"Brooklyn Decker slams Texas abortion law in powerful new Instagram post"/ "Uma Thurman Opens Up About Her Abortion and Speaks Out Against Texas’s New Law"

 

Sept. 2, 2021 "Brooklyn Decker slams Texas abortion law in powerful new Instagram post": Today I found this article by Kaitlin Reilly on Yahoo News.  I'm not a fan of Decker, but she did bring some good points:

Brooklyn Decker has words for Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

The Grace & Frankie star took to Instagram on September 1, the day the Supreme Court failed to strike down the most restrictive anti-abortion law implemented in the state to date, to challenge the alleged values of Texas politicians.

“Governor Abbott and Texas lawmakers, ya’ll passed a law in 2015 that allows kids to bring their concealed-carry gun onto campus and you say you’re pro-life. Really? OK,” she began. 

“You won’t let schools mandate masks, all while your hospitals are filling up with COVID patients, and you say you’re pro-life? And you believe in bodily autonomy? OK.”

The Just Go With It actress, who lives in her husband Andy Roddick’s hometown of Austin, also reminded her followers of Senator Ted Cruz’s February vacation to Cancun, while many in his state were suffering due to intense winter storms that caused a power grid outage.

“People are dying, they’re starving, and they’re stuck inside, and your senator leaves for Cancun to escape the cold? And you say you’re pro-life? Really?” she continued. 

“You ban abortions after six weeks, a time when most women don’t know they’re pregnant, and you financially incentivize private individuals to rat each other out and say that you don’t like government overreach? OK, Texas.”

Decker, who has been outspoken in the past on social media about social issues like police brutality and climate change, has also previously shared support for her state. During the winter storms earlier this year, she posted about Roddick’s charity organization, The AR Foundation, which provided aid to struggling Texans, as well as shared other ways to receive support on social media.

On September 2, Decker also spoke out about the misinformation swelling during the coronavirus pandemic. In response to a comment about the spreading of “lies” and “misinformation,” she tweeted, “It’s terrifying. It’ll be our downfall.”

Brooklyn Decker shares message about Texas abortion law (yahoo.com)

Sept. 22, 2021 "Uma Thurman Opens Up About Her Abortion and Speaks Out Against Texas’s New Law":  Today I found this article by Lauren Valentin on Yahoo News:

In reaction to the near-total abortion ban that’s now in effect in Texas, Uma Thurman has opened up about her own life-changing experience terminating a pregnancy as a teenager.

In a deeply personal op-ed for the Washington Post, Thurman recounts her abortion—referring to it as her “darkest secret”—which she underwent in her late teens after being impregnated by a much older man while living abroad in Europe. She discusses originally wanting to keep the baby but after weighing the realities of single motherhood with her parents, decided it was ultimately not the best choice for her or the baby. 

“I was just starting out in my career and didn’t have the means to provide a stable home, even for myself,” she explains. “We decided as a family that I couldn’t go through with the pregnancy, and agreed that termination was the right choice. My heart was broken nonetheless.”

For the procedure, Thurman was accompanied by an older female friend in Germany who took her to a doctor’s office in Cologne. “It hurt terribly, but I didn’t complain,” she says of undergoing the procedure. “I had internalized so much shame that I felt I deserved the pain.” 

Despite the emotional and physical hurdles of her abortion, Thurman is grateful she was able to have access to a safe procedure along with support from family and friends. In retrospect, she firmly believes that it helped set the stage for who she is today.

Bringing it back to the broader issue of anti-abortion laws in Texas and across the country, Thurman believes that the Supreme Court’s refusal to block the law ending most abortions in Texas is, in essence, “staging ground for a human rights crisis for American women.”

 Not to mention it is inherently prejudiced given that it disproportionately impacts low-income Black and Latinx patients. “This law is yet another discriminatory tool against those who are economically disadvantaged, and often, indeed, against their partners,” she says. 

“Women and children of wealthy families retain all the choices in the world, and face little risk.” She also addresses the odious bounty system that “pits citizen against citizen, creating new vigilantes who will prey on these disadvantaged women, denying them the choice not to have children they are not equipped to care for, or extinguishing their hopes for the future family they might choose.”

In shedding light on what it was like to have an abortion, and what it meant to her to be able to do so, Thurman hopes to help women and girls—especially those living in Texas—to shed shame, feel empowered to have agency over their bodies, and know that they are being seen and heard during this attack on their human rights. 

“The abortion I had as a teenager was the hardest decision of my life, one that caused me anguish then and that saddens me even now, but it was the path to the life full of joy and love that I have experienced,” she writes. “Choosing not to keep that early pregnancy allowed me to grow up and become the mother I wanted and needed to be.”

