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shortskirtsandsarcasm · 4 years

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Feminism and Respectability in “Daddy’s Money” by Ricochet

I am decidedly not a fan of country music, but I did spend a good part of my rural childhood listening to country music radio and cassette mixtapes of country music that my mother made. An exception to my general distaste for the genre is “Daddy’s Money” (1996) by Ricochet. This song is about falling for a woman that has everything: she’s beautiful and rich, amongst other things that are not always valued in women. Not only is it catchy and fun to sing along to, but it gently subverts the misogyny long present in the greater tradition of country songs, and our contemporary patriarchal society. “Daddy’s Money” puts value on this woman’s fully-formed personality and independence, and is a contrast to other country songs like “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks, which is essentially about a “country” guy showing up and to and ruining his ex-girlfriend’s “classy” party, which is deemed acceptable and even admirable. Other country music that might be deemed “love songs” overtly reinforce patriarchal gender values, such as “Firecracker” by Josh Turner, which is essentially about a woman being desirable because she is good at sex. This exploration will assume that the subjects are heterosexual, since the singer is a man and his ideal partner in question is clearly portraying a woman. Is “Daddy’s Money” the feminist country anthem that it seems? Let’s analyze.

The main praise of the woman in question is that

She’s got her daddy’s money, her mama’s good looks/more laughs than a stack of comic books/a wild imagination, a college education/add it all up, it’s a deadly combination/She’s a good bass fisher, a dynamite kisser/country as a turnip green/she’s got her daddy’s money, her mama’s good looks/and look who’s lookin’ at me

The speaker here places value on this woman’s appearance and her money, but also on her being smart, educated, and funny. This is a departure from the common [but erroneous] notion that women aren’t funny, or that, if a woman is funny, she must also be unattractive. In addition to being funny, she’s also imaginative, which suggests she might have a creative career or an arty hobby that the speaker will value as their relationship progresses instead of writing it off as way to kill time or earn “pin money” before marriage. I would like to think that the reference to “comic books” means that the speaker is not here for any “fake geek girl” bullshit, but I think that one might be a stretch.

The speaker sees her tertiary education as a bonus along with her natural intelligence, which shows he is not looking for a woman who he thinks might be easier to control due to her lack of education, which flies in the face of that “Men Prefer Debt-Free Virgins Without Tattoos” article that went viral in 2018 for being a gross show of internalized misogyny, especially where “debt-free” was a not-so-subtle code for “without a university degree.” This man appreciates that that this woman has the intellectual capacity for critical thinking needed to obtain a degree and that she is independent enough to live on her own. It is of course entirely possible that she does not have student debt because her family’s wealth covered the cost of her tuition, but unsurprisingly this snappy bop does not specify.

Her talent at fishing is another implication that she is independent. Very literally, she can provide food for herself. Symbolically, she has taken a pursuit men have used to subtly signal that they are a “catch” (pun aggressively intended) in the dating arena and made it hers, thereby subverting the trope of men as providers. She doesn’t need a man, which makes her attraction to the speaker special. She is choosing a relationship with the speaker, and he is excited to be chosen. The flip side of her fishing skills can be taken to mean that she’s a “cool girl,” a fantasy of ideal womanhood that I find best described by Gillian Flynn in Gone Girl. This woman’s fishing prowess can be read as something “cool” and masculine which makes her “not like other girls,” which implies that women in general are weak and uncool. By having a “cool” hobby, she is special because she’s “one of the boys.” She appreciates good [read: masculine] hobbies and does not bother with frivolous [read: feminine] ones.

While these parts of the song subvert common misogynist beliefs about the desirability of women, other parts of “Daddy’s Money” are deeply entrenched in the conservative patriarchal respectability politics common in the United States. Church and God are brought up often in this tight three-minute song and signals the virtuousness, and therefore worthiness, of the woman in question. The first words of the song are “Can’t concentrate on the preacher preaching/my attention span done turned off/I’m honed in on that angel singing/up there in the choir loft,” which shows that both halves of the couple regularly attend the same church, and that the woman is very involved – enough to be in the choir. The speaker does not name church attendance or even Christianity specifically when listing the woman’s desirable attributes, but it is clear that her dedication to the Church is important. Desiring a partner to be from the same religious community is not necessarily a negative thing, but references to organized Christianity is a hallmark of the country genre. In this way, “Daddy’s Money” keeps to “traditional” values touted in country music. Further, the speaker appeals to God to help him win her, even though we know she is already into him: “Lord if you got any miracles handy/maybe you could grant me one/just let me walk down the aisle and say ‘I do’/to that angel with a choir robe on.” In short, she’s “wife material.”

The idea of “wife material” is often an impossible standard for women to determine whether or not they are worthy of the ultimate honor for a woman: heterosexual matrimony. “Wife material” means being simultaneously a strong, ambitious individual and a domestic goddess, attending to their man’s emotional and physical needs. A woman who is “wife material” will put her man first – above her own needs, fun hobbies, and of course, her career – and engage in unpaid labor over things that are not her job in the first place, like that man whose “girlfriend test” hinges on expecting his female partner to clean up a mess he made in his own apartment, entirely by himself. The speaker in “Daddy’s Money” is certainly using some of the attributes of “wife material,” but there is no evidence that he is expecting her to be his domestic or emotional caretaker. Through asking God to help him win her in marriage, he acknowledges that she could choose to be with someone else (or with no one at all), and that he would be lucky to be her husband. He is also acknowledging that he needs to work to be worthy of her – he is not operating from the mindset that he is a catch and that women should be working for his approval. He knows that she has an independent life and it is up to him to find a way to fit into her world; he is not expecting her to shrink for him.

