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Rollie Forbes · 10/5/21

sourgrapes · 10/5/21

I thought this would be a good thread to have. A way to share news stories and talk about people who have done some pretty amazing things.

I am ashamed to say I am only just hearing about the work of Mashudu Tshifularo. I want to start with him for this thread.

In 2019, Dr Tshifularo and his team successfully pioneered a transplant of a patient’s middle ear to cure his deafness, making it the first in the world. The patient was a 35-year- old man who suffered hearing loss as a result of a car accident that damaged his inner ear. Using 3D technology, he was able to recreate the bones -the hammer, anvil , stirrup, and the ossicles that make up the inner ear, replacing the damaged ones.

The operation was performed by Professor Mashudu Tshifularo and his team from the University of Pretoria Faculty of Health at the Steve Biko Academic hospital in Pretoria on March 13, 2019. The surgery was successfully completed in one and a half hours and was completed through endoscopy, a less invasive method of surgery.

You can read more about him and his success here.

Troy · 10/4/21

California’s traffic jams are legendary, but this is one for the books.

A record 62 cargo ships are waiting to dock at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and are stuck floating off the coast amid a serious supply chain crunch that could mean fewer toys under the Christmas tree this year.

The problem reflects a combination of growing cargo volumes, a labor shortage and COVID-related safety measures that slow the handling of each ship. About one-third of all imports into the U.S. pass through the ports each year.

The Port of Long Beach has broken monthly records for how much cargo has passed through for 12 of the last 13 months, with 32 percent more cargo processed this year than in 2020, according to the trade publication Supply Chain Dive. Backups at the port as cargo ships wait for berths have been common all year, and have only grown as the peak fall shipping season arrived.

LA port backup grows to record 62 ships as supply chain crunch worsens

A record 62 cargo ships are waiting to dock at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and are stuck floating off the coast amid a serious supply chain crunch.

nypost.com

@Jay get your stuff together.

Jay · 10/4/21

The Thread Title says it all...Let's Go!

lexodyssey · 10/4/21

For me, it's when the guy treats it too much like an interview and grills me with questions. Questions are a great way to get to know someone, but it needs to flow smoothly in conversation. I don't want to feel like I'm on the witness stand lol

The Honorable · 10/4/21

Think about it,

Prior to 2001, who would use the term Ether to describe something as "offensive, disrespectful, hurtful, piercing, etc"? I personally do not remember a time where that word was ever used until Nas dropped Ether on Jay-Z (Pun fully intended).

That's why I conclude that Ether is such a much more impactful track as its title is now apart of our lexicon. Children born in 2001 use the term in their normal language not understanding that its usage is directly tied to the destruction of Jay-Z's ego.

While this is an old horse, it's still an important horse.

NAS IS THE GOAT.

DaBeast · 10/4/21

I know people who have gone through divorce. Some of them did go through couple therapy, while others did not. Some of them still got divorces, but some did stick together for a while longer.

Anyway, would you go through therapy first if you feel a divorce is coming?

Mastamind · 10/4/21

And this might be why

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Rollie Forbes · 10/4/21

50+ Black-Owned Food Brands to Support | Eat This Not That
Support Black Business!

Mastamind · 10/4/21

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Lute is a member of Dreamville, and is really underrated. He just dropped an album today that I've been anticipating...he's similar to Isaiah Rashad of TDE who also released a great album. I really suggest you check this guy out!

sourgrapes · 10/4/21

I always liked the concept of being friends with someone first before dating them. It establishes a bond without the entanglements of lust, romance, and infatuation. It doesn't come easy though. Most of the time, you will know if you are interested in making something more or not right away and if you hold back on that, you risk losing them to someone else.

If being friends first was an option for you, would you take that option?

sourgrapes · 10/4/21

When I was younger, I would dress up and go door to door for candy. Standard childhood experience.

As an adult, I really don't do anything. I am not into the party scene and as much as I do enjoy dressing up, I am not down to go to parties. If I happen to work on Halloween, I will wear some cat ears or something. The clinic I work at allows some minor costume wear which is fun. I would love to be able to pass out candy but I have to wait until I have a proper house for that. Hoping I can swing something next year. Even if I have to get a friend to pay "rent" and do a house share with me. It would be worth it to finally own property. That and I'd love to decorate for the holidays.

Anyway, do you do anything on or for Halloween? Do you have any plans this year?

sourgrapes · 10/4/21

Did anyone hear about this?

Someone I know mentioned it and I was looking into it more. I can't say I am surprised. What worries yet fascinates me is this mention of a "shadow economy". I always felt like there were things going on that we everyday people have no clue about. The fact that the middle class is disappearing in places like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, etc. really makes me question if this has anything to do with it.

Offshore havens and hidden riches of world leaders and billionaires exposed in unprecedented leak - ICIJ

The Pandora Papers reveal the inner workings of a shadow economy that benefits the wealthy and well-connected at the expense of everyone else.

www.icij.org

The secret documents expose offshore dealings of the King of Jordan, the presidents of Ukraine, Kenya and Ecuador, the prime minister of the Czech Republic and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The files also detail financial activities of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “unofficial minister of propaganda” and more than 130 billionaires from Russia, the United States, Turkey and other nations.

The leaked records reveal that many of the power players who could help bring an end to the offshore system instead benefit from it – stashing assets in covert companies and trusts while their governments do little to slow a global stream of illicit money that enriches criminals and impoverishes nations.

Troy · 10/3/21

Listen to this song:

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It sounds like his sister molested him when he was 16 years old.

This explains the chaos with the ass cutout.

I was only sixteen but I guess that's no excuse
My sister was thirty-two, lovely, and loose
She don't wear no underwear
She says it only gets in her hair
And it's got a funny way of stoppin' the juice
My sister never made love to anyone else but me
She's the reason for my, uh, sexuality
She showed me where it's supposed to go
A blowjob doesn't mean blow
Incest is everything it's said to be
Oh, sister
Don't put me on the street again
Oh, sister
I just want to be your friend
I was only sixteen and only half a man
My sister didn't give a goddamn
She only wanted to turn me out
She took a whip to me until I shout
"Oh, motherfuckers just a motherfucker, can't you understand?"
Oh, sister
Don't put me on the street again
Oh, sister
I just want to be your friend
I know what you want me to do
Put me on the street and make me blue
Oh, sister
Oh, sister, oh

Blackgravity · 10/3/21

Anyone else thinks he's underrated? Been listening to him for years, never gets mainstream attention.

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Rollie Forbes · 10/3/21

Biden signs last-minute deal to avert government shutdown

Biden on Thursday signed a deal to avert a government shutdown that with the president's signature would narrowly avoid a government shutdown.

abcnews.go.com