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BRUISED KNUCKLES

MISC.

#NODAPL By Allison Pinski

10/16/2016

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You may have read a lot about the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) recently, more specifically the #NODAPL protests and subsequent tensions between law enforcement and the Standing Rock Sioux tribe in North and South Dakota. If you’re unfamiliar with the pipeline, the below videos (also available here and here), provide relatively thorough summaries of recent events.
*The below video shows real footage of protesters being targeted by law enforcement. Coverage is from Democracy Now, and may be unsettling to some viewers. Also, it’s worth noting that Amy Goodman of Democracy Now (the first news organization to send a reporter to Standing Rock to cover the protests, is facing criminal charges for her coverage of the pipeline.
The pipeline has been around for almost two years, although it only recently made headlines for the massive protests against its installation in the Dakotas. Protesters include locals, and environmental and indigenous activists. According to a Time article, ​
“‘Tribal leaders and indigenous leaders have been talking about the need to keep fossil fuels in the group for a long time,’ says Lena Mofitt, director of the Sierra Club’s Dirty Fuels campaign. ‘It’s a natural partnership.’

The central issue for the Standing Rock Sioux, a tribe located less than a mile from the proposed pipeline, has been the threat it could pose to the local water supply. The pipeline would cross under a dammed section of the Missouri River that serves as a source of water for the tribe, and tribal leaders worry about the effort of an accident or spill. The project would also destroy a burial ground, they say.” (Taken from a Time article written by Justin Worland.)
There are benefits to the pipeline, which would allow the US to continue its energy independence from the Middle East. However, the overarching question is whether these benefits outweigh the lasting damages it will have on the nearby tribe and environment?

The implementation of the pipeline reveals a problem prevalent throughout US history: our treatment and exploitation of Native people. If DAPL is completed, it will interfere with Standing Rock’s right to clean water, trivialize the importance of their burial grounds (one of which will be destroyed if the pipeline is built), and further illustrate the lack of value placed on Native lives. Native Americans have been subjected to many social, political, and economic struggles in the US (which you can read more about here), and this is no exception.

Many have taken a stand to support the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, like actress Shailene Woodley who was arrested with other protesters on October 10th for trespassing. She livestreamed her arrest below on her Facebook page. Other notable celebrities supporting Standing Rock include Leonardo DiCaprio and Rosario Dawson.
Not only is DAPL facing a lot of backlash, but it also undermines the wellbeing of those living in Standing Rock. Morally, this pipeline is a clear infringement on Native rights, and that needs to be taken more seriously than DAPL’s economic benefits.

I #StandWithStandingRock in the call for #noDAPL. A powerful piece on why all of us must show up for this fight. https://t.co/cyakQxh1rR

— Leonardo DiCaprio (@LeoDiCaprio) October 6, 2016

Stunning strength and solidarity—Warriors of North Dakota: https://t.co/Q46AYaLq9u✊□□□ #IndigenousPeoplesDay #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/NXve3ChRXO

— Greenpeace (@Greenpeace) October 10, 2016

Protecting sacred land's an honor/duty! Proud of @ShaileneWoodley for taking a stand! #NoDAPL #IndigenousPeoplesDay https://t.co/B7MAJPZTjG

— Rosario Dawson (@rosariodawson) October 10, 2016

"Our future depends on us making a stand right now."#NoDAPL demonstrators–including Shailene Woodley–arrested on #IndigenousPeoplesDay: pic.twitter.com/pDyYt2L897

— Fusion (@Fusion) October 11, 2016

Actress @shailenewoodley broadcast her own arrest on Facebook while protesting the Dakota Pipeline. #NoDAPL https://t.co/fUSpjHSOSt

— Global Citizen (@GlblCtzn) October 10, 2016
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Why Black Lives Matter is Not an Attack on Police Officers By Allison Pinski

5/31/2016

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A recent Blue Lives Matter display by Republican students for National Police Week at Dartmouth College was removed and replaced with Black Lives Matter posters, sparking a lot of discussion about the two movements. In reference to the removal of the display, one of the Black Lives Matter activists, Mikala Williams, stated, "It was taken down by students and replaced because it actively co-opted a movement that is supposed to comment on police brutality against black individuals in this country. It took that and by framing that as 'Blue Lives Matter,' it normalizes and naturalizes violence against people of color in this country. And that is not okay. That is in no way okay."

The College Republicans wrote the following e-mail to Dartmouth's president and Board of Trustees in response to the incident;
"All we ask is that the protections and freedoms of self-expression afforded to other student organizations be extended to us. We do not see the Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter movements as mutually exclusive... It is possible to recognize the service and contributions of law enforcement officers while simultaneously pushing for reform to correct the grave mistakes of the small minority of officers. On National Law Enforcement Appreciation Week, we just hoped to highlight the monumental sacrifices made by these officers to protect us everyday.”
This incident at Dartmouth College has caused a re-emergence of misconceptions about Black Lives Matter. Contrary to what many Americans believe, Black Lives Matter is not an attack on police officers, but rather the growing police violence against black Americans and other minorities. Police brutality is an issue black Americans have faced for decades. Tensions with law enforcement even started long before the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s as a result of Jim Crow laws, the lasting effects of slavery, and racial profiling.

