Autism Diversity

Thursday, April 28, 2016, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

Autism has touched many of us, including some in our group. The perceived autism epidemic was blamed on vaccines; we now know otherwise. There is wide diversity among autistics. High functioning autistics have succeeded because of their condition. As for the rest, new research and technology offer hope.

For this meeting we will view these TED Talks about autism:

• Steve Silberman traces the history of autism, how it was always there but hidden
• Temple Grandin is a successful autistic who say we need the diversity that autistic provide
• Wendy Chung summarizes our current understanding of autism and hope for the future

The Fight for Zika Funding

Thursday, April 21, 2016, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

Obama is trying to get Congress to appropriate emergency funding to fight the Zika virus expected to be a crisis this summer. This should have been a no-brainer but Congress is refusing to go along. As summer approaches, the situation is becoming urgent and Obama's press secretary Josh Ernest is stepping up the pressure on Congress.

The story is finally getting in mainstream media, as shown HERE, but it does not capture the full nature of this needless battle. I collected clips, primarily from the White House press briefings, which shows how the story developed, HERE.

---------------------- Update 4/21/16 -------------------

Here are the other videos shown at the meeting:

• Pregnant woman worried about Zika after Puerto Rico trip
• Climate change could increase the spread of Zika virus
• Zika Virus Outbreak and the 2016 Brazil Olympic Games
• Zika Virus Forces Female Athletes to Consider Sitting Out Olympics
• Zika virus in Brazil and Rio Olympics dangers precautions fears
• Political turmoil (Brazil)
• New Rule – Bloodsucker Proxy

The Maryland Primary

Thursday, April 14, 2016, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

It seems that the Maryland primary will actual play a pivotal role in the presidential race for both parties. HERE is the latest poll. There is certainly much to discuss about the presidential race, but there are also other important races on the ballot. The race for Barbara Mikulski's Senate seat, is focused on Donna Edwards and Chris Van Hollen; HERE is the latest poll. The other races can be found HERE.

I do not have any video's planned for this meeting, so please come prepared If you have any issues about the primaries that you want to discuss, please comment on this blog so we can do some research before the meeting.

Update on Gun Control

Thursday, April 7, 2016, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

There has been some interesting developments on the issue of Gun Control, not about another major shooting.

• For the first time there was a TED Talk about gun control, HERE. TED represents what some very influential people are thinking about and typically avoids controversial topics.We may be near a breakthrough in gun control legislation.
• There is also local interest in the Maryland ban on assault weapons working through the courts, combined with the Republican Senate refusing to act on Scalia's replacement on the Supreme Court. HERE is a video montage which summarizes the situation.
• Finally, there is still some nutty stuff going on in the presidential race like THIS petition to allow open carry at the Republican convention. Or THIS Ben Carson suggestion on how to prevent school shootings.

Micro Credit

Thursday, March 31, 2016, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

We need to change the single narrative of how the world poor depend on wealthy nations. In general, people in poverty are ashamed of taking charity and want to be able to be self-sufficient. But they need access to capital. A way has been developed to allow people in one country to make small loans directly to people in a different country, bypassing governments. We will view four TED Talks about this micro credit phenomenon:

• Jessica Jackley was motivated by her Christian faith to create the micro credit website, Kiva
• Julie Hannah was a refugee from Egypt who later became Kiva's chairman
• Sangu Delle is an African who insists that micro-loans are not enough for success
• Gayle Lemmon uses the woman's perspective to explain why micro-loans succeed

And another thing. One of our members has a very special relation to one of the speakers above, more at the meeting.

African Origins

Thursday, March 24, 2016, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

In past meetings, we have talked about the need to broaden our understanding beyond the single narrative. In that spirit, we will have a guest speaker, Sherman's friend, Kenneth M. Jennings, Jr., on the topic of the true origins of ancient Egypt, its suppression by main stream historians, and what it means for Black Americans.

An excerpt from Ken's handout:

Understand that when I speak of the Kemites I am speaking of the Black people of the Nile Valley of Africa who built the world’s first major civilization and nation state long before Moses and long before even Abraham.  Greece and Rome did not exist.  Sumer in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers area (now called Iraq) was a city state.  There was no concept of a “Europe” among the primitive white inhabitants of that area on the western edge of the Asian land mass.

Here is a little about Ken, related to the topic:

He has made nine trips to Ghana, West Africa and one to the Nile Valley in Egypt on a study tour.  He is a member of The Association For The Study Of Classical African Civilizations (ASCAC).  Ken gives presentations to Alpha Achievers in the schools and others to ensure that the young men, school staff and the community have a clear sense of African history and culture.  He has written essays to express an Afrocentric perspective, often using the name Kofi Akuffo Ojise’.  Kofi is the Akan peoples of Ghana name given to boys born on Friday, Akuffo means Ordained by God and Ojise’ means “messenger” in the Yoruba language of Nigeria.

HERE is a link to the video that will be shown.

-------------------------- Updated 3/24/16 -----------------------------

Other videos:

• Richard Pryor - Egypt
• Dr. Asa Hilliard, Part 1

Political Funnies

Thursday, March 17, 2016, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

Sorry for the late post. I wanted to talk about something positive in politics, like the CARA drug bill that recently passed the Senate, but the presidential race has gone crazy and demands our attention, so we will talk about that instead. But the election is so depressing; so we will use comedy videos to guide the discussion. Here is a starter:

• CNN Election Center
• Voters for Trump Ad
• Carson Endorsement
• Hillary Campaign Ad

There should be more by Thursday.

------------------------------------ Updated 3/17/16 -------------------------------------

Here are the other videos shown in full at the meeting:

• GOP Brokered Convention- A Closer Look
• Cruz 101 - Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
• The Daily Show - Donald Trump's Political Fight Club

Here are the other video clipped for the Ben Carson piece:

• Super Tuesday Part Three Proved They Need To Retire The Franchise

Here are the videos clipped for the Jeb Bush piece:

• George W. Bush Cold Open - SNL
• Jeb Bush's Campaign Trouble- A Closer Look
• Donald Trump attacks George W. Bush on 9-11, Iraq
• George W. Bush Offers Tough Trump Takedown In Campaign Debut
• John Oliver - South Carolina Republican Primary
• Hungry For Power Games- Jeb Has Fallen