For information on how to petition against the law or to support organizations and abortion-fund groups that will help patients leave Texas in order to receive care, you can find resources here, courtesy of the ACLU and Planned Parenthood.

Originally Appeared on Vogue

Uma Thurman Opens Up About Her Abortion and Speaks Out Against Texas’s New Law (yahoo.com)

May 22, 2022 My opinion: I wasn't going to post these abortion articles this week.  However, yesterday I turned on the TV and CNN was reporting on this.  I should post the remaining articles that are saved on my email and blog accounts.

May 25, 2022: I found this on Facebook:

Chris Behner

May 22, 2021  · 
Arrol and Diana like this.
My opinion: I didn't put a "my week" in these emails/ blog posts because I want all the focus on the topic of abortions. 

This week's theme is about abortions: 

"Citi to cover its workers' abortion travel costs as U.S. states limit access"/ "How U.S. companies are supporting workers on abortion"

Tracy's blog: "Citi to cover its workers' abortion travel costs as U.S. states limit access"/ "How U.S. companies are supporting workers on abortion" (badcb.blogspot.com)

"Billie Eilish slams Texas's abortion law during Austin City Limits show"/ "'Duck Dynasty' star Korie Robertson shared abortion stance in a blog"

Tracy's blog: "Billie Eilish slams Texas's abortion law during Austin City Limits show"/ "'Duck Dynasty' star Korie Robertson shared abortion stance in a blog" (badcb.blogspot.com)

"Billie Eilish slams Texas's abortion law during Austin City Limits show"/ "'Duck Dynasty' star Korie Robertson shared abortion stance in a blog"

 
Oct. 3, 2021 "Billie Eilish slams Texas's abortion law during Austin City Limits show: 'My body, my f*****g choice!'": Today I found this article by Erin Donnelly on Yahoo News:

As threats to abortion rights saw women — including celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence and Top Chef stars Padma Lakshmi and Gail Simmons — take part in nationwide rallies this weekend, Billie Eilish lodged her own protest while performing at the Austin City Limits Festival on Saturday, Oct. 2.

During her show the 19-year-old addressed Texas's restrictive new law banning abortions after a heartbeat is detected and allowing private citizens to sue providers or anyone helping a women get an abortion. Eilish admitted that she considered backing out of her Austin show over its state's stance. 

The words "Bans Off Our Bodies" flashed on the screen behind her as the pop star took a moment to address the issue between songs. 

"I'm sick and tired of old men," she said. "Shut the f*** up about our bodies."

She continued, "When they made that s*** a law, I almost didn't want to do the show, because I wanted to punish this f*****g place for allowing that to happen here. But then, I remembered that it's you guys that are the f*****g victims, and you deserve everything in the world."

As the crowd roared, she added, "We need to tell them to shut the f*** up."

She then defiantly raised her middle finger, shouting, "My body, my f*****g choice!"

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Eilish also called out climate change deniers, saying, "If you don’t think global warming exists, you’re a f*****g loser."

The Grammy winner — who has been vocal about her body image and the public's fixation on her figure — previously lashed out against the Texas law in September, days after the ban went into effect. 

“I’m so f*****g tired,” she wrote on Instagram stories. “Makes me sick how many men say nothing when it comes to women’s rights.”

Billie Eilish slams Texas's abortion law during Austin City Limits show: 'My body, my f*****g choice!' (yahoo.com)

May 12, 2022 "'Duck Dynasty' star Korie Robertson shared abortion stance in a blog. The site 'happened to go down' after it was published.": Today I found this article by Tayler Adigun on Yahoo news:

After Korie Robertson shared her stance on abortion in a Live Original blog post, the site went down for more than a day.

The Duck Dynasty mom of six uploaded the post on Tuesday to share her thoughts on abortion in light of the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade.

The essay started out with Roberton's hesitation to comment on the topic. "I've gone around and around about whether or not to post about the abortion debate going on in our country. I know how personal and emotional this issue is, and the internet can be a rough place to have hard conversations," she wrote. "I have enormous compassion for women who have chosen abortions and know that had to have been a tough decision at an extremely difficult and uncertain time in your life. I hope you know how much you are loved by a God who sees you and was with you even then."

Robertson has not been shy about publicizing her religious values and referenced her faith frequently in the post. She also acknowledged that her opinions might not perfectly align with everyone around her but felt compelled to join the conversation.

"I have friends who think differently than I do about this issue, I love and respect them and am seeing their posts and hearing their passion on the other side than I am, so I decided it's time I throw my thoughts into the arena," she noted.

