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https://nerdist.com/article/japanese-public-restrooms-privacy-glass/

To tackle misconceptions over the cleanliness and safety of public restrooms in Japan, a non-profit has built a handful of futuristic commode installations. One of the installation types is a particularly intriguing restroom that utilizes privacy glass: A feature that probably makes for some inspiring, and nerve-wracking, “excuse me” excursions.

The non-profit responsible for commissioning the brilliant public restrooms is The Nippon Foundation. In a press release, which comes via CEO Magazine, the Foundation discusses why it decided to build these toilet-containing works of art, an effort it refers to as The Tokyo Toilet project.

“[T]he use of public toilets in Japan is limited because of stereotypes that they are dark, dirty, smelly, and scary,” the Foundation’s release notes. In response, the Foundation has decided to renovate 17 public toilets located in Shibuya, Tokyo. The Foundation says the restrooms are being designed by 16 “leading creators,” and “will use advanced design to make them accessible for everyone regardless of gender, age, or disability, to demonstrate the possibilities of an inclusive society.”

Satoshi Nagare/The Nippon Foundation

In regards to the privacy glass-equipped restrooms shown here, they are the work of Shigeru Ban. Ban is a Japanese architect, known for his work with paper, especially cardboard tubes. (Somewhat incidentally, his firm’s work is beyond stunning.)

The privacy glass presumably works like any other privacy glass. Meaning the glass contains liquid crystal molecules that line up in such a way that when an electric current flows through them, they allow light through. But when the current is turned off, the liquid crystals return to their scattered positions rendering the glass opaque. For Ban’s installation, the current turns off when the bathroom door is locked.

Ultimately, Ban’s bathrooms aim to be consistently clean inside, and thief-free. Apparently there is concern amongst citizens they may be attacked if they use public restrooms, and the transparent glass allows them to see inside and make sure the space is empty.

Some of the restrooms, built in cooperation with the Shibuya City government, are now open for use. And they even have caretakers for sanitation. Which raises the question: How long until we establish some futuristic public restroom options here in the U.S.?

Satoshi Nagare/The Nippon Foundation

What do you think about The Tokyo Toilet project? Would you use one of these privacy glass public-equipped restrooms? Be transparent with your thoughts in the comments!

Feature image: Satoshi Nagare/The Nippon Foundation 

The post Tokyo’s Futuristic Public Restrooms Feature Privacy Glass appeared first on Nerdist.

https://madamenoire.com/1183379/cardi-b-joe-biden-elle-interview/

She’s done it before and now she’s doing it again.

Last year Cardi hosted multiple discussions with Sen. Bernie Sanders, who she supported in the beginning of the 2020 presidential race, but now the rapper is interviewing the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in the latest issue of Elle magazine.

While the “WAP“ rapper is the cover star, she’s using her platform to discuss critical topics of importance with the long time politician, including the fight for racial justice, COVID-19 and medicare to name a few.

The two sat down for a 16-minute conversation ahead of the Democratic National Convention which kicks off on Monday evening, where Biden is expected to accept the Democratic nomination.

“First and first, let me keep it a buck. I just want Trump out, you know what I’m saying? I just feel like his mouth gets us in trouble so much,” Cardi began after Biden asked what she foresees in the next president. “I don’t want to be lied to. I don’t want – like you know we’re dealing with a pandemic right now right? And I just want answers. I want to know when this is over, I want to go back to my job. I want to be able to go outside. I want to be able to feel like I’m not trapped in my home. But I don’t want somebody to lie to me and tell me that it’s OK to go outside, it’s OK to not wear a mask, that everything is going to be OK. No, I want a timeline,” she continued.

Cardi also said she wants medicare and free college education. “And I want Black people to stop getting and no justice for it, I’m tired of it,” she said.

The two had a lot in common and discussed how important it is for families to have support in raising their children. Biden talked about how his sister supported him when his wife and daughter were killed in a tragic car crash in 1976.

As a new mom, Cardi talked about her motivation and drive which is fueled by trying to provide the best life for her two-year-old daughter Kulture.

“Once you become a mom you change completely, your mindset changes completely. but its like how are you supposed to do that when you don’t have a babysitter for your kid? And fortunately for me I’m able to have my mom take care of my child, but a lot of people it’s like their mom cannot retire and take care of their kid, their mom has to work too,” said Cardi.

“One of things that I admire about you is that you keep talking about what I call equity. Just decency, fairness, treating people with respect,” Biden said. John Lewis used to say, ‘The vote is the most powerful nonviolent tool you have.’ Use the power to change for the change you want by voting.”

“Black people, we’re not asking for sympathy. We’re not asking for charity – we are just asking for equality. We are asking for fairness, and we are asking for justice,” Cardi said. “That is all. I feel like everything people are asking for is getting interpreted in a very different way. No, it’s simple: We just want justice. We want to feel like Americans.”

“You’re the smartest, the best educated, the least prejudiced, and the most engaged generation in history. And you’re going to change things,” he said.

