Blerds

December 8, 2014December 9, 2014

Dr. Mae Jemison Beautifully Explains How She Achieved Her Biggest Dreams

Dr. Mae Jemison describes her journey from space-loving girl in Chicago to astronaut looking down on Chicago and thinking about her younger self.

Mae Jemison is a physician, engineer, educator, entrepreneur and the first woman of color in the world to go into space – she was a NASA astronaut for six years. Currently Mae devotes much of her attention to the 100 Year Starship, which she says is “pursuing an extraordinary tomorrow to create a better world today.” In her spare moments, Mae is a lifelong and accomplished dancer.

Source: NOVA’s “The Secret Life of Scientists and Engineers”

December 8, 2014December 8, 2014

A Preview of Kelly Sue DeConnick’s Women-Centric Comic

There is a page early on in “Bitch Planet” where the women prisoners are ushered through processing like soon-to-be slaughtered cattle. They are completely naked with no convenient art direction or obstacles to block their nudity. While most of the women are clearly uncomfortable to be made into such a spectacle, there is one character, Penny, who seems to revel in other’s discomfort. She is large, very large. She moves with a confidence that almost implies she’s there voluntarily, gives the guards sh*t just because she can, and by the time you’re halfway through this first issue, you’ll realize she doesn’t give a damn about how uncomfortable you are staring at her naked ass. This is “Bitch Planet,” the house that Kelly Sue DeConnick built, and it’s not like anything else on comic book shelves today.

Working with artist Valentine De Landro (“X-Factor,” “Marvel Knights”), “Bitch Planet” is a story about a not-too-distant future where women “criminals” are sent to an all-women’s prison … on another planet. I put criminals in quotations as some of these women may be guilty of murder or thievery and some of them may be guilty of being women. The individual stories of who these women are and how they came to be there is part of the reason why this comic can go in so many different directions. As I said previously, “Bitch Planet” looks like it will be different than most books out, even as it comes from Image, publisher of another of DeConnick’s largely innovative books. That doesn’t mean that DeConnick doesn’t draw from various inspirations, especially prison break and exploitation films like “Caged Heat,” “Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion” and “Victory.”

One of the immediate things about the characters that will stand out to you is not just the fact that they are mostly women, but that they are mostly women of color. I asked DeConnick what motivated her to diversify the characters to this extent and she replied that she wanted to flip the “White Default” when it comes to populating a roster:

“I wrote a letter to Valentine and just asked him to make the deal with me that unless a character was specified as white, they would be of color. I was hesitant … my concern was that we’re doing a prison book, and so of course most of our characters are incarcerated. And I worried about what that choice said. Was I working against my own intention?”

Read more from William Evans at blacknerdproblems.com

December 8, 2014December 8, 2014

Graphic Novel ‘Legend of the Mantamaji’ Pushes Ahead With Second Book

With the release of Book Two of the “Legend of the Mantamaji” graphic novel series, television director Eric Dean Seaton continues to appeal to superhero fans of all ages with multicultural characters and a thrilling plot full of action and fun. “Legend of the Mantamaji: Book Two” is available for pre-order ahead of its Dec. 11 release, just in time for the holidays.

Superhero and comic book culture shows no sign of slowing down, and with the announcement of more diverse characters on screen, parents of kids and teens who love superheroes are quietly hopeful the trend continues. The wait for a Black lead in a franchise film will be three years, leaving parents still looking for quality media with heroes of color. Enter “Legend of the Mantamaji,” a three-book graphic novel series by Eric Dean Seaton, top director of hit shows like TBS’s Ground Floor, NBC’s Undateable, Disney Channel’s Austin & Ally and Nickelodeon’s Ricky, Nicky, Dicky and Dawn.

Launched Oct. 8 and available on all platforms, the series features African-American male and female leads; a multicultural cast and strong storytelling from Seaton. Book One begins with hotshot Assistant District Attorney Elijah Alexander at the top of his career and the height of his selfishness. Little does he know his career success is directly connected to a secret that will put it in jeopardy. When a mysterious stranger appears, Elijah learns something incredibly shocking – he is not even human. Suddenly he has superpowers and is thrown into a world of magic, mystery and legendary evil.