Robertson said she might ruffle a few feathers on both sides of the pro-life and pro-choice argument, despite an apparent inclination towards the former.

"I realize that my writing this could be risky. I won't say it all right. People will disagree. I'll likely write something that even my friends or followers on the pro-life side disagree with, too. That's okay. It's too important of a conversation to ignore or to just stay silent so here we go ... "

She opens her statement with a vocabulary critique, likening the term "pro-choice" to deliberate propaganda, saying, "One of the things that deeply disturbs me right off the bat is the term "pro-choice." I actually think it was a brilliant marketing decision. It implies that if you aren't for abortion or "for choice," then you are against women having the right to choose what happens to their bodies. And that is such a false narrative that I can't help but speak out."

She goes on to explain that she does support a woman's right to choose — however, specifying in what instances: to prevent pregnancy, put children up for adoption and raise babies.

"I 100% support a woman's right to choose what happens to her body. I'm also incredibly thankful that there are a multitude of choices that are available to women in our day and age before and besides the choice to end the life inside her womb," detailing different birth control options available, adding that Medicaid and Planned Parenthood can help.

Robertson believes men bear responsibility too. "I'm not letting men off the hook here. A man should always consider the consequences of his action to have unprotected sex. Condoms should always be the choice for protection from pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Men should be equally responsible. Women you have the right and the power to demand a condom when having sex," she asserts.

Incest and rape are two key pillars frequently used in pro-choice arguments and Robertson chose to address this perspective as well.

"I also believe in the woman's right over her own body to choose whether or not to have sex in the first place. I understand that there are circumstances of rape and incest that sadly take away this choice," she wrote, adding that these men are taking away a woman's right to choose, not those against abortion. "The men who perpetrate those acts are the ones who don't allow a woman to choose, not those on the side of pro-life."

The former reality TV star continued to list more "choices" women can make instead of terminating their pregnancy, including adoption, calling it "beautiful and heroic" before writing that there are "literally millions of parents on waiting lists to adopt babies in our country." She also quoted an unknown and unverified source that claims "there are as many as 36 waiting families for every 1 baby placed for adoption."

Robertson's final "choice" for those with unwanted pregnancies is simply keeping and raising the baby.

Concerning arguments that those who are pro-life don't care about the well-being of the children once they are born, Robertson believes it is simply not true.

Finally, while seeming to support a woman's right to choose initially, Robertson makes her stance on abortion undeniably clear: "In the end, I don't believe the killing of babies in the womb should be legal in this country, and I don't believe this is a woman's rights issue."

In an email to subscribers with the blog's full text, Live Original shared that their website server “happened to go down…” LiveOriginal.com, which was back up and running on Thursday afternoon, was down for more than 24 hours. Yahoo Life reached out to Robertson's rep for comment but did not hear back.

Duck Dynasty's Korie Robertson shares abortion views (yahoo.com)

"Citi to cover its workers' abortion travel costs as U.S. states limit access"/ "How U.S. companies are supporting workers on abortion"

Mar. 18, 2022 "Citi to cover its workers' abortion travel costs as U.S. states limit access": Today I found this article by Jenny Surane on the Financial Post:

Citigroup Inc. is starting to cover travel costs for employees seeking abortion after several states, including Texas, implemented or proposed a near-total ban on abortions.

“In response to changes in reproductive health-care laws in certain states in the U.S., beginning in 2022 we provide travel benefits to facilitate access to adequate resources,” the bank wrote in a filing for its shareholders meeting set for April 26.

The policy will cover expenses, such as airfare and lodging, that employees in places including Texas may incur if they’re forced to travel to receive an abortion, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

In Texas, where Citigroup has more than 8,500 employees, Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation last year that banned abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can occur as early as six weeks. 

Under the law, individuals can sue doctors, clinic workers and others who help a woman end an unwanted pregnancy past the cutoff date. Texas and some other states have also sought to restrict medication-induced abortions.

Citigroup, led by Chief Executive Officer Jane Fraser, already has spent years in the Lone Star State’s crosshairs. The New York-based bank is seeking to revive its underwriting business in Texas after a law barred local governments from working with companies that discriminate against firearm entities prompted the firm to suspend its municipal-debt underwriting there for several months.

The bank follows companies including Match Group Inc. and Bumble Inc. in responding to Texas’s near-total abortion ban. 

Match CEO Shar Dubey, whose Dallas-based company owns some of the biggest dating apps, said last year she was creating a fund to help cover the costs for employees and dependents who need to seek care outside the state. 