Watch the whole conversation in the video below.

https://nerdist.com/article/lovecraft-country-sci-fi-horror-fantasy-book-references/

It’s no secret that the main characters in Lovecraft Country are book-loving geeks. Atticus dreams about slaying aliens. Leti is a former member of South Side Futurist Science Fiction Club. Uncle George loves Dracula and all things horror. Hippolyta peers into a telescope to see if she can spot Cassiopeia. And George’s daughter Dee is a bonafide comic creator with her own adventures.

Their invaluable knowledge comes in handy when Atticus and Uncle George deduce a way to defeat some seriously scary monsters in the woods. If we had to choose fictional characters for great book recommendations, they are at the top of the list.

Here’s an ongoing list of all the real-life sci-fi, horror, and fantasy title references in Lovecraft Country:

From episode one, “Sundown”

A Princess of Mars (1912)

Frank E. Schoonover/A.C. McClurg

Atticus is reading science fantasy novel A Princess of Mars on his ride home to Chicago. He explains the plot to a fellow traveler who isn’t a fan of the main character. The Edgar Rice Burroughs story follows John Carter, a Confederate veteran who strikes gold, runs from Apaches, and ends up in a cave that transports him to Mars.

The Outsider and Others (1939)

Arkham House

It’s no surprise that this book shows up considering the Lovecraft Country novel and show are inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s work. The Outsider and Others is a collection of strange fictional fantasy stories. The publisher, Arkham House, inspires the name of Ardham, where Atticus goes to find his father. Uncle George says horror is usually his thing but Atticus is ready to get back into those stories.

The Count of Monte Cristo (1955)

Collins Press

Atticus grabs yet another book while perusing his father’s apartment. Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo was originally published in English in the 1840s, but his father’s edition appears to be one from 1955. The iconic French tale details a man’s journey after he is falsely imprisoned on a grim French island.

Dracula (1897)

Barnes & Noble 

Children of the night… what music they make! It didn’t take long for Uncle George to realize that the monsters surrounding the cabin are similar to vampires. Light is bad for them and a bite or attack by one is bad for you. There are many versions of this iconic vampire story but there’s nothing quite like the original horror novel by Bram Stoker.

More to come…

Featured Image: Elizabeth Morris/HBO

The post LOVECRAFT COUNTRY’S Sci-fi, Horror, and Fantasy Book References appeared first on Nerdist.

http://www.afronerd.com/2020/08/hey-its-new-grindhouse-show-airing.html

 

And so it begins....AGAIN!  Check out the latest episode of Afronerd Radio's Grindhouse-airing every Sunday at 6pm eastern.  Join your friendly neighborhood broadcasters, Dburt and Claire Lanay as they bring their own unique brand of pop culture analyses while discussing the following topics:  with grand expectations for S3 of Netflix' popular Umbrella Academy, actor Justin H. Min's subdued portrayal of the Ben Hargreeves character appears to have paid off for the long haul for the next installment;  uh oh...here we go-the highly anticipated Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action reboot appears to have hit a snag with the exit of the original creators, Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko from the Netflix project; leave it to Marge Simpson to get into the political fray in defense of Sen. Kamala Harris:

   

                Marge Simpson has something to say. pic.twitter.com/viux96bAPf

               — TheSimpsons (@TheSimpsons) August 14, 2020

And speaking of Sen. Harris, never let it be said that racism wanes, especially not during this very polarized zeitgeist! The mayor of Luray, Va recently apologized for likening the VP hopeful to "Aunt Jemima,"; the Washington Post even had an article giving historical context to the mayor's racist language and the small town he presides over;  just when I thought that actor/comedian, Jamie Foxx was no longer attached to the Spawn reboot project (I stand corrected), it seems that he is still sticking to a "capes" theme via the new Netflix release, Project Power, co-starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt:

Did we forget to mention the return of the G4 TV gaming network?;  more on Disney's animated Owl House and its controversial (re: appropriateness for a children's series) and groundbreaking inclusion of a bisexual lead character;  there's an "entanglement" joke somewhere.....reports are surfacing that Will Smith's production company, Westbrook, Inc had 10 staffers testing positive for COVID-19; and now President Trump is causing national agita regarding the efficacy of USPS and mail-in ballot voting (it just never stops);  so Dburt's dad while perusing a 1958 Ebony Magazine article, recognized a longtime customer who was a famed NASA engineer (unbeknownst to the Oracle); as predicted by our own Uncanny Daryll B., DC Comics publisher, Jim Lee formally addresses the shrinking of his monthly comics line;  wow....we may have to get director, Justin Simien (Dear White People) back on the show to talk up his new satirical horror comedy film, Bad Hair scheduled for Halloween season release on Hulu:

And lastly, with the way social media already "grades" or monitors human behavior (sort of), how long will it take before the U.S. adopts a social credit system similar to China?  Call in LIVE at 508-645-0100. 

"I am no hero. Merely a man who has seen and done and endured what can never be forgotten or forgiven"-Max Eisenhardt (Magneto)  

 

AFTER CLICKING ON THE HIGHLIGHTED LINK, GO DIRECTLY TO AFRONERD RADIO!!!


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