“Wife material” also includes the assumption that the woman in question is not “promiscuous” or “slutty.” This behavior-policing seeks to keep women from owning their sexuality, and thereby control over their bodies. The woman in this song fits this aspect of “wife material” as well. There are multiple references to her being an “angel,” which signals she is not “promiscuous.” However, we also know she is “dynamite kisser” and is distracting the speaker in church, which signals that’s she’s not “frigid” or a “tease.” This woman walks the seemingly impossible tightrope of being sexually available while not being “slutty,” and is therefore worthy of becoming a wife. The speaker values her independence and wit, but ultimately, he is not seeking a partner that is too radically feminist. He enjoys her appeal as a “modern woman,” but still wants to uphold “traditional” values of respectability (and therefore heterosexual patriarchy) within this relationship.

I would love to hail this underrated and catchy country song as a radical anthem in which men discard toxic masculinity and patriarchal values to embrace a feminist utopia where women are appreciated as funny and as providers and in which the ideal [heterosexual] relationship is not predicated on gendered power hierarchies, but there is more to it. It makes no mention of violence, overt misogyny, or tractors, which makes it special and progressive in the context of country music, but it is not radically feminist at its core. It’s catchy and cute, and I still love it. As fellow subversive feminist musical legend Rebecca Bunch would say, “the situation is a lot more nuanced than that.”

#country music #ricochet #daddy's money #essay #feminism

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negahc · 4 years

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March 3rd, 2020

Our interns this semester have done great work already! We are so fortunate to have these dedicated interns, so we’d like to introduce you to them:

Carmen Villacana

“Hello! My name is Carmen Villicana. I’m from Gainesville, GA and I study history education (secondary grades) at the University of North Georgia! I plan on being a high school teacher after graduation and am super eager to learn as much history and as much about the teaching service as I can. Some of my hobbies include watching K-dramas and spending time with my dogs. Pictured is my pup Freddie and me on our way to the beach last summer.”

Ruth Moreno

“Hello! My name is Ruth Moreno, and I am a History Education major at the University of North Georgia. I am one of the Educational Programming interns. I graduated just up the road at Gainesville High School (Go Big Red!) in 2018 and will be going back to be an active volunteer at the Hub. With my degree, I plan to teach middle and high schoolers as well as advance towards earning my Master’s Degree and teaching US citizenship classes.”

We had a great group of students from Spout Springs Elementary visit us for a field trip last week. They got to meet President Abraham Lincoln in the Ivester Education Center, tour our exhibits, and participate in a hands-on corn grinding activity! It was a great example of what the History Center can offer both students and educators.

By meeting a historic figure through Living History, the students can engage with history in a fun and memorable way. They can ask historic figures the specific questions they’re interested in and then ask an expert historian even more questions for context about the figure’s life.

Touring our exhibits, we have new tactile-learning activities for children like building a miniature log cabin, conducting a railroad, and more. Our corn grinding activity really puts chores into perspective for the kids ;) and gives them a chance to consider how life was different in the past.

We love having students visit the History Center! The excitement that the students bring with them is contagious and makes our job so much fun. Help spread the word about our programs by telling the parents and teachers in your life about the History Center! More info on our programs at www.negahc.org.

Ida Cox was a native of Toccoa, Georgia born in 1896 who heavily contributed to the blues genre for women. As a teenager, she left her home near Rome, Georgia and toured with a minstrel show and performed at vaudeville venues in the South before becoming a blues singer.

Her repertoire includes songs like Graveyard Dream Blues, Weary Way Blues, Handy Man, and Wild Women Don’t Have the Blues. She wrote the majority of the songs and managed her own successful career. She would eventually be known as the “Uncrowned Queen of the Blues.” In 1939, she performed at Carnegie Hall which lifted her career even higher.

Ida had a stroke in 1945 which inhibited her from continuing to perform as rigorously. She lived in Knoxville, Tennessee with her daughter during this time and continued singing in the church choir. She passed away in 1967 and her legacy remains as modern singers like Francine Reed continue to sing Ida Cox’s music.

We had a Webcast every day last week in the Cottrell Digital Studio! Students of six different schools met Juliette Gordon Low, Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, Lewis & Clark, and Harriet Tubman. These are among our most popular characters for Webcasts, and they are always a joy to present.

Libba Beaucham, our Director of Media & Communications, portrays Juliette Low from the year 1920 when Girl Scouts was rapidly growing in popularity (and just starting to consider cookie sales!) Libba loves sharing stories of Juliette’s childhood, especially her love for animals. She retells the story of when Juliette was so concerned for the family cow on a cold winter’s night that she took the guest room blanket and snuck out to tie it around the cow. Well, the next morning the cow was perfectly fine but the blanket was trampled in the mud!

Libba Beaucham portrays Juliette Gordon Low

Martin Luther King Jr. and Frederick Douglass are portrayed by Mustapha Slack. There are parallels to the stories of King and Douglass as they were both activists fighting for freedom, both gifted orators, both faced violence, and both believers in peaceful reform. Students get to hear the personal stories from these figures' lives and are always encouraged to stand up for what they think is right.

Mustapha Slack portrays MLK Jr.

Mustapha Slack portrays Frederick Douglass

Harriet Tubman is portrayed by Chiara Richardson who has a great wealth of knowledge about Tubman’s life having portrayed her for several years now! Chiara is able to answer just about any question the students have for her and truly brings this heroic figure to life for the students.