Lyft Inc. and Uber Technologies Inc. pledged to pay legal fees for drivers sued under the Texas law. Medical insurance provided by Apple Inc. also covers travel expenses for out-of-state abortions, chief executive Tim Cook has told employees.

Davia Temin, founder of New York-based crisis consultancy Temin and Co. and a Citigroup executive in the 1980s, said other politically progressive banks may follow the financial giant’s lead.

“Good for Citi. Under Jane Fraser they really are making great strides in equity, pay and otherwise,” Temin said. “Their decision just announced puts their female employees first, over the political wrangling of the day. They listened. Employees don’t forget that, they won’t forget that and they shouldn’t forget that.”

Citigroup’s so-called proxy filing, posted after market hours on Tuesday, also provided an update on hiring and developments in compensation.

The bank ended the year with more than 223,000 workers around the world. The company enlisted 47,000 new employees in 2021, and filled an additional 27,000 roles through internal hiring, meaning nearly one-third of its staffers are new to the organization or to their jobs, Citigroup said.

In the U.S., the banking giant said it made some progress toward closing the racial pay gap in 2021. Minorities made 4 per cent less than non-minorities did in 2021, an improvement from 6 per cent a year earlier.

Still, on a global basis, median pay for women was 26 per cent less than for men, a disparity similar to a year earlier.

Citigroup remains one of the few major companies to disclose its unadjusted pay gap. Instead, many of its competitors offer an adjusted look that takes into account an employee’s role and location. On that basis, women globally are paid on average more than 99 per cent of what men are paid at Citigroup.

“Gender parity is something we demonstrate from the very top of our organization,” Citigroup said in the so-called proxy filing. “Eight of our 15 members of the board of directors are women and three are ethnic minorities. Jane Fraser is our first female CEO — and is the first woman to lead a major U.S. financial institution.”

Citi to cover its workers' abortion travel costs as U.S. states limit access | Financial Post

May 3, 2022 "How U.S. companies are supporting workers on abortion": Today I found this article by Alex Millson on the Financial Post:

The bombshell leak of a United States Supreme Court draft ruling overturning the right to abortion has put the issue to the forefront of the coming U.S. election battle, and will likely reverberate around boardrooms across the nation as well.

The decision, reported by Politico, would see the half-century-old Roe vs. Wade ruling axed, allowing individual states to decide on their own abortion restrictions. When Texas last year banned procedures after the six-week mark, some companies in the state condemned the move, arguing that it would deter top talent, and offering assistance to workers seeking abortions.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, which researches sexual and reproductive health and rights globally, 26 states are “certain or likely” to ban abortion if Roe vs. Wade is overturned, which will force many people across the country to travel lengthy distances for treatment.

That may put further pressure on companies to find ways for their employees to receive the reproductive care services they’ve been entitled to for half a century.

Here’s how some of the nation’s biggest corporates are currently helping workers:

Citigroup

The New-York-based bank, which is headed by its first female chief executive officer, Jane Fraser, and has some 8,500 employees in Texas alone, pledged to cover travel costs for employees seeking abortions. A source said the costs covered could include airfares and lodging if necessary.

Match

The Dallas-based parent company of dating apps including Tinder and OkCupid, set up a fund to support staff after Texas’s near-total abortion ban came into effect in late 2021. Chief Executive Officer Shar Dubey described the ban as “so regressive to the cause of women’s rights that I felt compelled to speak publicly about my personal views.” The fund aims to cover the costs for employees and dependents who need to seek care outside of Texas. Rival dating app Bumble has set up a similar fund.

Yelp

With more than 4,000 workers in the U.S., Yelp will next month roll out a new travel benefit which “allows our U.S. employees and their dependents to have equitable access to reproductive care, regardless of where they live.” A person familiar with the matter said the benefit, announced before the draft ruling was leaked, would be offered through the company’s insurance provider.

Lyft and Uber

Describing the Texas abortion law as an “attack on women’s access to health care,” Lyft Inc. Chief Executive Officer Logan Green said last week that the ride-hailing company is working with health providers to cover the cost of rides for women in Texas and Oklahoma — which outlawed abortion last month — who seek out of state care. Both Lyft and Uber have also pledged to pay legal fees for any of their drivers sued under anti-abortion laws for helping women seek out the procedure.

Salesforce

Chief Executive Officer Marc Benioff told employees in September that the company would help any employees living in Texas to relocate out of the state if they wished to move in response to strict abortion laws.

Levi’s

The jeans-maker said any employee who opts into their health-care plans will be eligible for reimbursement of travel costs for abortions, including part-time workers.

Apple

The company has said it will cover the cost of abortions and travel for treatment for its retail workers.

