone and shore up those details.”

7. Asking Someone out on a Date“This should always be a phone call,” Swann says. “The same goes for breaking up with someone.”

Want to get even more out of your device? Check out ourZen Guide to Using Your Device!

By Tim Rhatigan, UnitedHealthcare of California

Earthquakes are unfortunately a common occurrence, especially in places with high seismicity, such as California. Because earthquakes occur without warning, it’s important to take steps to prepare.

The Red Cross and FEMA offer tips for a safety checklist to know what to do before, during and after an earthquake. Here are additional reminders of what to do before, during, and after an earthquake.

Before an Earthquake

• Create an earthquake readiness plan with your household. Everyone in your family should know what to do and where to go as soon as they feel the vibrations of an earthquake, as well as a common place to reunite after an earthquake in case there is limited or no means of communication.
• Be prepared with an earthquake kit comprised of water, food, medications, a first-aid kit, bandages for injuries, a flashlight, batteries, a radio, blankets, a pair of sturdy shoes, a change of clothes and other personal items. Because you don’t know where you will be when an earthquake occurs, prepare a kit for your home, workplace and your car.
• In your emergency kit, include copies of important documents – such as insurance policies, financial records, credit card numbers, medical insurance cards, a list of medications and prescriptions, plus phone numbers and addresses for key contacts. Also include a small amount of cash, as ATMs, banks, and credit card systems may not be operating.
• Be sure you know how to turn off the water, gas and electricity in your home. A multi-function tool may be needed. 
• Choose an “earthquake safe location” to take cover in every room of your house, office, school or any place that you go to on a regular basis. This location should be away from windows and any furniture that could fall on you.

What to Do During an Earthquake  

• Drop down to your knees and cover your head and neck with your arms or an object so that you are protected from any debris or furniture falling during the earthquake.
• Stay away from windows and furniture that can fall on you, such as book cases and televisions. 
• If possible, go to your identified “safe location” or find a wall near the center of the building or house you are in, take cover in a doorway, or crawl under a heavy piece of furniture, such as a desk or table. 
• If you are outside, get away from anything that could fall on you, such as trees, powerlines, buildings and houses. 
• If you are in a car, pull over to a spot that is away from trees, powerlines and buildings. Wait in the car until the shaking stops. 

After an Earthquake

• Once the shaking has stopped, if you are in an unsafe area (ceiling has collapsed, exposed electrical wires, broken glass, gas or smoke odor), find the safest way to evacuate to an open space or take shelter in another area of the building.
• Check your water, gas and electric lines for any damage. If they are damaged, shut off the valves. If you can smell gas, open all your doors and windows and leave your home immediately. Report a broken gas line to the authorities as soon as possible.
• Do not use candles, matches or any open flames as a source of light. Earthquakes often result in broken gas lines, which should not be mixed with open flames.
• Only use your phone for emergencies. You will want to save your battery for as long as possible. 

Be prepared to repeat everything in the likely event of aftershocks, which usually happen within the first few days following an earthquake. 

SACRAMENTO, CA—- With a signature on Assembly Bill 29 authored by Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), Governor Gavin Newsom hammers the final nail in the coffin for the 710 tunnel.

“This is a historic moment for the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles ending this 70 year old battle,” said Assemblymember Chris Holden who represents Pasadena and South Pasadena that lie in the 710 North Corridor. “Now is the time for the region to lead the way in implementing transportation solutions that move us past a car centric approach to reduce pollution and improve health and safety.”

Assembly Bill 29 specifies that State Route 710 is from Route 1 to Route 10, abolishing the freeway tunnel once and for all. The legislation will close loopholes in both Caltrans’ Final Environmental Impact Report and the 2017 Los Angeles Metro motion that drops the tunnel concept for strictly financial reasons.

The legislation marks the second time a freeway option was eliminated for the 710 North Corridor. In 2013, a bill authored by former State Senator Carol Liu and coauthored by Assemblymember Holden, SB 416, eliminated the surface freeway as an option. This bill that was signed into law allowed Caltrans to sell the homes it owned to private owners. 

“It is gratifying to see Assemblymember Holden’s Bill, AB 29, pass out of the Legislature and onto the Governor’s desk,” said Carol Liu.  The odyssey of the 710 Freeway extension overlapped the turn of the century, imposed hardships on homeowners and renters, and disrupted communities for decades.  I was pleased to play a role during my tenure in the Legislature and to partner with Assemblymember Holden and our constituents on the way to what I hope will now be the end of this journey.”

Assembly Bill 29 is the result of a three year legislative effort by Assemblymember Holden that began with the introduction of AB 287 in 2017 as well as AB 533 in 2018. Numerous discussions with Caltrans, Metro, and most importantly, members of the community, led to the passage of AB 29. The idea for changing the state’s highway code came directly from a South Pasadena resident.

Holden’s attempts to impact the region’s transportation future is not limited to Sacramento. In 2017 he urged LA Metro to remove the tunnel from consideration as an alternative, and to immediately begin allocating Measure R funds to projects in the area that would benefit the community. In September he sent a letter to LA Metro urging them to use Measure R dollars to best move people in the region, improve health and safety, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Changing the Highway Code makes it clear and unequivocal that there is no place for the 710 surface or tunnel route,” said Joanne Nuckols, longtime activist and South Pasadena Preservation Foundation Board Member. “But our fight is not over yet, we must make sure the projects implemented in the region improve air quality and don’t encourage more people to drive – which is why we fought the freeway extension in the first place.”

