above: An Israeli flare lights up an area on the edge of Gaza City after a day of heavy clashes between Hamas fighters and Israeli forces on January 5, 2009. (Getty Images)

Source: Boston Globe

It has now been two weeks since Israel began its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. On January 3rd, the Israeli Defense Force ground troops began entering Gaza, soon cutting the territory in half. Israel’s stated goals are to end rocket attacks originating from Gaza - which had increased sharply following the end of a cease-fire agreement in December. As Israeli troops began entering Gaza, foreign reporters and photographers were denied entry to the territory by Israel, halting any reports originating from Gaza except those coming from Palestinians.

As of Wednesday, since the beginning of this campaign, there have reportedly been over 650 deaths in Gaza, and 10 Israelis killed, including 7 soldiers. Israel suspended operations for a few hours today, to allow humanitarian aid to reach the people of Gaza. Officials from France, Egypt and Turkey are working with Israel and the Palestinians to draw up a cease-fire plan, but many details still remain unresolved. 

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above: Smoke from Israeli artillery shelling covers the ground of the northern Gaza Strip on January 3, 2009. (Getty Images)

By David Smallwood (Urban Influence Magazine)

You’ve come up with a brilliant idea that’s going to make you millions and get you featured on “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” You’re going to be an entrepreneur.

But first, one of the first things you have to figure out is what kind of business are you going to set up? Are you going it alone as a sole proprietor or taking on a partner? Do you need to incorporate yourself?

One of the most important considerations in selecting the structure is deciding which will best serve you at tax time, according to the experts at www.entrepreneur.com. You need the structure that protects your business and family assets in case of any liability, in addition to giving you the best tax breaks.

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Herbert Gettridge became known as “The Wizard” among the elite craftsmen who built and maintained New Orleans’ distinctive architecture. In “The Old Man and the Storm,” FRONTLINE follows Mr. Gettridge and his family as they struggle to rebuild their homes and their lives after Hurricane Katrina. Watch on air and online beginning Tues, Jan 6, 2009.

Six months after Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans, producer June Cross came across 82-year-old Herbert Gettridge working alone on his home in the lower Ninth Ward, a neighborhood devastated when the levees broke in August 2005. Over the next two years, Cross would document the story of the extended Gettridge clan–an African-American family with deep roots in New Orleans–as they struggled to rebuild their homes and their lives. Their efforts would be deeply impacted by larger decisions about urban planning, public health, and the insurance industry, by the decisions of policymakers about federal funding for rebuilding the Gulf, and state and city plans for dispersing those monies. The moving personal story of Mr. Gettridge and his family reveals the human cost of this tragedy, the continued inadequacies of government’s response in the aftermath of Katrina, and how race, class, and politics have affected the attempts to rebuild this American city.

Extended Footage: Clip 2

by Victoria Anderson

I recently read that the secret to understanding a city and it’s people is to learn what is the Word of the Street? According to this author, every city has a single word that defines it and identifies most of the people that live there. For example, many may agree that the word for the cities below might be :

Los Angeles = Success

New York = Achieve

Vegas = Debauchery

The gist is that every city, and its people, have a word which defines it. For example, when many people think of New York they may think Achieve; or for Vegas one might think Debauchery or Sin City!!!

My word? Frankly, I struggled to come up with just one!  And though I’m still tossing it around a bit, the closest I’ve come to being able to define ‘my word’ is…solution-ize.

I am forever: thinking, reflecting, analyzing, doing–with most things my mind works in what I call a ‘4 step process’ : 1) analyze to understand 2) problem-solve to generate alternatives 3) “solution-ize” and 4) resolve or compromise. Oh, and I am so prone to over stimulating, lol.

Let me tell you, this can be kind of annoying–even to me– given that being 3 ‘thoughts’ ahead takes me out of the present.

Don’t get me wrong. There are times when this works and makes sense. However, there are plenty of times when it SO does not. And it causes me to miss or overlook the details, or focus too much on the future.

I think there is a serious need for me to think/do less, and just BE more. My goal–yes, I’m aware this may defeat the purpose of thinking less just a tiny bit–is to have a new word ‘define’ me . If defining it, means I will be more of it, then this is at least a step in the right direction. Right??  So, what is that new word, you ask?

If this is, in fact the case, then my “in progress word” is:

BE

…as in: present, in-the-now, at-hand, in-the-moment–fully and completely here and aware of the current stuff I am doing or experiencing.

With that, what is your word?!

by Victoria Anderson

Victoria is a Human Resources Professional, and currently works as a HR Manager for General Mills—Yoplait Division. Prior to joining General Mills, she spent 4 years as a HR Manager with Pepsi. Victoria received her Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) in HR Management & Labor Relations; and her Bachelors of Science in Industrial/Organization Psychology from ISU.

For kicks, she enjoys spending traveling, writing, spending time with friends, and trying just about anything new. 

