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Journalist Katie Couric slammed Nancy Mace’s “bigoted” behavior towards Sarah McBride, calling House Republicans’ anti-trans bathroom bill “nasty and mean and cruel.”

Recently, McBride became the first transgender woman elected to the House. Following her election, Mace quickly introduced a measure stipulating that employees can only use the bathroom corresponding to their biological sex at the Capitol. Given that the bill literally only affects one person in Congress, Mace has openly confirmed that the measure is “absolutely” a direct response to McBride’s election. For her part, McBride has refused to engage House Republicans in the ridiculous bathroom debate and has urged them to focus on real problems in America instead. However, Mace’s bathroom bill has turned into an all-out obsession with the Capitol bathrooms, and she has grown increasingly unhinged in her discriminatory attacks on McBride.

Getty Images By Robyn Mowatt ·Updated November 21, 2024

Fear Of God has launched a multiyear partnership with the NBA and WNBA. Today, a collection was revealed to showcase the brand’s level of commitment to the two critical leagues. This news marks an exciting era for the Jerry Lorenzo-led house based in Los Angeles.

According to Fear of God the new partnership “creates a new space in the industry andsrc="https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/wnba-fear-of-god.jpeg" alt="Fear Of God Announces Multiyear Partnership With NBA And WNBA" width="400" height="500" />Fear of God

Lorenzo shared the following on what led to the partnership in a WWD report: “The game of basketball has always served as a well of inspiration for Fear of God.” He added: “Sport shapes and informs the emotion, point of view and the very fabric of what we do and who we are as a brand. Our nuanced understanding of this space and its parallels to fashion are embedded in our DNA. It is truly an honor to embark on a multiyear partnership with the league, collaborating with franchises across both the NBA and WNBA. Having a son and twin daughters who all play youth travel and AAU basketball, this one truly hits home.”

Plans for the multiyear partnership included thoughtfully designed products that resonate with fans. To Lorenzo, the designs will “transcend time.”

WWD reports that Fear of God’s first NBA and WNBA collection will focus on the following teams: the Boston Celtics, the Chicago Bulls, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Miami Heat, the New York Knicks, the Chicago Sky, the Los Angeles Sparks, and the New York Liberty. 

An array of hooded sweaters, sweatpants, and T-shirts speaking to Fear of Gods’s streetwear inclinations is what the first launch is comprised of. The laidback pieces arrive in hues such as heather grey and black. Enlarged logos are emblazoned on each of the items from the line.

The collection is currently available to purchase on Wednesday on Fear of God’s website. Another release is slated for November 27 on the NBA’s website and on Fanatics’s webstore. Fear of God’s brick-and-mortar locations will also stock the collection in a few weeks. Pricing starts at $70.

The post Fear Of God Announces Multiyear Partnership With NBA And WNBA appeared first on Essence.

For better or worse, it’s an AI world, and we’re all just living in it. Yes, even if that world is the world of Pokémon GO. Via the folks at IGN, we’ve learned that Pokémon GO developer Niantic is currently creating an AI designed to auto-complete real-world locations. This is done with a limited amount of information, using data collected by Pokémon GO players. It seems this is but a new form of ChatGPT. But instead of text, it’s actually applied to the physical world. What this AI does is train on what real-world places look like, using that data to produce information on what real places it has not seen yet may actually look like. Here’s what Niantic had to say about their latest technology:

Imagine yourself standing behind a church. Let us assume the closest local model has seen only the front entrance of that church, and thus, it will not be able to tell you where you are. The model has never seen the back of that building. But on a global scale, we have seen a lot of churches, thousands of them, all captured by their respective local models at other places worldwide. No church is the same, but many share common characteristics. An LGM [Large Geospatial Model] is a way to access that distributed knowledge.

This is all able to exist because users are constantly scanning their surroundings while using Niantic’s apps, chief among them Pokémon Go. According to Niantic, they currently have 10 million scanned locations all over the globe. Not to mention, one million usable with its VPS service. They get around one million new scans every single week, containing hundreds of discrete images. Right now, this is all used for the wholesome fun of Pokémon Go. We’ll see what tomorrow brings with this kind of new technology in use for something less fun.

The post POKEMON GO Uses Player Photos to Teach AI Model appeared first on Nerdist.

There’s a new community spot in Atlanta’s popular Ponce City Market aiming to unite people with a specially curated menu of coffee, light bites, and Black-owned spirit brands.

Founded by restaurateur Kelsey Maynor, who co-owns Atlanta Breakfast Club and Le Petite Marche, and marketer and actor Shakirah DeMesier, The Upper Room is a lounge and event space offering a diverse menu of coffees, teas, matcha, smoothies, fresh-pressed juices, and a curated selection of Black-owned wines and beers.

On the food side, guests can enjoy snacks like white truffle–Parmesan popcorn, charcuterie, and dishes such as jerk plantain patties, curry chicken salad, and Caesar salad.

“We wanted to create a brand that gives our friends’ brands exposure,” Maynor told Atlanta Magazine. “The drinks and food are the culmination of flavor profiles we enjoy.”

The new coffee shop and bar, open Wednesday to Sunday, was made with the community in mind. The founders envisioned “a vibrant haven where people could come together to work, unwind, and host unforgettable events, creating a true community bar space,” Maynor said.

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Along with coffee, tea, spirits, and light bites, The Upper Room offers a range of hands-on classes, providing patrons an opportunity to connect with friends and meet new people.

The cocktail menu highlights Black-owned spirits, featuring drinks like the Dyl (Bayab gin, spiced pear liqueur, lemon juice, butterfly pea, and St. Germaine) and the Fall of Eden (Uncle Nearest whiskey, Mercier apple butter, cherry liqueur, and bitters).

Every Friday, cocktail classes showcase a different Black-owned liquor brand, such as Reyalibre tequila and Uncle Nearest whiskey. Attendees learn about the brand’s history, the techniques of shaking versus stirring, and how to create signature cocktails using these spirits.

During fall, patrons can enjoy coffee-cupping classes that teach the different distinctions of coffee. The Upper Room also collaborates with Linwood Court Candles at Citizen Supply for candle-making classes where folks can enjoy a drink special of two cocktails for $25.

With its floral and greenery design, the 16-seat bar with cozy couches hopes to become the home away from home for locals.

“It feels like your favorite nook at home or the space you go in your grandma’s living room. It feels like comfort,” DeMesier said. “You can sit and stay awhile. It’s a friendly and open place.”

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