de bene esse: June 2015

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Jesse Eugene Russell ~ Father of the Cellphone

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

If you are reading this on your cellphone, you have Jesse Eugene Russell to thank!

Jesse Eugene Russell, aka the Father of the Cellphone, is a Black inventor trained in electrical engineering. A graduate of Tennessee State University, Russell was the first graduate of an HBCU to be hired by AT&T Bell Labs. He went on to receive his MS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford and became an expert in digital signal processing.

During his time at AT&T he suggested taking the car phone more on the go and putting one in every hand. This technology took over four years to perfect. But finally in 1988, Russell released the first digital cellular system to the world. Currently, Russell holds over 75 patents in digital cellular technologies, including but not limited to: the mobile data telephone, the base station for mobile radio telecommunications systems, & the broadband cable telephony network architecture IP ITN network architecture reference model, etc.

In 2000, Russell left Bell Labs to become the CEO of inc NETWORKS, which is one of the leaders in Micro LTE product platforms for 4G devices.

THE MACHINE STOPS

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

the world E M Forster predicted in 'The machine stops' in 1909 -http://archive.ncsa.illinois.edu/prajlich/forster.html

THE MACHINE STOPS ... E.M. Forster

Anybody who uses the Internet should read E.M. Forster's The Machine Stops. It is a chilling, short story masterpiece about the role of technology in our lives. Written in 1909, it's as relevant today as the day it was published. Forster has several prescient notions including instant messages (emai…

ARCHIVE.NCSA.ILLINOIS.EDU

Barack Obama

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Barack Obama and his grandfather, c. 1965

Vintage

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Free Women, modern and successful in casablanca in the 1950s!

Monday, June 29, 2015

The Re-identification of a Portrait

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Is this a portrait of Mary or Katherine of Aragon?

Katherine of Aragon or Mary Tudor? - The Re-identification of Michel Sittow's Portrait of a...

Thank you so much to Nasim Tadghighi for bringing this re-identification of Michel Sittow’s portrait to my attention and for writing this article which explains how it came about. Both Nasim and I would love to hear your thoughts on this too. Over to Nasim…

THEANNEBOLEYNFILES.COM

Amy Winehouse Documentary

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

In "Amy," director Asif Kapadia sought to deconstruct the train-wreck narrative and junkie caricature (messy beehive hairdo, bruises and scars, smudged mascara) that dominated Amy Winehouse's later years.

Amy Winehouse Documentary Lets Nobody Off the Hook

Those who decided to make a film about the soul singer’s legacy may not have gotten exactly what they expected, especially her family.

NYTIMES.COM|BY JOE COSCARELLI

Ingrid Bergman

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Ingrid Bergman is one of the latest movie stars to receive her own U.S. stamp. http://1.usa.gov/1GvdxT3

Chaplin

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

The Gold Rush premiered in LA 90 years ago on 26 June 1925!

Katharine Hepburn

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

The world lost the lovely and talented Katharine Hepburn on this day in 2003. She was voted the American Film Institute's greatest female screen legend, and she was a very close friend of the Bogart family. (

American Film Institute)

COUPLE WEDS AFTER 72 YEARS WITH NEW GAY MARRIAGE LAW

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Nonie and Vivian met over 72 years ago when they were at college, but social pressure and fear of judgement kept their love for one another behind closed doors. So they did what so many gay couples in their era did - pretended to be room mates, sharing a home for financial convenience. Link ...

Mummy in northwest Indiana

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Mummy found in northwest Indiana could be 2,000 years old

LOWELL, Ind. -- Crews working on the site of a proposed quarry in northwest Indiana uncovered a mummified body. The Lake County Sheriff says the mummy...

WGNTV.COM

The Sound of Music

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

47 years now... smile emoticon

45 years later... The Von Trapp family cast.

Paul Newman stamp

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

The U.S. Postal Service will remember actor & philanthropist Paul Newman with a Forever Stamp. Collectors, starting September 18.

Dusty Old Thing

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Can You Guess What This Is? Hint - It Was Perfect For A Hot Day. - Dusty Old Thing

Now THIS is a case of, "they don't make 'em like they used to!"