GoDaddy

The web hosting company last year gave the group Texas Right to Life 24 hours to find a new provider, after the anti-abortion rights group set up a website encouraging people to send anonymous tips about alleged violations of the state’s laws. GoDaddy said the group had breached the terms of service.

Amazon

Amazon on Monday told employees in the U.S. that it would cover up to US$4,000 in travel expenses related to medical procedures including abortion services. The policy is retroactive to Jan. 1 for employees and their dependents covered by two company-offered health plans, Reuters reported, and covers services rendered if care is not possible to be offered virtually or available within 100 miles of an employee’s home. Such a distance is typically referred to as an abortion desert; as of 2017, there were 27 cities with populations over 100,000 that qualified for such a title.

How U.S. companies are supporting workers on abortion | Financial Post

I met Chris Tucker

 

Mar. 29 Chris Tucker: On Mar. 21, 2014, I met Chris Tucker.  He was at West Edmonton Mall for his comedy show so I got an autograph and a pic with him.  I was kind of nervous because he was so famous.  He was nice and friendly.

The photo was taken with my friend’s phone and then he put it on a USB key and gave it to me.  He said he gets these USB keys with 2GB when he goes to these conferences.  They give those away for free.

Tracy's blog: reincarnation/ Chris Tucker/ Jonathan Tucker (badcb.blogspot.com)

"'Hangry'? Wrong time for a date"/ "Edmonton woman kicks off her series of 52 first dates"

Feb. 19, 2022: This is from my old physical news articles:

Sept. 17, 2015 "'Hangry'? Wrong time for a date": Today I found this article by Ko Im in the Edmonton Journal:

We’re hurrying to cross the street and he reaches for my hand as the traffic light above turns from red to green. It’s a sweet gesture, but I leave him hanging. Maybe it’s because I’m shy. Maybe it’s because it’s not really a date and we’re just hanging out.

Or maybe it’s because I’m ‘hangry.’ (Yes, that’s hungry + angry.)

They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Well, in a new study published in the journal Appetite, researchers found that women, particularly those who diet, may be more primed for romance if they’re well fed first.

For a first date, it’s standard fare to meet up for just coffee or drinks sans avocado toast.

Singles get it — it’s easier and seems more practical than investing the time and money that a whole entree requires. 

Especially if you’re meeting online. Even if daters do end up at a restaurant, if one person isn’t interested in eating, the other might shy away from pigging out in front of a stranger.

“When you’re hungry, you’re thinking about food,” communications specialist Alisha Golden says. “I might take my hangriness out on him.”

Golden, 30, has cut a date short so she can go home and “throw down,” meaning stuff her face. She doesn’t do salads and adds that sharing small plates is just not enough. That night, her love of food trumped her interest in her date.

Matt James gets the message. The 30-year-old bank associate says that even though he might not eat much for fear of “appearing as a pig,” he ended a recent first date with a kiss “because we connected over the food.”

The subjects in the Appetite study were given chocolate shakes. According to the researcher’s data, “historical dieters” such as product officer Chaya Cooper, 46, could respond even more positively to being wined and dined. 

She describes the warm and fuzzy feeling of having enjoyed a planned-out meal that turned into something more.

So daters, make sure you get yourselves a happy meal. You want those slightly nervous knots in our stomach to come from excitement, not hunger pains.

Food probably cannot make up for lack of chemistry, but the absence of it seems to serve as sabotage. Perhaps prime rib does prime us for love, if the appetite to connect is there in the first place.

PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions

Feb. 4, 2015 "Edmonton woman kicks off her series of 52 first dates": Today I found this article by Leah Holoiday on the Metro news: I couldn't find the article and it mentioned Scarlet Bjornson's blog:

scarletslife.tumblr.com

In our latest Engaging Humans video series, Scarlet Bjornson shares her positive and negative experiences behind the "52 First Dates YEG" project. 
Scarlet Bjornson - 52 First Dates YEG

(28) Engaging Humans explores 52 First Dates YEG | LinkedIn

Scarlet Bjornson - YouTube

My opinion: I watched the 8 min. interview.   I like this because she is like me:

1. I have a blog.  Mainly it was to showcase my writing talent and skills and get my TV script produced.

2. She went on all these dates.  Coincidentally in 2015, the year for me was called the Year of the Office Job and Dating (and Decluttering).

I started attending all these speed dating events.  I went on 8 speed dating events in 6 months and met 60 guys.  

She is not like me:

1. She wrote about her dating experiences.  I don't really write about it, but I will copy and paste all these dating and relationship articles on my blog.