“As our state and cities integrate smart growth and transit oriented development into our evolving transportation infrastructure with an eye towards reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, this victory against the freeway tunnel represents a critical shift in how we envision our new transportation future,” said Holden. “I look forward to supporting local cities as they move forward with their proposals to improve the corridor and generate jobs.”

With the immediate success at the launch of the I Love Teachers network and benefits platform, I Love Teachers continues to make strides in teacher recognition. The latest addition to the I Love Teachers appreciation arsenal is the inclusion of two contests: Teacher of the Month and Classroom of the Month. Beginning in November 2019, winners of these two contests will be featured in the monthly ILT Bulletin.  These two contests serve to show teachers that they are seen, appreciated, and recognized for their hard work and creativity.

The Teacher of the Month contest consists of nominations submitted by friends, family, and colleagues via an online form. Winners are chosen each month, featured in our ILT Bulletin, and awarded a Target gift card of $100, a Teacher Appreciation gift box (that includes 4 items chosen by the winner from over 8,000 combinations), and a one year membership to the I Love Teachers’ Benefits platform. This platform provides access to over 1.3 million nationwide offers. 

In order for Classroom of the Month contest submissions to be viewed and admired by all, the submission process differs slightly from that of the Teacher of the Month contest. Teachers submit photos of their own classroom, or the classroom of a teacher they believe should win, via the Lounge, a publicly-visible social platform. Each month’s winning classroom submission will be awarded a Target gift card of $100, a Teacher Appreciation gift box, and a one year membership to the I Love Teachers’ Benefits platform. 

What makes these a great addition to I Love Teachers? They are a vessel for direct interaction with the ILT family of teachers across the US, and a way to continue to show support and appreciation for teachers. Recognizing the efforts and creativity of teachers helps to remind each and every one how very special, unique, talented and important they are. 

Learn more about the contests and for more information, contact Katherine Ward at I Love Teachers at katiew@iloveteachers.com or visit https://lounge.iloveteachers.com. 

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media 

On Oct. 10, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 539. The legislation puts restrictions on predatory lending practices in California he says “creates debt traps for families already struggling financially.” Critics say lenders who offer these high-interest loans target disadvantaged people, large numbers of them Black and Brown consumers living in some of the most underserved census tracts in the state. These are Californians who are typically denied traditional bank loans because of poor credit or lack of collateral. However, the high interest rates on these loans can be crippling.  According to documents provided to California Black Media, a LoanMe Inc. loan for around $5,000 would require a payback of $42,000 over seven years at a 115 percent annual percentage rate! Tacking interest rates on loans as high as 200 percent sometimes,  in addition to hidden fees, predatory lenders, critics tell us, typically structure their loans in ways that force people who sign up for them to constantly re-borrow money to pay off the mounting debts they already owe.  “Many Californians living paycheck to paycheck are exploited by predatory lending practices each year,” said Newsom.  “Defaulting on high-cost, high-interest rate installment loans push families further into poverty instead of pulling them out. These families deserve better, and this industry must be held to account.” The new legislation restricts the amount of interest that can be levied on loans ranging from $2,500-10,000 to 36 percent, plus the federal funds rate.  “Gov. Newsom’s signature on AB 539 sends a strong message that California will not allow lenders to thrive on high-cost loans that often leave consumers worse off than when they started,” said Assemblymember Monique Lim?n (D-Santa Barbara,) co-author of the bill.

“I am grateful to the broad coalition of community groups, faith leaders, local governments, and responsible lenders who supported this historic achievement and helped us achieve strong bipartisan support of this legislation.” Limon has been campaigning for the passage of AB 539 for more than two years now. She is also a champion for financial education that informs consumers about the dangers of high-interest loans.  Assemblymember Timothy Grayson (D-Concord), a co-author of the bill, says the governor signing the bill signals the end of the worst kinds of abusive loans in the state. “Californians deserve real access to capital, not exploitative loans that trap them in perpetual payments and compounding debt,” said Grayson. “We must do more to protect financially vulnerable, hardworking families from predatory lenders who profit off their devastation.” Figures from the California Department of Business Oversight (CBO) reveal that in 2016 the total dollar amount for payday loans in the state was $3.14 billion. The CBO also stated that seniors now represent the largest group taking out payday loans and more than 400,000 consumers in the state took out 10 payday loans in 2016. A third of those high-cost loans ended up in default.  Not everyone is cheering the passage of AB 539. Those opponents say the bill is restrictive and undermines the values of free-market capitalism.  The California-Hawaii chapter of the NAACP  opposed the bill, arguing that it limits options for poor African Americans who need to borrow money in emergencies.  “We are deeply concerned about the impact AB 539 will have on small businesses and consumers. As proposed, AB 539 will limit lenders’ ability to provide a variety of short-term credit options to borrowers in need.” said the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in an interview with California Globe.