Chiara Richardson portrays Harriet Tubman

This week From the Archives is the program from the 1909 Brenau Chautauqua. Chautauquas originated in 1874 in New York at Lake Chautauqua. This event would provide lectures and music to the town and give the people a sense of community. Chautauquas first appeared in Gainesville in 1897, inspiring HJ Pearce, the founder of Brenau College, to work on his own with assistance from the college.

The 1909 Brenau Chautauqua ran for 26 days in July and included hundreds of Hall County residents that volunteered their time for the event. The program book includes a history of Gainesville, updates on town history, and interesting trivia. Some trivia includes “The Pacolet Mills, at New Holland, is supplied with pure water from the boldest spring in this section of the state,” and “The finest churches that grace any city of its size are to be seen in Gainesville.” Our book is in perfect condition and is a great piece of history in our archives!

Lunch & Learn: Girl Scouts Founder Juliette Gordon Low Thursday, March 5th, 2020 from 12:00-12:45 PM Included in General Admission

Meet the Founder of Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low (or “Daisy”) during this Lunch & Learn! Daisy will tell the story of how she founded the Girl Scouts, stories from her childhood, her experiences around the world and more.

Family Day: Women’s Work March 8th, 2020 from 1-4 PM Free! Thanks to the Ada Mae Ivester Education Center

In conjunction with National Women’s History Month the History Center take a special look at the role of Women over the last 300 years as they work at home and in public. Hands-on activities and living history interpretation will bring the work of women and the path toward equality to life on this special Family Day. Family Days are free to the public thanks to the Ada Mae Ivester Education Center.

Forum: Lost Towns of North Georgia March 10th at 7 PM (doors open at 6:30 PM) Admission is $4 or Free for Members

When the bustle of a city slows, towns dissolve into abandoned buildings or return to woods and crumble into the North Georgia clay. The remains of numerous towns dot the landscape--pockets of life that were lost to fire or drowned by the water of civic works projects. Author Lisa M. Russell has unearthed the lost towns of Georgia in her latest book, and will be sharing their stories.

Our forum series is brought to you by the Ada Mae Ivester Education Center.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., program 7-8 p.m.

Admission is FREE for members, $4 for everyone else.

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Photograph of a group on a walk at Tallulah Falls, 1888. Source: https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_vang_rab022

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politicoscope · 4 years

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Rebecca Akufo-Addo Biography and Profile

New Post has been published on https://www.politicoscope.com/rebecca-akufo-addo-biography-and-profile/

Rebecca Akufo-Addo Biography and Profile

Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo was born on the 12th of March, 1951 to Justice Jacob Hackenburg Griffiths-Randolph, speaker of Parliament in the Third Republic of Ghana and Frances Phillipina Griffiths-Randolph (nee Mann). She attended the Achimota Primary School and continued at the Wesley Grammar School in Accra and then to the Government Secretarial School where she qualified as a Secretary. She worked at the Merchant Bank in Ghana before relocating to the United Kingdom. She qualified as a legal secretary in the United Kingdom and worked for Clifford Chance and Ashurst Morris Crisp both multinational law firms.

She is married to the President-Elect of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and they have five daughters and five grandchildren. Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo and her husband are both staunch members of the Accra Ridge Church and are committed Christians.

Her hobbies include floristry, interior decoration and reading. Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo loves children and is the patron of Infanta Malaria a charity dedicated to the prevention of Malaria in children. She has always been supportive of her husband’s career and has maintained an unshakeable belief in his ability to “Move Ghana Forward”. As the first Lady of the Republic of Ghana her interests will include early childhood malnutrition and education.

Who is Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo?

Helping Infertile Couples

First Lady of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Mrs Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo has admonished society against mocking and stigmatizing perceived infertile couples, rather, empathize with them and influence national policies on enhancing fertility care.

Mrs Akufo-Addo expressed the concern when she formally welcomed First Ladies from Africa and Asia, to the 6th edition of the Merck Africa Asia Luminary 2019 at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra today.

The conference which also marks the second (2nd) anniversary of Merck Foundation is being co-chaired by Mrs Akufo-Addo and CEO of Merck Foundation, Dr. Rasha Kalej.

In a brief speech, Mrs Akufo-Addo said this year’s conference will deliberate extensively on infertility to identify avenues of changing mind-sets towards perceived infertile couples and resourcing further research to build fertility care capacity in Africa and developing countries.

She said she was optimistic that after five years of providing the platform for brilliant, engaging scientific discussions that have raised awareness and collaboration around Diabetes, Fertility, Oncology and other health issues, the 6th edition of the Merck Luminary would end with the formulation and planned implementation of programmes that will address the challenges of infertility.

The First Lady of Ghana expressed immense gratitude to her fellow participating First Ladies from Liberia, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Chad and Nigeria for being part of the great movement against infertility in Africa, stating that “this is a movement of empathy, respect, empowerment and recognition.of which your collective involvement is imperative to its success”.

The 6th edition of the Merck Africa Asia Luminary 2019, was officially opened by H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana

Tackling Malaria in Ghana

The First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo has charged stakeholders to prioritize and ensure judicious use of available resources in the fight towards zero incidences of malaria in Ghana.

According to her, “malaria is a preventable disease and we have evidence of proven tools that can change our story. What is needed is renewed and vigorous commitment to the fight against it”

The First Lady made this known at the launch of the 2019 World Malaria Day in Somanya – Akutunya Lorry station in the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly under the theme ‘Zero malaria starts with me.”

