Deport the Statue

Do you think we should Deport the Statue of Liberty? Click here for YES or here for NO. Legals for the Preservation of American Culture (LPAC) says #takelibertyback and #deportthestatue NOW!

The Story of Gershwin, Harlem and the Blues

Israeli pianist Astrith Baltsan performs Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, explaining the inspiration of the music in the young Gershwin's fascination with Harlem blues.

Friday Nite Videos -- August 23, 2013

Portside
A New Generation of Civil Rights Fighters. The Story of Gershwin, Harlem and the Blues. Deport the Statue of Liberty. Cracking the Codes: A Trip to the Grocery Store. When Comedy Went to School. Richie Havens at Woodstock (in memoriam).

Richie Havens at Woodstock

Richie Havens was the opening performer at Woodstock in 1969, and this was his first song. Havens died in April this year, and his ashes were scattered at Woodstock this week in a ceremony attended by over 1,000 people.

When Comedy Went to School

The documentary When Comedy Went to School tells the story of the Borscht Belt as an escape for Jewish immigrants and a laboratory of American comedy. Opens on July 31 in select theaters. 

The Media and Chelsea Manning's New Gender: Two Takes

What is the best way to use pronouns in reporting on a transgender person, according to GLAAD and AP? Which media outlets did a good job with pronouns reporting on Bradley/Chelsea Manning? Wikipedia handled the revision of their entry swiftly and with little controversy. But in other media, the picture was decidedly more mixed.

Educators on Obama Ed Plan: Disappointed, Not Surprised

Colleen Flaherty Inside Higher Ed
Many faculty advocates say Obama’s plan for higher education consists of a patchwork of conservative and liberal policies that fall far short of pleasing everyone -- or, depending on one’s opinion, anyone. More importantly, they said, the plan focuses on certain measurable student outcomes -- such as graduation rates -- but would do little to ensure actual student learning.