Mar. 9, 2022: I found this in my old physical news articles.  Here's another article about doing things and writing about it on your blog:

Dec. 13, 2014 "U of A student’s mission: learn 52 skills in 52 weeks": This article is by  Patricia Kozicka in the Global news:

EDMONTON — Stephen Robinson can now check “learn how to make a plane flip” off his “to do” list. That’s just one of the new skills the 21-year-old has picked up recently. He plans to learn a new one each week until he hits 52 and document the whole process in a video blog.

“52skillz is all about going and doing awesome stuff every week of the year,” Robinson explained.

He got the idea for the project while learning to moonwalk and play the guitar for a friend’s birthday. The skill he’s most excited about tackling is surviving in the wild. He’s saving that one for summer, though.

“The really cool thing about a lot of these skills is when you go out and ask people to share with you what they’re really good at, people love that,” he said.

Another thing Robinson has had to teach himself? How to shoot and edit video, which he said takes up the majority of the time he spends on 52skillz. Luckily, time management seems to be an inherent talent of his. The fourth-year psychology student manages to fit in a full course load at the University of Alberta. His secret, he revealed, is to focus on just five main tasks each day.

“Finals season was a little interesting. I actually got Carpal tunnel in my fingers because I was doing so much writing and editing.

“Sometimes there’s sacrifices with very little sleep, all that sort of stuff…like malnutrition,” he joked.

Robinson hopes what he’s doing inspires others to go out and try new things themselves.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned from this is if there’s the right motivation behind anything, anyone can do cool stuff. There’s nothing special about myself. I just have the right motivations,” Robinson said.

“I get a lot of people telling me, ‘Oh man. What you’re doing is so interesting. I wish I had this interesting of a life.’ Well, you can. Just go do it.”

U of A student’s mission: learn 52 skills in 52 weeks - Edmonton | Globalnews.ca

My opinion: By reading the above 2 articles, this reminds me of:

2011: The Year of the Office Job Search: I attended 60 job interviews that year.

2012: The Year of New Directions: I attended 58 job interviews that year. 

I guess some of you could say: "Call your blog '52 job interviews.'"

I wasn't aiming to get a job interview a week.  I was aiming to get a office job.

Apr. 27, 2022: I'm not going to write about my dating because it's too personal and private.

However, I will write about every job interview I attend.  I won't write about the company name and put names like: dental clinic, medical clinic, fast food place.

Only in this blog post I wrote the Cole's Notes version of my dating.  I dated a lot from 2015-2019.  I didn't in 2020 because of the COVID- 19 pandemic.  In 2021, I started dating again after getting vaccinated:

"How an affair can break- or remake- a marriage"/ "Woman Thanks Restaurant Critic for Exposing Husband's Affair"/ relationships during the pandemic

Tracy's blog: "How an affair can break- or remake- a marriage"/ "Woman Thanks Restaurant Critic for Exposing Husband's Affair"/ relationships during the pandemic (badcb.blogspot.com)

May 1, 2022 Friends with different opinions: If you're friends with people and they have different opinions than you, that's ok.  You can still get along as long as you respect each other's opinions.  Here are 2 blog posts where I write about my friends opinions are different from mine:

grey issues (Part 1)/ Justin Berry/ intervention/ abortions

Tracy's blog: grey issues (Part 1)/ Justin Berry/ intervention/ abortions (badcb.blogspot.com)

"This man will pay you $10,000 to find him a girlfriend"/ "Matchmaker, make me a match"/ "Autistic teenager found more than two years after disappearing in California"

Tracy's blog: "This man will pay you $10,000 to find him a girlfriend"/ "Matchmaker, make me a match"/ "Autistic teenager found more than two years after disappearing in California" (badcb.blogspot.com)

This week's theme is about dating and relationships:

"Will Smith Reveals Details of His Open Marriage With Jada Pinkett Smith"/ "Will Arnett recalls his 'brutal' divorce from Amy Poehler: 'It was a painful couple of years'"

Tracy's blog: "Will Smith Reveals Details of His Open Marriage With Jada Pinkett Smith"/ "Will Arnett recalls his 'brutal' divorce from Amy Poehler: 'It was a painful couple of years'" (badcb.blogspot.com)

"The life of a US teen bride"/ "24-Year-Old Man Finds Love and a New Kidney Through Tinder: 'Never Would've Expected That'"

Tracy's blog: "The life of a US teen bride"/ "24-Year-Old Man Finds Love and a New Kidney Through Tinder: 'Never Would've Expected That'" (badcb.blogspot.com)

My week:

Sat. May 7, 2022 Edmonton Personality Meetup: I invited my friend Cham to come along.  I went there and met 6 people.  La Bosco Bakery and Cafe was pretty busy.  They sold sandwiches, soups, desserts like cake, coffee, and tea.  