“I’m just like the rest of the comic-loving world – I’m excited for the upcoming Black Panther movie,” Seaton said. “I’m a huge Black Panther fan, the comic was part of what inspired me growing up as a kid in Cleveland, Ohio. I always knew I wanted to create a comic book with a big back story and I wanted to create a superhero that looked like me. People of color have been an afterthought in superhero and sci-fi/fantasy stories. I also wanted to create a story that appealed to a wide range of comic book and graphic novel fans – that is why the book has no swearing and the story is layered and nuanced for adult comic and graphic novel lovers.”

“Legend of The Mantamaji,” a 2014 San Diego Comic-Con exclusive, is perfect for comic and graphic novel enthusiasts, ages 9 and up.

Read more from Eric Dean Seaton at legendofthemantamaji.com

December 5, 2014December 8, 2014

Tired of Cracking Your iPhone Screen? Apple May Have Plans for Simpler, Sturdier Materials

The one criticism that has plagued the iPhone for years was the fact that it typically has reigned supreme in the land of incredibly fragile devices. While the latest model has emerged with studier materials to address that issue, it seems like Apple had a much more complex way to solve this problem a few years ago.

A phone screen can’t crack if the phone never lands on the screen, right?

That’s essentially the idea behind Apple’s idea for a cat-like iPhone design, which the company has already obtained a patent for.

The drawings in the unpublicized patent were discovered and released by Appleinsider and revealed a design that would allow the iPhone to detect when it was falling and then adjust its trajectory in order to make sure it doesn’t land on the most fragile part of the device – the screen.

Through the use of different sensors on the phone, it would detect which part of the phone is in imminent danger and likely to have a potentially catastrophic impact.

The phone will then use vibrations to adjust the phone in mid-air.

Of course, there will be times when a vibration won’t be enough to prevent a shattered screen, so the designs also include gas canisters that would “deploy the compressed gas outside of the device to change its orientation.”

The only catch is that some tech lovers believe Apple may have already ditched these plans for now.

The patent was filed back in 2011 and features a drawing of what seems to be an iPhone 4.

That means roughly three years have gone by without the “cat phone” coming to fruition.

Some see that as a sign that the company simply decided to create a more sturdy, seemingly unbreakable phone rather than focusing on how to keep a fragile device from having a tragic fall.

Others, however, believe it just means that the patented system will be a part of the iPhone’s design later down the road.

If that is the case, Apple will truly have a rather indestructible device on its hand that is not only sturdy but also able to defend itself against a clumsy owner.

The materials used to create the iPhone 6 have already earned the device the title of “least breakable phone ever” by SquareTrade.

Combining these materials with the patented cat-like technology, users would be able to keep their iPhones safe and functional for years.

Not all consumers are thrilled by the patent, however, with some arguing that the idea lacks any real creativity.

“Apple shouldn’t be allowed to own this patent,” said one RT.com reader. “It is very simple in Theory. You just add or subtract weight on different locations of back cover or side of the phone and heavier side will hit the floor first if drops. There is no creativity in making a fool out of general public.”

December 5, 2014December 8, 2014

22 Of The Most Amazing African American Entrepreneurs Of All Time

Clara Brown

Colorado was one of the sites for the gold rush in the 1850s. Brown moved to Central City, Colorado, established a successful laundry and bought real estate. Brown was the first woman and first Black person inducted into the Society of Colorado Pioneers.

Paul Cuffe

Cuffe was the son of an Ashanti man from Ghana and a Wampanoag Native American woman from Massachusetts. In the 1700s, he was a prominent sea captain whose ships and all-Black crews worked the Atlantic Coast and sailed to Europe and Africa.

Charles Clinton Spaulding, Aaron McDuffie Moore and John Merrick

In 1898, these men founded the first Black-owned insurance company. In 1934, the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Co. was the nation’s largest Black-owned business, and it is still one of the oldest Black-owned businesses in the U.S.

