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Thursday, April 30, 2009

Redeux News: Black Woman Admiral is Ship Commander

Ship commanded by Black woman admiral captain rescued Maersk Alabama
Did you even know there were Black Women commanding U.S. Navy Ships?
(Thanks to afro.com via Facebook)

Last Updated Apr 2009
Ship commanded by Black woman admiral rescued Maersk Alabama captain
By James Wright
AFRO Staff Writer

Admiral Michelle Howard (Courtesy Photo)

(April 26, 2009) - While the facts surrounding the kidnapping and rescue of the Maersk Alabama Captain Richard Phillips have been widely reported, less well-known is that ship which saved him was commanded by a black woman, Rear Admiral Michelle Howard.

Howard received the assignment of leading the U.S. Navy's counter-piracy task force just three days before the Maersk Alabama was attacked by Somalia pirates.

“It’s probably one of the most exciting missions the Navy has been on in for a long while,” Howard told the Navy Times.

Howard is the first of her 1982 U.S. Naval Academy class to reach the rank of admiral. In 1999, Howard became the first African-American woman to command a U.S. Navy ship, the USS Rushmore.

She holds a masters degree in Military Science Arts and Sciences from the Army’s Command and General Staff College.

Howard said the mission of her unit, Combined Task Force 151, will remain deterring and disrupting piracy off the Horn of Africa.

“Right now, the policy is, fight piracy, and I am all about that policy,” she told the Navy Times. “We are quite capable of staying out here and doing this mission.”

Howard’s task force operates with U.S. warships deployed to the eastern Africa area as well as those sent from allied nations. Before her assignment to the strike group, Howard was the senior military assistant to the Secretary of the Navy.

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Things to Do Thursday: Triple Play!

 
The exhibit runs through May 31st.
The Hilberry Theatre has  "All My Sons" (Thursday April 30) and  
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (Saturday May 2).
You can purchase tickers here...
The Detroit Branch of the NAACP (the world's largest branch) presents the "World's Largest Sit-down Dinner" on May 3rd with the 54th Annual "Fight for Freedom Dinner"
This year's honorees include:
Rev. Al Sharpton (National Action Network), Rev. Edwin Rowe (Central Methodist Church Detroit), and Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. Tickets can be purchased here.




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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Wordless Wednesday: Detroit Mayoral Election May 4 2009


Dave Bing


Ken Cockrel, Jr.

Don't forget to vote!
(Candidates listed in Alphabetical Order...)




Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Tuesday Tidbits: The Detroit Fish Market

 

 
Restaurateur extraordinaire Frank Taylor (Seldom Blues, Detroit Breakfast House & Grill) has opened a new place in Paradise Valley (formerly known as "Harmonie Park). The website has a wonderful description of what is available:
Metro Detroiters have long enjoyed fresh fish and seafood. At the turn of the century, oyster bars dotted corners along the burgeoning downtown area. In keeping with that legacy, the Detroit Fish Market @ Paradise Valley is proud to offer the freshest fish and seafood.  Our purveyors deliver a wonderful selection of the freshest catch to our restaurant daily.  Whether it is from the shores of New England or the depths of the Atlantic, we are dedicated to serving the highest quality cuisine, matched with the perfect wine. At the Detroit Fish Market, we believe that a great lunch or dinner enjoyed with family, friends or colleagues should be fun and reasonably priced. We have created a unique ambience that celebrates the turn- of- the- century architecture of the historic building that houses our restaurant with touches of contemporary flare.  Lunchtime finds sunlight streaming in through our floor- to- ceiling windows overlooking downtown’s Paradise Valley, once known as Harmonie Park. In the evening, the glow of antique street lamps illuminate polished wood floors, 15-ft high wood ceilings and warm mahogany toned booths lining the perimeter of our restaurant with curtains that can be pulled for privacy.  Wood tabletops add to our casual, upbeat and chic atmosphere.  City and suburbs, eastside and west, metro Detroiters and Windsorites bask in the glow of a delicious, fresh and simply prepared meal.
There is a dowloadable menu and wine list; and relaxation is available in the adjacent lounge.
1435 Randolph Street in Paradise Valley - Detroit | (313) 963-3003 | M-Th 11:30a
-10p | F&S 11:30a-12m | Sun 4p-10p | Lounge M-Th 4p-12m | F&S 4p-2a ...