“In July 2018, at the African Union Summit, President Akufo-Addo pledged his commitment to champion innovation, to reduce the malaria burden. Since that pledge, I am aware the Ministry of Health together with our partners, have intensified efforts in the fight against malaria. The country has scaled up existing interventions and is on track to pilot the malaria vaccine.” She said.

She stressed that “it is of great pride to me to have met the target for reduction of the mortality indicator as promised by the President.”

Despite these significant results, she disclosed that “people still die from malaria and the disease continues to be the number one cause of out-patient attendance in our health facilities” and expressed worry Ghana is listed among the 10 African countries with a high burden of malaria in the world.

Looking forward, the First Lady was confident that, “it is possible to achieve zero malaria. Globally, more countries, are moving towards zero indigenous cases. In 2017, more countries reported fewer than 10 000 cases, as compared to 2016 and 2010. The number of countries with less than 100 indigenous cases, which is a strong indicator that elimination is within reach, increased from 15 countries in 2010 to 24 countries in 2016 and 26 countries in 2017.”

“We can also do it, if we all work together and follow guidelines established by the WHO and our national strategy.” She emphasised.

Describing the theme, ‘’Zero Malaria starts with me’’ as a call to action, he said it requires all of us to take advantage of the existing interventions for control of malaria in the country.

The First Lady, in collaboration with the Infanta Malaria Prevention Foundation has for 14years fought to reduce and eradicate the incidence of malaria, especially in children and mothers in Ghana.

Rebecca Foundation

Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, the First Lady of the Republic of Ghana is the Executive Director of the Rebecca Foundation. The foundation works in partnership with governmental agencies, the private sector, development partners, civil society and non-profit organizations in the execution of its initiatives.

Since its inception in 2017, the foundation has spearheaded the construction of a new mother and baby unit at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, assisted the schools for special needs children in Akwapim, supported various children from across the country to undergo urgent medical interventions and has also resourced many orphanages in the country.

The foundation has funded the construction of a community bridge in Zenu – a low income highly populated community in the Greater Accra Region, and the renovation of a community clinic in Abamkrom in the Central Region. Additionally, The Rebecca Foundation has trained about 200 women in the Eastern and Northern regions of Ghana in bead making, batik making and entrepreneurship. The foundation is also helping to improve learning outcomes for Ghanaian children.

Merck Africa Asia Luminary Conference

First lady of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Mrs. Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo in collaboration with Merck Foundation will open the Merck Africa Asia Luminary Conference 2019 on Tuesday, 29th October, 2019 at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra. at 8.30 am.

The event, the 6th edition in its series will bring together policy makers, technical experts and stakeholders to discuss educational, social and technological developments in the management of fertility, oncology, women’s health, diabetes and cardiology.

The programme which will be co-chaired by Mrs. Akufo-Addo and CEO of Merck Foundation Dr. Rasha Kelej, will be officially opened by the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,

According to Press Aide at the Office of the First Lady, Mr. Richard Darko, the event which is in consonance with the mission of The Rebecca Foundation to identify and implement initiatives that support government efforts to improve the lives of Ghanaians, especially women and children, will afford stakeholders the conducive platform to work on strong strategies to build healthcare capacity and provide the necessary training to establish a strong platform of experts in Diabetes, Hypertension, Cancer and Fertility care and define interventions to break infertility stigma.

In attendance will be First Ladies of several African countries including Liberia, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic,Chad and Nigeria, as well Ministers of Health, Gender, Information and Education and over a 1000 healthcare providers and policy makers to lend technical and political support to the formulation and implementation of policies and decisions at the programme.

Vision The Rebecca Akufo- Addo Foundation (RAAF) seeks to deliver excellence as a team and impact positively on the lives of Ghanaians

Mission Our mission is to identify and implement initiatives that support government efforts to improve the lives of Ghanaians, especially women and children.

Rebecca Akufo-Addo and Nana Addo Family

Rebecca Akufo-Addo and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo have been married for over 20 years. Children: Gyankroma Akufo-Addo, Edwina Nana Dokua Akufo-Addo, Adriana Dukua Akufo-Addo, Yeboakua Akufo-Addo. Rebecca Akufo-Addo Parents: Jacob Hackenburg Griffiths-Randolph, Frances Philippina Griffiths-Randolph.

Rebecca Akufo-Addo Biography and Profile

#First Lady of Ghana #Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo #Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Biography and Profile #Rebecca Akufo-Addo #Rebecca Akufo-Addo Biography and Profile

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kansascityhappenings · 5 years

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Military veterans, 2 friends, bar workers killed in shooting

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THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — One was a veteran police officer who didn’t hesitate to run toward danger. Another had survived the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Others include two friends who loved off-roading, a Marine veteran who dedicated his life to service and a recent college graduate who worked with children with special needs.

They were among a dozen people killed in a shooting at a country music bar in suburban Los Angeles on Wednesday night. Authorities believe the gunman, Ian David Long, ultimately killed himself.

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RON HELUS: ‘COP’S COP’

Ventura County sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus was talking to his wife when calls started coming in about a shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill.

“Hey, I got to go handle a call. I love you. I’ll talk to you later,” he told her, according to Sheriff Geoff Dean.

It was the last time she would talk to her husband.

Helus rushed toward the shooting and immediately exchanged fire with the gunman, Dean said. Helus was hit multiple times.

Sgt. Eric Buschow, who said Helus was a friend, described him as a “cop’s cop.”

“The fact that he was the first in the door doesn’t surprise me at all,” he said. “He’s just one of those guys that wouldn’t hesitate in a situation.”

