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New York Comic Con season is upon us, and with the gift of NYCC taking over Manhattan comes thousands flocking to the Javits center in cosplay. Some folks drive up north to see the foliage change for autumn, I prefer watching cosplayers flood the city to let me know fall has come. Cosplay is one of the many things New York Comic Con has to offer, but the main thing it brings? Panels. There are all types of panels every year in Comic Con, and I’m here to talk about one I was recently part of: HBO’s It’s Time: A Conversation on Representation in the Comic Genre and What’s Next for The Culture. HBO’s “It’s Time” panel took place in the Watchmen lounge (and I just wanna state how great that lounge was; the lighting was immaculate and the playlist went mad hard in the sensual).

Moderated by DJ BenHaMeen (of For All Nerds), the fellow panelists were Cheyenne Ewulu (of Pretty, Brown, And Nerdy), Jourdan Barnett (of Blerd Vision Podcast), and myself (y’all know who the hell I rep). We got together to talk across the board about representation not only in comics, movies, and television, but also behind the scenes as well. Naturally, there are a lot of questions that arise when diversity comes into the conversation: Is there enough? Is it a trend/ploy now? How about the process of getting our stories right? Who should be the ones to tell these stories of people of color? When touching these topics I love to have a panel of people from different portions of the nerd spectrum.

Hiiiighliiiiiiiiights

DJ BenHaMeen was making them questions rain down o’er us, and one question was what can be done about diversity offline. Cheyenne’s answer was not to sleep on how powerful the internet can be.

Had a great time talking representation in Hollywood and comics today with my fellow Blerd fam. Thank you @Watchmen for the opportunity. I’m ready to see my girl Regina King KILL IT in Watchmen! Y’all just wait. #HBOPartner #WatchmenHBO

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— Cheyenne Ewulu ✈️ NYCC (@CheyenneYoutube) October 5, 2019

On the topic of white characters being the default for heroes, Jourdan expressed the success of Miles Morales’ Spider-Man: Into The Spider-verse (Yeah, I said Miles Morales. In my eyes he owns it, not Sony) as a clear example of the success and acclaim that can occur with a hero of color as the centerpiece and not a white male, as is usually the case. I should also mention that I am forever indebted to Jourdan for catching the large cardboard cut out on the stage that I tipped over. (I told him before we got on stage that I would. He looked at me and said, “You did call it.”) Listen, I make things interesting alright. This is me.

The Q&A segment went by oh-so-smoothly, as I’m happy to report that no one got up and said, “this is more of a statement than a question.” My favorite question brought up Craig of the Creek: I had mentioned how they had a kid of color always in the background as well as front and center. The question was (not said in any malicious manner at all, ’cause they love the show, too), how do you feel about that when the two creators are white? To which I responded with an earlier point about putting your people on, especially if you know they won’t get the chance because they are a bunch of storyboard artists that are people of color. Craig of the Creek was inclusive in their hiring, which is what the game needs more of.

This was a fun panel to be part of and a great group of nerds to party with. As we went to the Watchmen afterparty, I walked in and saw a DJ set on top of Owl Man’s ship. The big owl lights on the ship were on, too. I… don’t even know what to say after that, man. There ain’t nothing left to say, really. Except ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE (especially diversity, representation, and inclusivity of all orientations across the board in all major media).

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The post ICYMI: HBO’s “It’s Time” Panel on Diversity Is the Fun I Come to Cons For appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

Are you experiencing burnout at work? You’re not alone. According to Deloitte’s 2018 Workplace Burnout Study, 77% of respondents say they have experienced employee burnout at their current job.

What’s the solution? Travel more!

You don’t have to go outside the country to experience the mental cleansing you need to reinvigorate your life. The United States offers over 400 National Parks and thousands of recreational and historic sites to help you disconnect from work and reconnect to life’s most beautiful features. Through the Find Your Park initiative, you can explore the wealth of history and nature around you. This was made possible through the National Park Foundation partnership with the National Park Service.

If you’re looking for one of the most environmentally sustainable National Parks, you should explore Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Subaru’s sponsorship of Don’t Feed The Landfills Initiative has helped the National Park Service eliminate over 6 million pounds of waste, ensuring that the parks remain healthy and vibrant.

Are you ready to inhale the beauty of the National Parks and conquer workplace burnout once and for all? Here’s how to get started on your journey to Grand Teton National Park.

Head To The Visitors Center

Before you get started on an adventure in Grand Teton National Park, stop by the visitor center to learn more about the best sites to explore. Opened in 2007, this visitor center is not like any other you’ve probably seen. You’ll notice videos coming out of the floor to mimic the iconic Snake Rivers and Bear country and walls filled with educational information that will connect you with the town in a new way.

Take a Hike at Jenny Lake 

If you’re looking for a rugged workout that will spoil you with breathtaking views, head on over to Jenny Lake. Jenny Lake is a starting point for many day and overnight hiking trips. This area grants you access to gorgeous district trails that meet all hiking levels. You’ll be able to walk trails along the lake to capture the most photogenic features of the outdoors. Be prepared for high elevation, steep trails, and possible signs of wildlife.

Go Rafting on the Snake River

Have you ever been river rafting before? A few hours on the river will definitely wipe away any stressful distractions that may be holding you back. The Grand Teton Lodge Company takes you on a 10-mile rafting tour on the Snake River. You’ll also receive a meal on the river before you dive into the water.