Isaac Myers

Myers organized fired ship workers, raised funds from Black churches and bought a shipyard that won a government contract. Myers let whites join his union, but his efforts to integrate white unions were stifled.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5

December 5, 2014December 5, 2014

This Is How the Caribbean Can Build a Young Tech Community to Compete on a Global Scale

Technology could place the Caribbean’s youth on a level playing field and kick start the region’s stalling economies.

Source: Latin America and The Caribbean

December 5, 2014December 5, 2014

A Black Nerd’s Interactions at Comic Con

Oct. 31 was a Friday, and despite the fact there was already plenty of reason to celebrate because it was Halloween and the end of my workweek, it was also the opening day of Ohio’s Comic Con as a part of the Wizard Con circuit. I clocked out of work, threw on some jeans and my Attack on Titan Survey Corps shirt and headed straight for the convention, since there were precious hours left for the day.

Once I made it down there, grabbed my press pass (weoutchea) and made it to the floor, it was as I expected: steeped in glorious geekery. As Leslie had written about so eloquently before, not everyone can make it to New York or San Diego for the mother and father of all Cons in North America, and the smaller ones definitely have value. As this was my first year attending, I was just trying to make the rounds and soak in as much as I could without committing to anything or really planning on writing about it (you see how that worked out).

At some point, between my buying an original sketch of Master Chief and taking a picture of a homie in an awesome Deathstroke cosplay (Arkham: Origins edition), a guy came up to me pointing emphatically. “Awesome shirt, man!” I thanked him, but it is, in fact, an awesome shirt, so I get that a lot. “Check this out.” He put a long box on the table in front of us and pulled out a replica Survey Corps blade. While not sharpened steel, it was solid metal and polished, a nice collectible whether you intended to hang it on the wall or wander into the woods beyond Columbus and hunt titans. I nerded out with my new-found friend and enthusiast for a moment before making my way to the very display he had made the purchase from.

The table was glorious, just about every bladed weapon from nerd lore were on the tables, all handled with care, all available for a price. There was Jon Snow’s “Longclaw,” Cloud Strife’s sword “Buster,” Nariko’s “Heavenly Sword” and many, many more. I picked up “Buster” and marveled at its weight. This thing was awesome. I had no idea where I would put it, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t contemplate dropping some credits on it. I mean, come on: FINAL FANTASY VII MEMORABILIA!

Read more from William Evans at blacknerdproblems.com

December 5, 2014December 5, 2014

‘Suicide Squad’ Casting Rumors Finally Confirmed: Will Smith Takes on Anti-Hero Deadshot

After tons of rumors and speculation, Suicide Squad fans are finally getting confirmation about which stars will be taking on some of the comic book world’s favorite villains in the 2016 film directed by David Ayer, and Will Smith has been selected for the role of Deadshot.

For once, all the rumors turned out to be true.

For weeks, rumors were swirling that Smith would be trading in his good-guy badge to take on the role of a sometimes villain, sometimes anti-hero who has been known to have a bit of a death wish and an insatiable urge for a violent victory.

Deadshot is one of the villains who will be teaming up with other infamous bad guys to go on a few suicide missions in exchange for some level of redemption for their past crimes – which are rather serious to say the least.

Deadshot is certainly not as famous as the film’s other villains, which include the Joker and the ever-so-quirky but eerily beautiful Harley Quinn, but for those who are familiar with the character they understand that there is a lot riding on Smith’s shoulders.

The villain made his first appearance in the Batman comics back in 1950 and quickly grew to be one of the favorite bad guys with a soft spot for his daughter and an incredible record when it comes to shooting targets.

For those who haven’t dived into the comic book world, Deadshot is boasted as the villain who never misses his shot.

There are some concerns that the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star may not be able to take on a much darker role and have it be believable, but Smith’s track record as a good guy has not always been about the actor taking on happy, upbeat roles.