The atmosphere had lots of wood and modern decorations.  The Meetup was average.

Personality Cafe | Meetup

Sun. May 8, 2022 Good Buddy Restaurant: My family and I were going to celebrate Mother's Day at home, but then decided to go to this restaurant at Northgate Centre.  The food and service is good.  It was also really busy.

HOME | GBR North (goodbuddyrestaurant.ca)

May 13, 2022 "Juno Awards host Simu Liu reflects on Shang-Chi, hosting SNL and his boy band past": This interview was produced by Vanessa Nigro. The article was written by Jane van Koeverden on CBC news:

The 2022 Juno Awards host is in the midst of a life-changing year. Already known to Canadian audiences as Jung on the CBC sitcom Kim's Convenience, Liu became a household name worldwide when he starred in the Marvel's Shang-Chi, which debuted last September.

The movie broke the Labour Day box-office record — a particularly impressive feat during a pandemic — and went on to gross over $400 million worldwide. 

"When I think back to my experience shooting the first one, I think I just spent so much of it, like, in a constant state of terror of myself, of the movie not doing well," said Liu in an interview with Tom Power on CBC's Q. 

"It was just a very anxiety-ridden process that was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. But the chance to kind of go back and revisit and to take on that character one more time is very exciting for me because I feel like I've settled in a little bit. 

I'm not trying to prove myself. It's not like I have the added pressure of, like, introducing myself to the world."

Boy band past

The Shang-Chi soundtrack isn't Liu's first foray into music. When he was around 12 or 13 years old, he convinced three of his friends to form a boy band called LX4 (they all had last names that started with the letter L). Liu was hoping to impress his crush at the time, who was into NSYNC.

The boys recorded a song called For You, written by a friend who played the piano, which made it onto the school's annual student-made album.

Liu admits that he was the most hardcore band member. He recalls an old email in which he passionately tries to convince the others to hire their music teacher as their manager "to take it big."

"I feel like it was, like, my pressure that I was putting onto the group that really … tore us apart in the end," said Liu.

"Everyone was like, 'This is stupid.' And I was like, 'This is the best thing ever, guys. We need to take this seriously.'" 

Juno Awards host Simu Liu reflects on Shang-Chi, hosting SNL and his boy band past | CBC Radio

May 12, 2022 "She's 19 and just finished law school. Now she wants to fix the U.S. education system": Today I found this article written by Philip Drost. Produced by Kate McGillivray on CBC news:

Haley Taylor Schlitz wants to change a system that tried to hold her back. The 19-year-old will be the youngest person to graduate from the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University (SMU), a private school in University Park, Texas.

According to research done by her family, she is also the youngest Black student to graduate from any law school in the United States. Now she wants to use that education and her own personal experiences to reform the public school system. 

"All school quality, obviously, should be equal because we want all of our students and all of our next generation to get a great education and move our country forward," Schlitz told As It Happens guest host Helen Mann.

While homeschooling, Taylor Schlitz says she was able to focus on her weaknesses to become a well-rounded student. She says the setup also allowed her to improve skills such as time management and self-accountability.

And she soared. By 13, she had completed all the requirements she needed to finish high school. By 16 she had finished her undergraduate degree in education at Texas Woman's University.

Now she's graduating from Southern Methodist University at 19. The CBC reached out to SMU for comment.

"One is from inside the system, being a teacher of colour, being that good influence, creating that environment of good learning for the students. And one is from outside the system, being somebody who changes the nuts and bolts and foundation of the educational system," she said. 

"I feel called to teaching, but I would also love to serve the community in any way that I can and really change the educational system."

She's 19 and just finished law school. Now she wants to fix the U.S. education system | CBC Radio

My opinion: I like this story because it's about a prodigy.  Also it's inspiring and positive to read.  

"This Texas woman with dementia went missing. Her dog helped save her": This is written and produced by Aloysius Wong on CBC news:

When Sherry Noppe went missing, her son Justin Noppe and his siblings were worried. Their mother had recently been diagnosed with dementia. But now she's home safe — thanks in no small part to the family dog.

Sherry Noppe went for a spa day with her husband on Tuesday. Later in the afternoon, she went for a walk with her black Labrador, Max, around George Bush Park, a 3,600-hectare park in Katy, Texas. 

"I was amazed at how strong she was," family friend Michael England, who participated in the search efforts, told KHOU. "She wasn't severely disoriented and out of it but definitely lost.… She didn't know what to do."

