In this week NYT Magazine, Queen Latifah talks about her new movie, The Secret Life of Bees, among other things.
In discussing her childhood, she says, "“I know people who are twice as creative as I am, twice as smart, but they didn’t do anything because they feared going into a room and opening their mouths. My parents told me to truly accomplish things in my life, there would be times I would have to stand alone. It may be scary, but that’s what it requires. So the times I had to stand alone, I got it. I understood where I was coming from, so hopefully, everybody else would get it eventually.”
As inspiring as this might be, this desire to stand up for oneself loses some of its momentum when she refuses to discuss her sexuality. “I don’t have a problem discussing the topic of somebody being gay, but I do have a problem discussing my personal life. You don’t get that part of me. Sorry . . . I don’t feel like I need to share my personal life, and I don’t care if people think I’m gay or not. Assume whatever you want. You do it anyway.”
Because she won't.
The San Diego Gay Pride Firefighter Harassmant Case ends in mistrial. The AP reports that "the jury deliberated nearly four days before announcing a deadlock on the first of several criteria needed to find the city liable."
This lawsuit appears, and probably is, silly, but I think it's important to keep in mind that the lawsuit was not just about manly firefighters crying because some gay men hooted and hollered at them. The firefighters filed the lawsuit, at least in part, because they felt they had been retaliated against by their employer -- ultimately the City of San Diego. The AP says that the "lawsuit sought unspecified compensation from the city, and alleged that the fire department retaliated after they publicly criticized their employer."
This is an entirely different and more serious animal than the harrassment charges that have been more often talked about. Laws prohibiting retaliation keep us all a little bit safer.
Tell Me More Stories
Several member of the House talk about why they changed their vote and if they feel they sacrificed too much in the process.
The Supreme Court is back in session today. Kathryn Kolbert, of People For The American Way, is joined by Allyson Ho, a former Supreme Court clerk, to offer a preview of the upcoming court docket.
To national audience, Michelle Obama is well-known because of her husband's presidential candidacy. But the attorney and businesswoman has an impressive and distinguished career of her own. Liza Mundy, author of Michelle, a new biography of Michelle Obama, writes about the Chicago native's professional aspirations and how they coincided with her Sen. Barack Obama's political journey.
A new film, Allah Made Me Funny, follows three Muslim men as they perform at comedy clubs around the U.S. Comedians Azhar Usman, Mo Amer and Preacher Moss discuss what informs their humor.
(47:17)
Fresh Air Stories
Katharine Jefferts Schori, the first female bishop to preside over the Episcopal Church, has faced a number of crises since she accepted the post in 2006.
Books We Like: Radical bombers battle strikebreaking capitalists while Clarence Darrow squares off against the "American Sherlock Holmes" in this very popular history of a trial that mixed murder, politics and celebrity in 1910 Los Angeles.
(45:40)
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Fresh Air
That was a little lighter than I expected for my first beta day! But I'll be back full throttle tomorrow. Starting nice and early.
Not so much a reference to nighttime illumination as it is a reference to my keeping today's posts to a minimum while I figure a few of the blog logistics out.
A video from The Daily Beast, Tina Brown's newest venture. The new website launched today, and itt looks like a cross between the online versions of New York Magazine, Politico, and US Weekly. Not a bad combo.
Type rest of the post here
Here are your daily NPR shows, They originally aired over the radio and have been conveniently converted into super-easy podcasts. These are from Friday since today's haven't happened yet . . . . I'll update the links as soon as the new shows air.
You can click below to jump to the players or you can click here to open them immediately in a new window.
Tell Me More
Fresh Air