Even today, an disproportionate number of blacks are targeted by police. In 2015, black men were nine times more likely to be killed than white men In the same year, 1,134 young black men were killed by law enforcement officers (for more perspective, black men between the ages of 15-34 years make up 2 percent of the total U.S. population, but account for over 15 percent of all deaths logged in 2015).

Black Americans (and young black men especially) are increasingly more likely to be labeled as "thugs" or "criminals," labels that are used to justify deadly shootings and the deaths of black men. After the Baltimore riots (a response to the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody), NPR aired a discussion on the word “thug” between host Melissa Block and Columbia University English professor John McWhorter. Block says, "It is a sly way of saying there go those black people ruining things again. And so anybody who wonders whether thug is becoming the new N-word doesn't need to. It most certainly is." Block and McWhorter are not the first to notice the difference in terminology when covering white rioters and black “thugs.”

As a result of this treatment by the police, there is a deep distrust of law enforcement among blacks, especially when compared to whites. The data collected by a Pew Research study shows a substantial difference between the level of confidence blacks and whites have for the police.

A recent task force investigating racism within the Chicago Police Department, the second-largest metropolitan force in the U.S. behind the New York City Police Department, found the department plagued by systematic racism. For example, whites, blacks, and Hispanics each make up approximately 33 percent of Chicago's population, but 74 percent of the people shot by the CPD between 2008 and 2015 were black. There were significantly more blacks shot in Chicago during these years than whites, which indicates an underlying racial problem. The task force made over 100 specific recommendation to address the racial discrepancies within the police force.

Black Lives Matter was founded by Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi, and Patrisse Cullors in response to the 2012 shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman. The movement quickly transformed into a platform for black Americans to respond to and combat racism within the U.S. law enforcement. The movement is not claiming all officers are racist, but rather aims to address the institutional racism still embedded in our criminal justice system from decades ago.

While police officers should be celebrated and thanked for their dedicated service, Blue Lives Matter (and All Lives Matter, another counter trend) appears to negate Black Lives Matter more than it supports the police. You can support the police while still recognizing its general mistreatment of minorities. Black Lives Matter isn't arguing that other lives don't matter, but right now the conversation is about black lives.

NOTE: Originally posted on The Odyssey and reproduced with permission from the author.

​
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#SaveSyriasChildren By Susan McLean

1/31/2016

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This is a really great video, but I think we should think about maybe saving all of Syria instead of just the children. 
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Review of 3-In-1 Mobile Photo Lens By Allison Pinski

12/29/2015

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I recently purchased some mobile phone lenses from Amazon for my upcoming trip to Italy. I typically use my phone to take pictures when I travel, and I wanted some lenses to make the pictures as best they could be. I found a set of three from Play x Store for less than $20, which you can view here. The set came with three lens (Fisheye, Macro, and Wide Zoom), four lens caps, a carrying pouch, and a clamp.
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The lens themselves are very sturdy, and don't feel cheap. The Macro lens screws onto the Fisheye lens until you want to use just the Macro lens. They screw into the clamp very smoothly, and do not get stuck or scratched. I was very surprised at how nice quality these lens were.

This set is very easy to use. After placing the clamp over your phone’s camera, just screw in the lens you wish to use. I think this will be very good for traveling, since it is quick and easy to use. I took some pictures with each lens below for you to see.
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Below are two comparisons of the Fisheye lens. According to its Amazon description, the Fisheye lens offers a 180 degree field of view. Although it needs a little cleaning, it took very standard fisheye effect pictures. I can certainly see myself using this in the future, not only for travel but also for blog posts. The images on the left are without the lens, and the images on the right are with the lens. I like this lens, but I think it may be difficult to use as its very sensitive to light and it shows dirt very easily.
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The next lens I looked at was the Macro lens. According to Amazon, the Macro lens shows the smallest details, and enlarges the image 10X. 

This is my favorite of the three lenses. You’re limited in what you can do with it, since it’s mostly for close-ups and will appear blurry if it is too far from its subject, but it has a very high attention to detail. I was amazed at how well it picked up on the small details of my cactus (image below), especially for a clip-on lens for an iPhone. The two comparisons below show the original images (top and left) with the macro lens images. I doubt I will use this lens much in Italy, but it will be useful for other pictures.
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The final lens is the Wide Zoom lens, which I think will be the most useful for travel. According to its description from Amazon, the Super Wide 0.4X expands the viewing angle 4x, and is useful for parties, travel, and entertainment. This lens is easy to focus and has low distortion.

I like this lens a lot, and I know I will definitely be using it on my trip. Looking at the two comparisons below, the Wide Zoom lens allows my camera to capture a larger image. The original images, which are the top and left pictures, are much more narrow without the lens. This lens will definitely come in handy for my more “touristy” pictures.

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My one complaint is that it is difficult to lay the lens over your phone’s camera if you have a bulky case. However, I was fine with removing my case to use them, and this was a minor inconvenience for me.