It took co-ordination and dedication from the rescue teams. The search helicopter found a heat signal, and alerted the volunteers on the ground. Once they arrived, they heard a dog barking.

It was Max. He had stayed with her the entire time. 

"He stayed by her side for three days with no leash and no collar," Noppe said. "Just stayed by her and protected her for the whole time."

On Twitter, Harris County Precinct 5 Constable Ted Heap credited the rescue to "group of tireless volunteers and deputies," and of course, Max. 

A special bond

Noppe says his mother and Max share a particularly close relationship.

Max belonged to Justin's brother, Andrew, who raised him since he was a puppy. When Andrew died two and a half years ago, his parents took Max in.

"[My mother] took my brother's loss very, very difficult, and really leaned on Max and just has this relationship with Max," he said.

In a press conference the day his mother was found, Justin Noppe said Max is the last thing his family has of Andrew. 

This Texas woman with dementia went missing. Her dog helped save her | CBC Radio

May 14, 2022 "Ed Sheeran Helped Tom Parker Pay For Cancer Treatment, Late Star's Autobiography Reveals": Today I found this article by Ash Percival on Yahoo news:

Ed Sheeran helped Tom Parker pay for cancer treatment prior to his death, the late Wanted singer’s autobiography has revealed.

Tom died in March the age of 33 after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in 2020.

In an extract of his forthcoming autobiography published in The Sun, Tom told of how Ed had offered to do “anything he could” to help him after his diagnosis, calling him a “very special man”.

Writing prior to his death, Tom said: “Pretty much from the moment I was diagnosed, Ed Sheeran reached out to me with an offer to do anything he could to help.

“Ed and I have known each other since he joined The Wanted on our tour bus during a promotion trip in America more than ten years ago.

“We’ve always run into each other over the years and had a great relationship.”

He continued: “I’ve never publicly said this before (and he’ll probably be mad that I’m doing it now) but Ed is a very special man — he even helped out with my medical bills when I was seeking other treatment options and having private immunotherapy.

“He didn’t need to do any of that, but my wife Kelsey and I are so grateful to him for his support. It meant the world.”

Ed Sheeran Helped Tom Parker Pay For Cancer Treatment, Late Star's Autobiography Reveals (yahoo.com)

May 14, 2022 Garage sale: I was walking to Shoppers Drug Mart and saw this sign.  After I went to the store, I went here.  There were lots of paintings of colors and on wooden butterflies.  I liked them, but not enough to buy them.  The woman said she tried to sell them at a Farmer's Market, but no one bought them.

May 15, 2022 Vegetarian and Vegans of Alberta Meetup: I went to this one tonight.  My friend Cham can't come, then I called Dan L. and he had plans, then I called Mark and Mel and they're busy, and then Jessica.  I went on my own, and my dad drove me so that's good.  It was close by.

It was a potluck and I bumped into 3 people from the Personality Meetup from last week who were there.  I also met about 6 other people.  I brought a case of Crush Cream Soda and only one guy had one.

"Get on your bike: Coldplay hopes to lead with a green tour": Today I found this article by Mark Kennedy on BNN Bloomberg.  I like to read about saving the environment:

It's often said that fans at live concerts give the band a jolt of electricity. Coldplay wants to literally harness that.

The pop superstars have added kinetic dance floors and energy-storing stationary bikes to their latest world tour, encouraging fans to help power the show as they dance or spin.

It's part of a larger push to make the tour more environmentally friendly. The band — whose songs include the appropriately titled “Higher Power” — has pledged to be as sustainable and low-carbon as possible, hoping to cut their CO2 emissions by 50%.

“You don’t want to come across as being overly earnest. This stuff is really good fun as well,” said bassist Guy Berryman. “That's the way it will bed in, if people see it less as a sort of onerous responsibility and more as a kind of opportunity to do something fun and it’s a benefit to the environment and to the whole concert experience.”

Each kinetic dance floor can hold dozens of people, with electricity created when movement is made on them. The band has pre-show contests to see which group of fans can generate the most power, fueled by “Jump Around” by House of Pain.

And each of the bikes — a minimum of 15 but can be scaled up depending on the venue size — can generate an average of 200 watts of energy, captured in batteries that run elements of the show.

Coldplay is just one music act working to reduce effects of the climate footprints of their tours, a list that includes Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, The Lumineers, Dave Matthews Band, Shawn Mendes, Maroon 5, John Mayer, Lorde, The Chicks, Jason Isbell and The 1975.

Get on your bike: Coldplay hopes to lead with a green tour - BNN Bloomberg