While he was responsible for years of gut-twisting laughter back in the ’90s, Smith’s other roles have allowed him to dive into a darker space even if he was technically a good guy.

From his role in I Am Legend where he has to do all he can to survive the invasion of bloodthirsty mutants to the tear-jerking Seven Pounds where his character makes the ultimate sacrifice to change the lives of seven complete strangers in hopes to cope with a dark past, Smith has proven time and time again that when a role calls for a darker outlook he is more than capable to take it there.

Also, if his wife’s role in Gotham is any indication of how Smith might be able to take on a more villainous character, then there is certainly nothing to worry about.

Jada Pinkett-Smith is currently the face of the sassy and always-conniving mob boss Fish Mooney in the TV series that dives into the world of Gotham before there was ever a Batman to help fight crime in the corrupted city.

Of course, Smith won’t be all bad in Suicide Squad as he will be using his sharp shooting skills and thirst for blood in order to help the government.

At Smith’s side will be Jared Leto as the Joker, Tom Hardy as Rick Flag, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Jai Courtney as Boomerang and Cara Delevingne as Enchantress.

The movie will reportedly start filming in April in Toronto, the WB/DC mega-docket announced back in October.

While these casting rumors have been confirmed, there is no word out on whether the studio got its alleged first pick for the role of the Squad’s head hard-case Amanda Waller.

According to Variety, Warner Bros’ is hoping to get Oprah Winfrey to fill the role and may also be looking at Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer.

Either way, Warner Bros president Greg Silverman is already very pleased with the lineup.

“We look forward to seeing this terrific ensemble, under David Ayer’s amazing guidance, give new meaning to what it means to be a villain and what it means to be a hero,” Silverman said, according to Newsarama.com

The public seems to share this sentiment as more moviegoers are ditching their favorite superheroes in exchange to see more morally conflicted but always intriguing villains turned anti-heroes.

December 4, 2014December 4, 2014

Ethnic Diversity in the Dragon Age’s Fantasy World

I’m going to assume that everyone here has seen the second movie in Peter Jackson’s adaptation of “The Hobbit,” generously titled The Devious Cashgrabination of a Beloved Story. Do you remember the scene in Laketown, where we find out that this sleepy harbor area is actually the most diverse place in all of Middle Earth? Here, allow me to refresh your memory.

I’m going somewhere with this, stay with me.

A year ago, a fan asked BioWare writer David Gaider about the lack of ethnic diversity among humans in Dragon Age’s fantasy world, Thedas:

To see Dragon Age fall back on that trope of “Humans Are White, Fantastic Races are POC” was really disheartening and just plain tiresome, to be honest. This has been a thing for as long as I can remember in fantasy, especially sword and sorcery fantasy in fantasy counterpart versions of medieval Europe like Thedas. People of color, if they exist at all in these settings, are typically either Orientalist Yellow Peril monsters from the Forbidden East, or dark barbarian hordes from the wastelands outside the pristine lily white lands of the heroes, always threatening the white status quo somehow. At best, we’re noble savages who can teach the white heroes ancient wisdom and life lessons about how to be better people. This, despite so much history available about the diversity of medieval Europe, how it was much less white than people generally believe it to be. I know that Thedas really relies on the fantasy counterpart culture idea, but in a land of blood magic and dwarves and darkspawn, the idea that societies are racially and ethnically homogeneous is…weird? Squicky? F***ed up?

I’ve cherry-picked the most interesting part of Mr. Gaider’s response:

“I suppose you’re correct that, on some level, there seemed to be less thematic need to address issues of racism within human societies with there being such a visible ‘other’ for them to deal with. Perhaps one could say that skin color isn’t such a big issue in Thedas when there are elves and dwarves and qunari who are so much more different among them … or perhaps that’s a cheap way to look at it? Something to think about. That said, I don’t think the societies in Thedas are as racially homogenous as you believe — or, at least, they’re not intended to be. How well have we shown that in-game? Probably not very well.”

Read more from Troy L. Wiggins at afrofantasy.wordpress.com

Autonomous Cars