Helus took up fly fishing a few years ago and loved pursuing the hobby in the Sierra Nevada mountains with his grown son, Buschow said.

“He was just a great guy, a gentle soul,” Buschow said. “Patient. Calm no matter what. When you call 911, he’s one of the guys you want showing up.”

Helus was on the SWAT team for much of his career and worked in narcotics and investigations, he said.

“If you were a victim of a crime, you want him investigating the case,” Buschow said. “He would go to the ends of the Earth to find a suspect.”

Dean choked back tears talking about Helus and called him a hero.

“He went in there to save people and paid the ultimate price,” he said.

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CODY COFFMAN: ‘THE BIG BROTHER THAT MY KIDS NEED’

Cody Coffman, who had just turned 22, was talking with Army recruiters and preparing to fulfill his dream of serving his country, father Jason Coffman said, weeping.

Cody adored his siblings — three brothers between ages 6 and 9 — and he couldn’t wait for the birth of a sister, due on Nov. 29, his father said.

“Cody was the big brother that my kids need,” he said. “He was so excited to have his first sister and now she’ll never know …”

He trailed off, sobbing, then said, “Oh, Cody, I love you, son.”

Jason Coffman said his son was passionate about baseball, serving as an umpire for a little league, and they fished together.

“That poor boy would come with me whether he liked it or not,” he said. “That’s the kind of stuff I am truly going to miss.”

Jason Coffman said he last spoke to his son Wednesday night before Cody headed to the bar.

“The first thing I said was, ‘Please don’t drink and drive,’” he said. “The last thing I said was, ‘Son, I love you.’”

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JUSTIN MEEK: ‘FULL OF LIGHT AND HAPPINESS’

Newly graduated from California Lutheran University, Justin Meek performed as a singer and worked at the Borderline.

Meek, 23, also worked for Channel Island Social Services as a respite caregiver, supporting families with children with special needs, mostly developmental disabilities, chief executive Sharon Francis said.

“Parents just adored him. He was able to bond with their kids,” she said. “He was just an all-around guy.”

Danielle Gallo, who also works at the family-run organization, said he was dedicated to the kids he worked with.

“You could tell he really had a heart for what he did,” she said, sobbing.

Meek also toured professionally as an a cappella singer, said family friend Patrick Ellis, who called Meek a talented musician, singer and athlete and a “fantastic human being.”

“He was a hero every day of his life,” Ellis said. “It was just always positive energy. … Anything he could do for you, he was just there.”

Meek worked at the bar with his sister and fellow Cal Lutheran student, Victoria Rose Meek, who survived, Ellis said.

Meek played water polo for Cal Lutheran. He also lent his full, velvety voice to the school choir, where “every time he sang, you could just feel it in your soul,” recalled choir member Rachel Counihan, 20.

“He cared so much about his craft and just cared so much about other people,” she said. “He was just full of light and happiness.”

Scott Roberts, 20, a junior at the school and friend of Victoria Rose Meek’s, recalled Meek being “just the nicest dude.”

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ALAINA HOUSLEY: ‘AN INCREDIBLE YOUNG WOMAN’

Alaina Housley was just 18, a promising student at Pepperdine University with plans to study law, her family said.

Adam Housley, a former Fox News correspondent, and Tamera Mowry-Housley, an actress known for the 1990s TV series “Sister Sister,” said their niece was killed at the bar where she had gone line dancing with friends.

“Alaina was an incredible young woman with so much life ahead of her, and we are devastated that her life was cut short in this manner,” the couple said in a statement.

Alaina was bright, popular and well-loved, a student who had a 4.5 grade-point average since junior high school and earned college scholarships, said her grandfather, Art Housley.

She played soccer and tennis all through high school, studied piano and violin, and sang, he said.

“She’s a really good kid,” he said, fighting tears. “Everybody loves her.”

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NOEL SPARKS: ‘ALL-AROUND GOOD GIRL’

Noel Sparks, a 21-year-old college student, loved going to the Borderline Bar and Grill, so friends and family were not surprised when she posted a photo of herself dancing there Wednesday night.

Her aunt Patricia Sparks of Morristown, Tennessee, told The Associated Press that the family was “in shock.”

She described her niece as an “all-around good girl. She was the kind of girl that if you had friends, you’d want them to marry her.”

Sparks, who was majoring in art at nearby Moorpark College, often went to Borderline with friends and her mom, going there for Halloween and her 21st birthday in August.

When friend Jackie Jones heard about the shooting, she jumped into her car and headed to the bar, determined to find Sparks.

“She would do that for me,” Jones said.

The two met through church two years ago and became fast friends. Sparks worked part time at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, helping with children’s programs, the Rev. Shawn Thornton said.

“She loved kids. We had a lot of parents show up today to say, ‘She made my child feel important and that they mattered,” Thornton said.

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SEAN ADLER: ‘A VERY, VERY BIG PERSONALITY’

Sean Adler, 48, was a security guard at Borderline who would stay late to ensure people could get home safely, said Debbie Allen, a longtime friend.

The married father of two boys died doing what he was passionate about — protecting people, Allen said.

“He was a very, very big personality and had a very, very gorgeous smile,” she said, adding that he had once considered becoming a police officer.

His other passion, she said, was coffee. Adler recently opened his own coffee shop, Rivalry Roasters, in Simi Valley, said Phil Englander, another longtime friend.

“He was just the most passionate person about coffee you would ever want to meet,” Englander said.

Adler joked about being a “coffee dealer” and spoke energetically, using his hands.