You can’t escape if you try — it’s on your computer, the subway, U.S. mailboxes, IRS tax forms, and spells out countless corporate logos from Target to Fendi. No doubt, Helvetica is the king of fonts. But why? To find the answer, first-time Director Gary Hustwit meets with historians and designers whose passion for typefaces run high, and discovers the secrets behind the fonts we use and read every day. 

In this clip, observe the pervasiveness of the Helvetica typeface and hear from one typographer about his love of fonts.

HELVETICA premiered Tuesday, January 6 on Independent Lens, a weekly series airing on PBS. Hosted by Terrence Howard, the acclaimed series showcases powerful and innovative independent films. Presented by ITVS, Independent Lens is broadcast on PBS stations nationwide. Visit the Web site for more: click here

Extended footage: Film Clip 2 // Film Clip 3

The Lakers improved to 27-5 and have the rest of the NBA chasing them for the best record.

By J.A. Adande (ESPN.com)

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers have a growing list of injured players. They have concerns that their young big man hasn’t recaptured the form that made him so promising a season ago. They have lapses when they forget what it takes to be effective. They also have the best record in the NBA.

And so, almost accidentally, the Lakers (27-5) claimed the top spot by beating Portland 100-86 on Sunday night after the Celtics (29-6) lost at New York and the Cavaliers (27-6) lost at Washington. Avoiding those losses to the bad teams is one of the ways the Lakers got here. They’re 11-2 against sub-.500 teams. (The losses came at Indiana and Sacramento.) They’re also 18-1 at home. So that’s the basic part of the formula: win at home, beat the bad teams.

What makes the Lakers look championship-worthy is when they remember to play defense. They did so in the third quarter Sunday, a 12-minute stretch during which they forced five turnovers, held Portland to 16 points on 36 percent shooting and turned a one-point halftime lead into a 15-point advantage. Those types of quarters and games are there for them whenever they want. The greatest challenge during the course of this schedule-friendly month that features 11 games in the Staples Center and only one trip out of state (a back-to-back set in Houston and San Antonio next week) could be staying focused on basketball.

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In the notion of being raised in a “village”, a neighborhood “where everybody knows your name”, I wanted to acknowledge and pay tribute to the 7-11 that has been a part of me for my entire life. Located in Inglewood, at the corner of Centinela & Eucalyptus, this establishment has been the locale for many many many many stories (good and bad).

As a sidenote, upon moving to the neighborhood in the late 70’s, my parents were strongly interested in making the investment of purchasing this same store…went through the necessary steps/process and all, but opted out nonetheless.

But back to 7-11. Till this day, there a few gentlemen that frequent the store every single morning: older men, retired I assume, majority of whom were coaches up at the infamous Ladera Little League (Coach Harper if you want names). Every visit, there are words of wisdom exchanged, current events discussed, and good ole dialogue that you can’t find anywhere else, but a neighborhood store. The centerpiece is the coffee/tea station.  What normally takes all of 2mins to make a fresh cup of your favorite, tends to take roughly 10-15mins, depending on who’s in attendance.

However, the most important element is the assumed part-time employee, Mama: an elderly, retired, african-american woman, that keeps the establishment on point, gives hugs and a kiss on the cheek on-demand, and is always filled with a warm spirit and genuine smile.

Today (Jan 6th), she took her time to breakdown my stubborness and convinced me to try a cup of Green Tea (new addition to the drink station) instead of the regular cup of coffee. I was convinced not by a health tutorial, but more so the knowledge and wisdom she conveyed to me…she had me at “Boy, you need to…”.

So when time permits, if you’re ever in the area on a weekday morning, take a stop by my very own/favorite 7-11 establishment. Where I’m greeted as Trey (childhood nickname; I’m the 3rd, hence Kenneth Billups III), not Ken Billups.

Live. Love. Life.

An estimated 250,000 children are exploited every day as child soldiers around the world. There are more than 30,000 former child soldiers in the West African nation of Liberia alone, many of whom are eager to help rebuild their country. Now a unique photography program is helping some of them see hope and beauty again, and regain the respect of their communities as peacemakers.

By John Schuhmann, NBA.com

This may have been the most interesting seven days of the season so far. We didn’t have the marquee matchups that we had last week on Christmas, but we had the first 15-game night in NBA history and plenty of late-game drama.

We also had plenty of upsets, capped off by a bloody Sunday, when three of last week’s top five lost to three of last week’s bottom ten. That typified the last seven days though.

Only three teams, the Pistons, Lakers and Suns, went without a loss this week, and the Lakers played just two games. Only one team, the Clippers, went without a win. The other 26 teams had at least one of each.

In a season where the Cavs, Celtics and Lakers have clearly been head and shoulders above the rest of the league, and where seven or eight teams can only seem to beat each other, this was a change of pace for sure.

What does it mean in the long run? Probably not much. The Raptors, Wizards and Knicks still need to show us more before we’re ready to call them playoff teams. But it’s good to see some fight in those squads that have shown little until now.

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