Test Your Dude Ranch Knowledge 

Work is less stressful when you can share fun facts with your colleagues. Check out the Bar BC Dude Ranch. You’ll learn about the entrepreneurial history of the old west and gain creative inspiration that will fuel your business ideas.

Walk Around the Art Gallery in Colter Bay

The Colter Bay Visitors Center is home to scenic views by Jackson Lake. You’ll be able to walk around an art gallery that features work from Native American tribes from different reservations across the U.S. Art is very therapeutic and has a way of relaxing the mind.

Find Meaning on Shadow Mountain 

When was the last time you had a chance to reflect on your life and think about your goals and aspirations? Shadow Mountain offers the perfect opportunity to do this. Just rent a powerful Subaru and you’re on your way to the top of the mountain to soak in all of the scenic views while you camp and take a break from everything going on around you.

Enjoy the Views and Activities at Spring Creek Ranch 

Stay at Spring Creek Ranch and you’ll have the opportunity to go horseback riding, enjoy the 24-hour hot tub, and eat at top restaurants such as The Granary and Amangani. You will also get a chance to stay at a modern-day townhouse ranch boasting spectacular views of the valley. The ranch also offers complimentary shuttle services to the center of the city.

Workplace burnout is impacting a lot of black professionals. If you’re experiencing workplace burnout, the most important action you can take is to take care of you. Grand Teton National Park is a perfect place to unplug and tap into the inspiration you need to balance your work-life commitments.

The moment pro-choice advocates have feared since the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh is coming. The Supreme Court has granted Certiorari – meaning it will hear the case – in the matter of June Medical Services v. Gee. This case challenges the constitutionality of a Louisiana law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at local hospitals, an issue which already came before the court barely two years ago. But a lot has changed since then, and advocates fear this may be the beginning of the end for the court’s support of a federal, constitutional right to abortion as set out in Roe. v. Wade.

June Medical Services v. Gee is a test for a so-called TRAP (Targets Restrictions Against Abortion Providers) law. These laws on their face allege to be about patient safety, but in practice place undue restrictions on abortion providers that can ultimately force them to shut down. They require clinics to have surgical suites of providers to have admitting privileges  and other such expensive and cumbersom requirements. Admitting privileges in particular are hard to obtain because they often require that the doctor admits a certain number of patients per year – and since abortion is low complication procedure, that doesn’t often happen. If all this sounds familiar it’s because these sort of laws are a common attack on abortion rights, and a nearly identical law was challenged and considered the Supreme court in 2016 in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt.

In Whole Women’s Health, Justice Stephen Breyer found that the Texas law in question constituted an undue burden on the right to abortion. Breyer was using a legal standard based on what is possibly the most important abortion rights case after Roe, Planned Parenthood v. Casey. That case held that “a statute which, while furthering [a] valid state interest, has the effect of placing a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman’s choice cannot be considered a permissible means of serving its legitimate ends.”

The Louisiana law at issue in June is nearly identical to the Texas law in Whole Women’s Health, so why did the Fifth Circuit court of appeals uphold the Louisiana law an ignore court precedent? Well, the Fifth Circuit held that it was somehow easier for doctors to obtain admitting privileges in Louisiana than in Texas, and that small factual difference was enough to spare the law. But the real reason is to put the issue once again before the court, nowthat the balance of power on abortion issues has shifted.

Like many controversial cases, there was a hard division in the court in Whole Women’s Health, with only five justice voting to overturn the law. One of those men was Anthony Kennedy, long seen as the last bulwark against pro-life jurisprudence and the man who Brett Kavanaugh replaced. Now that the balance of the court has shifted, anti-abortion forces are eager to begin chipping away at women’s rights. And, unles Robert or Alito surprises us, they will very likely be successful.

The most pressing question is: will the outcome of this case be a full reversal of Roe v. Wade? No; that’s very unlikely. The legal test at issue is the one outlined in Casey – what sort of restrictions can states place on the right to abortion and if they create an undue burden; not the very right to abortion itself. However, if the court goes against precedent and overturns Whole Women’s Health – as it is likely to do – it’s still very bad news for choice.

An anti-choice victory in this case will mean that states will be free to enact more and worse TRAP laws that will have the effect of shutting down abortion providers. In June, the law in question will likely lead to the closure of two out of three of Louisiana’s abortion clinics. It’s a grim future and it won’t get better, as there are more stringent laws and bigger cases on the horizon.

The most pressing is a developing case in Georgia, around the state’s “heartbeat bill,” which would ban abortions after doctors can detect a fetal heartbeat and essential stop abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Just a few days ago, a federal judge temporarily blocked the law, but this is only a temporary victory, because it puts the law in the track to the Supremes and, if the fact they are willing to even hear and consider the June case is any indication, they could be eager to reopen the Roe can of worms.

Not to be alarmist, or tell you things you already know, but this isn’t good for the right to abortion. Not only is the court now tipped against the right, most lawyers will tell you that while the outcome was correct, the legal underpinnings of Roe are shaky at best and the opinion itself is badly written. It’s rightly decided, poorly supported case and it’s extremely vulnerable.

So, is there any hope at all? Well, yes. There’s always hope, Maybe Brett Kavanugh will get impeached for lying during his confirmation. Maybe President Pelosi will do what FDR threatened to do when the Supreme court was considering undermining the new deal and simply add more justices to the bench and re-balance the court that way. In this turvy-topsy world, anything is possible. But the most important issue will remain organizing and advocating on a state level to elect local representatives who value choice and women’s health.

(image: Rena Schild/Shutterstock.com, via: Vox)