“He always had that energetic personality,” he said. “He’s just such a warm and friendly and passionate person about everything in his life.”

Englander said he stopped by the coffee shop Wednesday to visit Adler.

“We talked about family, and we reminisced about an old friend of ours we haven’t seen in years,” he said.

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TELEMACHUS ORFANOS: VEGAS SURVIVOR KILLED

Telemachus Orfanos, 27, lived through the mass shooting in Las Vegas last year only to die inside Borderline, less than 10 minutes from his home, according to his mother.

“Here are my words: I want gun control,” Susan Schmidt-Orfanos said, her voice shaking with grief and rage. “I don’t want prayers. I don’t want thoughts.”

She said she wants Congress to “pass gun control so no one else has a child that doesn’t come home.”

Orfanos was a U.S. Navy veteran and Eagle Scout with a thick beard, an easy smile and a gladiator helmet tattoo. His friends called him “Tel.”

One of them, Aliza Thomas, said she knew Orfanos since high school and called him one of the nicest men she’s ever known.

“He was the most likely person to throw himself in front of that gun,” Thomas said. “He would have thrown himself on top of someone else, 100 percent.”

She said it’s especially tragic that Orfanos survived Vegas only to die in another mass shooting.

“He survived Vegas, where a lot more people died than this. It’s just unreal,” Thomas said. “It’s not fair.”

___

DANIEL MANRIQUE: ‘A SAINT’

Daniel Manrique, 33, dedicated his life to service — as a hospital volunteer, U.S. Marine and manager of an organization that helps veterans adjust after leaving the military.

He was a radio operator with the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and he deployed to Afghanistan in 2007 with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Orange County Register reported.

After the military, Manrique began volunteering with Team Red White and Blue, an organization that works to help veterans avoid isolation by connecting them to their community. He was named a regional program manager last month.

“The best way I can describe him is as a saint. He truly believed in service,” friend and business partner Tim O’Brien told the newspaper. “Dan was the guy you could rely on if you ran out of gas in the middle of the night. He would help you out if something bad happened. He was there, dedicated, loyal.”

The two high school friends were preparing to open a veteran-oriented brewery called “O’brique” — a combination of their last names.

Manrique also volunteered at a hospital helping the homeless and at a local church.

“Dan’s life was dedicated to serving others, during his military career and beyond,” Team Red White and Blue executive director John Pinter said on the organization’s website. “We offer our deepest condolences to the Manrique family.”

___

BLAKE DINGMAN: ‘HIS LAUGHTER AND SMILE WERE SO SPECIAL’

Blake Dingman was passionate about working on cars and motorcycles, challenging himself to make repairs on anything mechanical even if he wasn’t exactly sure how to do it, mother Lorrie Dingman said. The 21-year-old always had a smile on his face and grease under his fingernails, she said.

Blake was working in the electrical field and was excited about getting a new job, his mother said.

His large group of friends went off-roading in the desert and mountains, with Blake and his friend Jake Dunham, who also was killed at the Borderline, “always in the center of the fun.”

“Blake had a zest and joy for living life to the fullest,” Lorrie Dingman said in an email. “No gathering was complete without Blake. His laughter and smile were so special and whenever you talked to him, he was genuinely interested in you.”

She said he was confident, talented, caring and had a huge heart.

On Instagram, brother Aidan Dingman wrote that “my amazing brother was taken down by the shooter” and that his life has been forever changed.

“Words cannot describe the pain I am feeling,” he wrote, adding: “Blake I love you so much and I miss you more than you can imagine.”

___

JAKE DUNHAM: GUTSY OFF-ROADER

Jake Dunham, 21, was known for driving his truck hard. He was a regular at rides in the desert and at group bonfires made from igniting vehicles and old dirt bikes, according to a friend.

“He always tried to convince people to (let him) drive their car. Everyone knew it was a bad idea, but sometimes they’d do it,” Michael Moses told the Los Angeles Times, laughing.

Dunham was at the bar with his friend and fellow off-roader, Dingman, who also was killed.

Aliza Thomas told The Associated Press that Dunham and Dingman were her friends and grew up in a tight-knit group of young men with her younger brother Emmet.

“They were the nicest, most respectful, selfless men I’ve ever met,” she said.

Thomas, a single mom, cried as she recalled how Dingham and Dunham would go out of their way to make her son feel like one of the boys, “make him feel special.”

Dunham’s sister, Alexis Dunham, asked on her Facebook page for privacy to let the family grieve, saying “these last days have completely shattered us.”

___

KRISTINA MORISETTE: ENERGETIC AND THOUGHTFUL

Kristina Morisette worked at the front desk of Borderline and had just bought her first car — a 2017 Jeep Renegade — with the money she had saved, her father said.

Michael Morisette told the Los Angeles Times that his energetic and talkative 20-year-old daughter had just returned from a trip to Austin, Texas, and he hugged her, relieved she was back home safe in Simi Valley.

Kristina gave her mother a coin purse she bought for her on the trip before heading to work Wednesday.

“We’d rather just curl up in a ball and turn off the lights, but there are other people out there that are hurting, too,” Michael Morisette told the newspaper as he held his wife’s hand. “We could either retreat and draw our curtains, or we could talk about the beauty of the things that were.”

He said Kristina, the youngest of three children, was a thoughtful friend who always helped others. She enjoyed hiking and drawing and was considering applying for an animal training program in Austin.

“We didn’t want her life to end, but we don’t want her memories now to end, either,” mother Martha Morisette told the newspaper. “We’ll probably always have a hard time dealing with it.”

