Sunday Sundown Rundown

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 4/2/21

3 Up

1. Indicted Federal Hate Charges - The three men who killed Ahmaud Arbery have officially been indicted on federal hate charges meaning, it alleges that the defendants used force and threat to intimidate Arbery because he was a black man. The indictment opens up a new set of charges, outlook, punishments, and arguments for the trial. It's surely a case to keep an eye on once a trial date is set. I have a feeling this one will grip the nation as well.

2. NYC Rebounds - I no longer live in NYC, but I still work there and live relatively close to it. The demise of NYC is sooooo exaggerated. In fact, we're now learning more people have moved into the city than out of it during the Pandemic! With that said, it's great to hear further stories of over 80K people returning to offices in a few days as well as the plans to fully open in July. March - June of 2020 in NYC will forever remain with me as trying times. I'm glad the city is rebounding.

3. NFL Draft (Other Pro Drafts) - I didn't watch the NFL Draft Live, but I caught some of its cooler moments over Twitter and through various outlets. I know every league loves the draft event because of the revenue, but nothing is as cool as the players being selected in their own environments with their family, friends, and loved ones. It's a much more authentic feel and makes for a better show than the redundant stage handshake with the commissioner and in-house studio crews jabbering on about the selection.

3 Down

1. Coronavirus in India and Latin America - This virus has returned in a big way in India and Latin America, to the extent where other countries have now closed travel to and from these areas. Latin America is struggling due to a lack of vaccines, and India thought it was on the other end, just to see the nation quickly fall into dire straights once again.

2. "We are not a racist country" - I've never heard a more ridiculous response from a politician than what Tim Scott delivered this week. It was contradicting in so many ways that it was head-scratching and head-shaking. Until we are able to acknowledge our past, I'm not sure how we clearly move forward as a nation in regards to race, equity, and power.

3. Guns, Guns, Guns - This "down" is sort of a cheat, but from additional stories of police shootings, the numerous mass shootings, and the gang violence - it's just difficult to take in. What is our obsession with gun use?

1 Interesting

American Birthrate - Studies and the recent census has shown that the American population fell to the rate of the 1930's. After an expectation of a pandemic baby boom, numbers have shown that Americans are having less children, citing issues of the state of the world, COVID, and financial burdens as big reasons.

Recently Read Posts

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 5/22/22

3 Up 1. NY Times Investigative Series on Haiti - The history of Haiti is such a complex (and unfortunate) one. Really, it's a story that goes untold, specifically for the context of how the country is viewed. From being forced to pay operations to enslavers (yeah, you read that right), to so many other historical setbacks - including American interventions - the nation's history is so well laid out in this latest NY Times piece. I urge you to give it a read. 2. Equal Pay for US Women's Soccer Team - Kudos to US Soccer on coming around to giving the USWNT their due - equal pay for prize money from the World Cup. It's a start, and more importantly, it's a push forward for women's sports that do in fact push the needle in comparison, or more so, to their male counterparts. 3. Kate McKinnon - Random "UP" here, but I'm doing it anyway...A few SNL usuals are rumored to be walking away, including Kate McKinnon. The show obviously doesn't carry the

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 4/10/22

3 Up 1. Ketanji Brown Jackson - The new Supreme Court Justice is a win for black and brown girls everywhere. Representation matters. 2. Women's College Basketball Ratings - I'm giving the women's tournament its due as it garnered the highest television ratings ever for the national championship game in eighteen years. And that was head-to-head with the Grammys! Spare me the "women's sports don't draw" tired narrative. Invest in women's sports, period. 3. Baseball Returns - Sure, the sport bothered fans over the winter with its ugly and insulting labor spat. However, it's back, and that's cool. 3 Down 1. Ukraine Images - Unfortunately, I had to put the ongoing acts in Ukraine back in the tops spot. Have you seen some of the images coming out of the country? For me, it was the image of parents writing children's information (i.e. names, details of eating habits, etc...) on their backs - on their backs! - in anticipation of being separated

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 5/15/22

3 Up 1. California Church Heroes - It's soooooooo weird that the top spot is a result of something so horrific as our ongoing domestic terrorism problem of mass shootings. Still, the courage shown by the five members who stopped the shooter deserves it. Those individuals tackled the shooter and tied him up with an electric cord, while wounded. It's so tough to fathom that those possibilities are within the realm of your Sunday worship, within the sanctity of your church. But such is America... 2. Olivia Rodrigo & Drake - Rodrigo continues to reap rewards on an excellent album in 2021 as she topped the Billboard Music Awards with seven awards. There was also Drake who I'm beginning to sense we won't really appreciate his body of work until he's near the end of his career. But yeah, Drake poured in a few more for the legacy debates and discussions.

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 5/1/22

3 Up 1. Harvard Statement on Enslavement Past - We're currently in a world where dealing with slavery and oppression and all that it was in the past has created further division of the present, as well as ideals to move forward. We're all still trying to figure that out, but as we do, props are given to those who do it without the trendiness of the gesture. Harvard can be slammed for a whole lot in this arena, but they get the top spot this week for taking steps in a major way - just admitting its connection - is a great start. 2. "Out of Pandemic" Phase - The world surely feels as "normal" as it's felt in a long time. While Dr. Facui's comments were well...confusing and required some cleaning up, the gesture is very much understood - we ain't that bad anymore! Things are definitely not going to snap back to pre-2020, but it definitely feels as close to non-pandemic-ish as it ever has.

Dome Pondering

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