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Monday, April 27, 2009

Monday Milestones: FD Lofts--a Unique Detroit Neighborhood





Urban Life Development has renovated the old Detroit Fire Department Repair Shop located at 3434 Russell Street. Here is the description from the website:

The FD Lofts at Eastern Market, formerly the Detroit Fire Department Repair Shop, is a National Register Historic Building. New high quality living environments have been designed and constructed within the building’s original industrial character. Designed for young and old urbanites alike, the beauty and charm of century old brick, soaring wood-beam ceilings and ten foot tall industrial-sized windows are presented with industrial chic flair.

This is another great example of the unique housing options in the City of Detroit.


Shameless Plug: please read my husband's blog "The DSpot"...



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Friday, April 24, 2009

Free-Thinking Friday Deuxieme Partie: Mr. Song's Leaving Detroit!

 
 
Mr. Song's Millinery Shop has been a fixture on Woodward just north of  West Grand Blvd. in Detroit since 1982, but the shop became internationally famous after Detroit's own "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin wore a custom Song-designed hat for the Inauguration of President Barack Obama.
It is now being reported that Mr. Song's will soon be moving out of Detroit, to the Southfield Plaza in Southfield, Michigan. Wonderful for our northwest neighbor, but not good news for Detroit. Luke Song, son of the founders and now owner of Mr. Song's, recently stated that he needed more room for the explosive 300-400% growth in his business.
My question is: Why couldn't the Mayor of Detroit, the other candidate for Mayor, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, and/or the City Council of Detroit help Mr. Song's to stay in Detroit?
I would love to read your Comments!
Shameless Plug: please read my husband's companion blog "The DSpot"...

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Free-Thinking Friday: Two Teen Taser Deaths in Michigan

                      

Brett Elder



 Robert Mitchell

In less than a month's time, two Michigan teens, both labeled "learning disabled", were killed by taser guns by police. Brett Elder was a 15-year-old from Bay City Michigan who police said was fighting with another person and tried to fight the police when they responded to the disruption. Robert Mitchell of Detroit Michigan was killed by Warren Michigan police who said that he ran after a traffic stop.

Tasers are supposed to inflict non-lethal incapacitation for a non-life-threatening police situation. However, Amnesty International, reporting on more than 400 taser-related deaths since 2001, has found that in over 90% of the deaths, misuse of the weapons was found, including repeated taser gun firings or excessive shocks that lasted more thean the standard five seconds.

You are invited to express your thoughts about taser-gun related deaths, especially involving teenagers in the comments section.





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Old-School Friday: This Song Should Never Have Been Made!

OK, you KNOW you're Old School if you remember Tiny Tim!

What song do YOU think should never have been made? Vote in the Comments Section!











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Thursday, April 23, 2009

Things to Do Thursday: Stomp




Get excited! The Broadway Musical "Stomp" will be featured at the
Fox Theatre in Detroit from April 23 - 26 2009!


Performance times and ticket prices vary...

(Warning: turn down your speakers! Or...turn UP your speakers!)



Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Wordless Wednesday: 2009 Earth Day in Detroit




Pilot Curbside Recycling Program to begin in Detroit 
in July 2009! 
Click on the Recycling bin to find out more information!

Wordless Wednesday: My Favorite Fictional Administrative Professional

 
Tony-Award Winning  Anika Noni Rose ("Dreamgirls") stars as Jill Scott's Secretary, Grace Makutsi, in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, set in present-day Botswana.
Happy "Administrative Professionals Day"!
 
Follow the Show on Facebook and Twitter!

Precious Ramotswe
  
JLB Matekoni
 
 BK
 
This TV Show on HBO (Sundays @ 8 pm; repeats @ 10 pm) is a MUST-SEE!
If you have seen the 1st four episodes, let us know in the Comments Section your favorite show or character!




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