___

MARKY MEZA JR.: ‘LOVING AND WONDERFUL YOUNG MAN’

Marky Meza Jr., who was less than two weeks from his 21st birthday, was working as a busboy and food runner at the bar when he was killed.

“Marky was a loving and wonderful young man who was full of life and ambition,” the Meza family said in a statement provided to Santa Barbara TV station KEYT. “His family is devastated by his loss.”

Meza grew up in the Santa Barbara area and had worked in the service industry since he was a teen.

He was one of the few teenagers who got hired at Sandpiper Lodge in Santa Barbara, manager Shawn Boteju said. Meza worked full time at the Sandpiper in housekeeping and would come to work on a hoverboard.

“He was extremely nice,” Boteju told The Associated Press. “He obviously worked well with the rest of the staff.”

from FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports https://fox4kc.com/2018/11/10/military-veterans-2-friends-bar-workers-killed-in-shooting/

from Kansas City Happenings https://kansascityhappenings.wordpress.com/2018/11/10/military-veterans-2-friends-bar-workers-killed-in-shooting/

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travelingdisciple-blog · 7 years

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Introduction

“The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, do not lose sight of these- keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.” ESV Proverbs 3:19-23

Wisdom is one of the greatest gifts God can bless us with. It is essential to our very way of thinking and is a tool used by the Holy Spirit to shape and mold us into beautiful instruments of God. With wisdom comes understanding and knowledge. What an eye opening experience to know the presence of Christ living within you!

Hello, my name is Jolie and I am thrilled to share my journey of spiritual growth and enlightenment with you. I think it would be appropriate to start off with my testimony and share a bit about myself. Before I met my fiance, I had barely traveled except for family visits out of state, with a few exceptions. My faith had always been there, but it wasn’t until I was baptized in high school when my dedication to the Lord took a serious turn. Despite being told over and over again, it took a certain occurrence in my life for me to fully understand that I couldn’t completely dedicate my life to Christ unless I threw away my sinful lifestyle. At the time of my baptism, my parents were going through a divorce involving adultery. My sister and I had each other, but that didn’t change the bitter air which lingered over our house like a fog. Being teenagers we looked at life as the immature often do, but God used our parent’s struggle as a way of teaching me something. Out of this difficult time I learned how imperfect people are. The parents my sister and I idolised for so many years were suddenly not so flawless. In all honesty, our lives were beginning to feel more draining then enjoyable. One day it hit me: every person who came into my life would disappoint me and let me down- it was inevitable, but the one person who would never let me down was the reason why we went to church every Sunday. I decided it was time to pull up my big girl pants and testify my faith in front of my friends and family. I wanted to get baptized! Since then I’ve grown in Christ in ways I never knew existed. My temptations slowly diminished and my need to please the Lord grew stronger with each passing day. After graduating from community college with a Digital Media degree, my plans were to move to Texas with my dad to pursue an animation degree at a well known art school. I had already been taking classes online at home and even had all of my stuff moved out of the house, but when my boyfriend at the time, Paul, and I began talking about marriage, I had second thoughts. Was God calling me to do something different? I soon realised indeed he was! Since 2012 I had been working for my mother who was the director of a child care center. When I realised my plans for moving away were not what God wanted for me, I turned my head to my teaching job, which was working with 1-3 year olds. Once I began focusing on that, a thought crossed my mind, one which I never thought I would ever consider. This may sound crazy coming from a teacher, but when it came time for me to have my own kids, I didn’t want them in a child care or public school setting. When you work with children and meet so many different families, you begin to see patterns. Patterns which expose the flaws of family life and parenting in the USA and how warped it has become. The most unsettling is seeing these patterns more often then not. While I don’t disagree with child care completely, nor every other parental style that would be different from mine, I knew child care was not the right thing for me to do with my children. In other words, God was telling me that my future career was not to be an artist like I had dreamed of since I was in middle school, but that I needed to prepare to be a stay at home mom. For me, this was a huge shock. Never had I entertained the idea. My dream life had not involved teaching children or homeschooling my own. Once this idea was introduced into my mind I tried ignoring it, but most of us know how persistent God can be. Finally I mentioned the idea to Paul and we began seriously talking about this seed that God had planted in my heart. As for now, Paul and I will be married in September of 2017. Together we have traveled to Alaska, Colorado, and Arizona, as well as South Africa, Paris, London, Japan, and Singapore. My very first big trip outside of the United States was to Europe and Cape Town, South Africa, which was a very new and enlightening experience. That trip sparked a passion for traveling within me, because I realised just how much I didn’t know. Paul and I have found that when we travel internationally, we see things that are done much differently outside of the USA, therefore sparking thoughts new to us before stepping outside of our own country. Paul and I have taken up a traveling hobby together, if you would call it that. We have made a point to travel as much as we can before starting a family for the sake of our kids, who will one day hear about our adventures and what we have learned from them. Then, when they are old enough, we hope to take them with us on our adventures. While this is our plan, we may find later in our lives that God has yet another curve ball to throw at us, so we are keeping our ears open in case he comes calling. In the mean time, when we aren’t traveling, we are exploring our home town and the surrounding areas, because everywhere you look is an opportunity to learn. You don’t need to travel far to learn! The beauty of all this is that I don’t need to keep what I’ve learned to myself. God instilled a passion for writing in me and I’ve always had a knack for expressing myself through writing rather then speaking spontaneously. Essentially, I’ll be sharing my traveling experiences, as well as lessons I’ve learned. Any wisdom God has blessed me with on my journeys or even here at home will be shared, along with traveling tips for each country or state I’ve visited. I hope you all stick with me, because I have a lot to say and much more to learn! If any of you have questions don’t be afraid to ask, I’d be happy to answer them for you! I’ll be sharing pictures too, so don’t miss out!