Overall, I would definitely recommend these lens to anyone interested in buying [relatively] cheap lens for their phones. They’re great for quick pictures if you’re not interested in lugging around a real camera with all of its equipment. I especially like how easy it is to use these lens, and how little space they take up. I can easily carry them around with me wherever I go, and clamp them on when I want to take a picture of something.

If you’re interested in purchasing these lens, you can check them out here. The same company also offers a 4-in-1 lens set for a similar price, with the addition of a CPL circular filter lens to remove unwanted glares from non-metallic surfaces (like glass and water).

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(i)Phone Case Directory By Allison Pinski

8/20/2015

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Note: All images were taken from their corresponding link/case description, and are in no way ours! (i.e. we do not take credit for any of them)
I am a phone case addict, plain and simple. I absolutely love phone cases, from silicon cartoon characters to simple snap logo ones. Since cases are so important to me (since they can help compliment any #ootd), I figured I would pass on my knowledge and link some of my favorite ones below for your browsing pleasure.


As I have an iPhone (currently the iPhone 4), those are the styles I’ll be posting (most likely the iPhone 6/6 Plus version since any style in a 6/6 Plus will likely be available in older styles as well). The cases may also be available in other styles for Androids and other smartphones, but you’ll have to look around for those.


1. Baymax from Disney’s “Big Hero 6”: 
This Baymax case is very cute, especially if you loved the movie “Big Hero 6” as much as I did. It also appears to have a considerable amount of padding to protect your phone from short falls, although I would mostly use it for its appearance. It’s also a larger case, and likely wouldn’t fit easily into pockets or smaller bags. (Price: around $4.00 - $5.00, Amazon)


2.Dark Wild Forest Mushrooms: 
This case is super simple and cute, and much smaller than the Baymax one. It’s a little more expensive, but something you can use more often than a clunky character case. The print is available as a snap-on, touch case (the one I prefer), and a skin. (Price: $15.75 - $31.50 depending on which type of case you want, Redbubble shop “smalldrawing”)


3. Totoro from “My Neighbor Totoro”: 
I’m a huge fan of the Studio Ghibli movies, and “My Neighbor Totoro” is one of my favorites. After all, who wouldn’t want a giant Totoro to hang around with? This case, similar to the Baymax one, appears to offer a lot of padding to protect your phone from short falls. I wouldn’t test this theory, nor would I expect much protection from it at all, but it sure is cute (and big!). (Price: around $5.00 - $6.00, Amazon)


4. 100% Boy Tears: 
This is one of my favorite novelty cases, and I feel like I would keep this on my phone all the time (who knows when you need a sip of boy tears to keep you going throughout the day). The brand of this case is Valfré, although Amazon sells a similar one for a much cheaper price if you don’t feel like dropping almost $40 on a phone case. (Price: $38.00, Nasty Gal).


5. Moschino “This is Not a Toy” bear: 
This is one of Moschino’s more well-known cases. It’s more expensive than the other cases in this post, but what do you expect? It’s Moschino! While this case is cute, it doesn’t offer much protection for your phone (similar to Baymax and Totoro), and it’s relatively large. This case is only offered for the iPhones 5/5s and 6 through the Moschino website. There’s also a cheaper, more generic version available through Amazon. (Price: $75.00, Moschino)


6. Mysterious Tropical Garden: This is another Redbubble case that is available as a snap cover, tough case, or phone skin. I like this pattern a lot, and similar to the other featured Redbubble case, it’s something that you can use daily that is more slim than the other character cases. (Price: $15.00 - $30.00 depending on which style you want your case, Redbubble shop “smalldrawing”)


7. Marble:
For anyone looking for a sleeker case that’s still cute, but also versatile, I would definitely suggest this one. While it’s made of plastic, the marble design of this case is very mature and classy, and can be used daily if you so choose. This style is available in any iPhone model from the 3G/3GS and on, and in some other models (the iPod Touch and select Galaxy models) (Price: $35.00, Society 6)


8. Floral: 
This flower case is another slim, relatively simple design for anyone looking for a basic day-to-day case. While it does have a floral print, it’s slightly muted and has a vintage/antique feel to it. (Price: $1.00 - $4.00, Amazon)


9. Holographic wallet:
I’ve always wanted a wallet case, but it’s hard to find ones that are relatively slim and cute. Luckily, this one is both (although the quality of the materials used is questionable). I like the holographic pattern (only available for the iPhone 6), and the dotted one as well (only available for the iPhone 5/5s). This is definitely a case you could bring around everywhere with you! (Price: $12.99, H&M)


And those are only 9 of my favorite cases I’ve found; the list goes on and on. When looking for a phone case, it’s important to keep in mind how much you’re willing to pay for a case. Keep in mind the quality and design of the case, how much you like it, and how much you think you will like it in the future. For me, my limit is usually $10 for any standard case (although there are always exceptions). I also always check Amazon to see if they have the case I want for cheaper, and they usually do.


The best way to look for cases is to start with Amazon, since they have such a large selection for all different phone models (especially iPhones). Amazon cases are usually a lot cheaper too, and in my experience of having 20+ cases from Amazon, they last a while (depending on the seller, but you get what I mean).


I hope you were able to find some cases you liked from my list, and maybe it gave you some more ideas for accessorizing!



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