DUSTYOLDTHING.COM

World's Most Spoken Languages

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

See The World’s Most Spoken Languages In One Eye-Opening Infographic

Around the world there are a total of 7,102 known languages, of this gargantuan amount twenty-three remain popular enough to be considered…

THEMINDUNLEASHED.ORG|BY TMU

Walter Rodney Riot

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Students of the University of the West Indies break through a police cordon along Mona Road, St Andrew, in 1968. The police, armed with tear gas canisters and riot batons, are in hot pursuit. On October 16, 1968, protests erupted in Kingston as a result of the banning of Walter Rodney by the then government of Jamaica.

Margaret Beaufort

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Today in 1509, Margaret Beaufort - the mother of Henry VII's and Henry VIII's grandmother - died at age 66, after having eaten a cygnet (young swan) which made her quite ill.

When Margaret is discussed, descriptions like "evil" and "mother-in-law from hell" are mentioned. It is popular to assert that she was responsible for the death of both princes in the Tower because, "she'd stop at nothing to put her son on the throne" or like drama. Her portrayal in Philippa Gregory's fiction has not helped her image.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

The Journeys of 15,790 Slave Ships

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

This Haunting Animation Maps the Journeys of 15,790 Slave Ships in Two Minutes

Usually, when we say “American slavery” or the “American slave trade,” we mean the American colonies or, later, the United States. But as we discussed in...

SLATE.COM

traditional medicine encyclopedia

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Amazon tribe creates 500-page traditional medicine encyclopedia

In one of the great tragedies of our age, indigenous traditions, stories, cultures and knowledge are winking out across the world. Whole languages and mythologies...

NEWS.MONGABAY.COM

black ancestry documents released

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Millions of black ancestry documents released

Most African-Americans were not included in national censuses until 1870. Today, finding family history before 1870 is nearly impossible.

JACKSONSUN.COM

Obama’s brother sells handwritten letter

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

“I’m running for Senate to deal with serious issues blacks face here”: Obama’s brother sells handwritten letter from 1995. This is a must read.

"I'm running for Senate to deal with serious issues blacks face here": Obama's brother sells...

THEGRIO.COM

Africa's Oldest Trees

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

For the past 15 years, Beth Moon has journeyed around the world taking pictures of really old trees.

Stunning Photos of Africa's Oldest Trees, Framed by Starlight

SMITHSONIANMAG.COM|BY MELISSA WILEY

Henry VIII ~ born this day

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Henry VIII was born to Elizabeth of York and Henry VII on this day in 1491.

On his older brother Arthur’s birth, Elizabeth had gone to Winchester, legendary home of the Arthurian Round Table. No special measures were made for ‘the spare.’

Henry was born at Greenwich, near London, later the birthplace of his daughters Mary I and Elizabeth I. He had a lavish christening of course, but the royal historian wrote just fifty words on his birth. It was expected that he would not be the one to continue the new Tudor dynasty.

He grew from a comparatively mildly celebrated second son to one of the most gargantuan British monarchs in the national consciousness – for being the fattest and the most famous.

For Kateryn Parr, he was an irresistible force: a tyrant who could not be refused, a killer who held the lives of everyone in the country in his hands.

http://www.philippagregory.com/boo…/the-taming-of-the-queen/

Image: Henry VIII in 1542, the year that Katherine Howard was beheaded and the year before his marriage to Kateryn Parr. From the studio of Hans Holbein. Currently in the Castle Howard collection.

Einstein on race

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Einstein, when he arrived in America, was shocked at the treatment of Black Americans. “There is separation of colored people from white people in the United States," he said. "That separation is not a disease of colored people. It is a disease of white people. And, I do not intend to be quiet about it.” And, he wasn't.

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Byron Lee

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

The Hon. Byron Lee Sr., O.J., C.D. .

Born in Manchester, Jamaica, a boy with an extraordinary passion for music. A pioneer in the birth of Jamaica's music industry as a major player in the 60's exporting Jamaica's sound internationally. Co-writer of "JamaicaSka" - he was the first to bring mega global artistes to Jamaica to record and perform. Also in the 60's, he produced, partnered, distributed and toured with phenomenal local artistes, promoting them globally - exposing the Jamaican sound internationally.

Dynamic Sounds Recording Co, Dynamic Studios, Sheila Music Publishing, Lee Enterprises Ltd., Jamaica Carnival and Byron Lee & The Dragonaires.

His accomplishments were truly impressive in an era before social media and multi media access. Artistry and genius business acumen laid the foundation for great artists today. Musician, writer, producer, promoter, manufacturer, distributor, licensee, licensor, retailer, promoter and performer.

The Byron Lee bio - soon to be published.