#christianity #travel #god #discipleship

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politicoscope · 4 years

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Rebecca Akufo-Addo Biography and Profile

New Post has been published on https://www.politicoscope.com/rebecca-akufo-addo-biography-and-profile/

Rebecca Akufo-Addo Biography and Profile

Who is Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo?

Helping Infertile Couples

Mrs Akufo-Addo expressed the concern when she formally welcomed First Ladies from Africa and Asia, to the 6th edition of the Merck Africa Asia Luminary 2019 at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra today.

The conference which also marks the second (2nd) anniversary of Merck Foundation is being co-chaired by Mrs Akufo-Addo and CEO of Merck Foundation, Dr. Rasha Kalej.

The 6th edition of the Merck Africa Asia Luminary 2019, was officially opened by H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana

Tackling Malaria in Ghana

The First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo has charged stakeholders to prioritize and ensure judicious use of available resources in the fight towards zero incidences of malaria in Ghana.

According to her, “malaria is a preventable disease and we have evidence of proven tools that can change our story. What is needed is renewed and vigorous commitment to the fight against it”

She stressed that “it is of great pride to me to have met the target for reduction of the mortality indicator as promised by the President.”

“We can also do it, if we all work together and follow guidelines established by the WHO and our national strategy.” She emphasised.

Describing the theme, ‘’Zero Malaria starts with me’’ as a call to action, he said it requires all of us to take advantage of the existing interventions for control of malaria in the country.

The First Lady, in collaboration with the Infanta Malaria Prevention Foundation has for 14years fought to reduce and eradicate the incidence of malaria, especially in children and mothers in Ghana.

Rebecca Foundation

Merck Africa Asia Luminary Conference

Vision The Rebecca Akufo- Addo Foundation (RAAF) seeks to deliver excellence as a team and impact positively on the lives of Ghanaians

Mission Our mission is to identify and implement initiatives that support government efforts to improve the lives of Ghanaians, especially women and children.

Rebecca Akufo-Addo and Nana Addo Family

Rebecca Akufo-Addo Biography and Profile

#First Lady of Ghana #Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo #Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Biography and Profile #Rebecca Akufo-Addo #Rebecca Akufo-Addo Biography and Profile

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politicoscope · 4 years

Text

Rebecca Akufo-Addo Biography and Profile

New Post has been published on https://www.politicoscope.com/rebecca-akufo-addo-biography-and-profile/

Rebecca Akufo-Addo Biography and Profile

Who is Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo?

Helping Infertile Couples

Mrs Akufo-Addo expressed the concern when she formally welcomed First Ladies from Africa and Asia, to the 6th edition of the Merck Africa Asia Luminary 2019 at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra today.

The conference which also marks the second (2nd) anniversary of Merck Foundation is being co-chaired by Mrs Akufo-Addo and CEO of Merck Foundation, Dr. Rasha Kalej.

The 6th edition of the Merck Africa Asia Luminary 2019, was officially opened by H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana

Tackling Malaria in Ghana

The First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo has charged stakeholders to prioritize and ensure judicious use of available resources in the fight towards zero incidences of malaria in Ghana.

According to her, “malaria is a preventable disease and we have evidence of proven tools that can change our story. What is needed is renewed and vigorous commitment to the fight against it”

She stressed that “it is of great pride to me to have met the target for reduction of the mortality indicator as promised by the President.”

“We can also do it, if we all work together and follow guidelines established by the WHO and our national strategy.” She emphasised.

Describing the theme, ‘’Zero Malaria starts with me’’ as a call to action, he said it requires all of us to take advantage of the existing interventions for control of malaria in the country.

The First Lady, in collaboration with the Infanta Malaria Prevention Foundation has for 14years fought to reduce and eradicate the incidence of malaria, especially in children and mothers in Ghana.

Rebecca Foundation

Merck Africa Asia Luminary Conference

Vision The Rebecca Akufo- Addo Foundation (RAAF) seeks to deliver excellence as a team and impact positively on the lives of Ghanaians

Mission Our mission is to identify and implement initiatives that support government efforts to improve the lives of Ghanaians, especially women and children.

Rebecca Akufo-Addo and Nana Addo Family

Rebecca Akufo-Addo Biography and Profile

#First Lady of Ghana #Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo #Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Biography and Profile #Rebecca Akufo-Addo #Rebecca Akufo-Addo Biography and Profile

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kansascityhappenings · 5 years

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These are the 12 victims of the Thousand Oaks bar shooting

Watch Video

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — One was a veteran police officer who didn’t hesitate to run toward danger. Another had survived the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Others were an “extremely nice” busboy, two friends who loved off-roading and a Marine veteran who dedicated his life to service.

They were among a dozen people killed in a shooting at a country music bar in suburban Los Angeles on Wednesday night. Authorities believe the gunman, Ian David Long, ultimately killed himself.

RON HELUS: ‘COP’S COP’

Ventura County sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus was talking to his wife when calls started coming in about a shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill.

“Hey, I got to go handle a call. I love you. I’ll talk to you later,” he told her, according to Sheriff Geoff Dean.

Sgt. Ron Helus had been set to retire in the next year from the Ventura County, California Sheriff’s Office when, responding late Wednesday to a call of a shooting, he entered the Borderline Bar & Grill.