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I have so many memories of sitting on the couch with my father watching My Fair Lady and dancing on his toes to all the songs. I have had Audrey Hepburn calenders for almost a decade and I like to collect postcards and art books of her throughout the eras. All this to say that I love Audrey Hepburn … but I despise the movie Breakfast at Tiffany‘s. It is such a frustrating movie that when I finally picked up the novella it was based on by Truman Capote, I was wondering if the story would be any better.

It’s a lot better. At least for me. I know its a classic and beloved, but for me the romance makes me want to eye roll because Holly needs a good emotional support system and maybe some therapy, not a husband.

Beyond just content, there was also a lot of homosexuality that was cut out and romance added. As explained in this excellent piece in the Paris Review by Rebecca Renner, while not explicitly stated the narrator, Paul, is a gay man like Capote was and his delight and enchantment towards Holly is purely platonic. Holly herself also comes off as someone who … shall we say protests too much about not being a lesbian in the book. I don’t say that in judgment, but more as someone who has made those same protestations. The piece asks if there was a possibility that Holly was a bisexual woman referencing the following lines from the book (I am editing the slurs out):

“Of course I like d***s themselves. They don’t scare me a bit. But stories about d***s bore the bejesus out of me. I can’t put myself in their shoes.”

“Of course people couldn’t help but think I must be a bit of a d**e myself. And of course I am. Everyone is: a bit. So what? That never discouraged a man yet, in fact it seems to goad them on.”

When talking about remarrying, Holly says, “I’d settle for [Greta] Garbo any day. Why not? A person ought to be able to marry men or women or—” and then she moves on with the conversation, the comment dropped lightly.

Renner’s piece is excellent with the full breakdown of historical, film and academic context. I don’t want to spoil it all for you here so please go check it out! Also, if you have never read the novella, I suggest giving it a read, especially if you didn’t like the movie. Plus, in the novella, Mr. Yunioshi doesn’t have that terrible racist affectation because he isn’t being played by a white guy in yellowface.

Ugh, that movie.

Shout out to my favorite Hepburn film Roman Holiday:

Roman Holiday

We might be getting a Lois Lane comic book series, which is in many ways fitting for the longtime Superman love interest and reporter and I hope she will have some fun work meetups with all the other female reporters across the DC Universe. (via Bleeding Cool)
Bumblebee is so good it is literally alternating all the bad mythos of the prior Transformers movies. (via CBR)
Cheo Hodari Coker has signed a deal Amazon, which means Netflix’s loss is Amazon’s gain as he will now be developing and produce new TV projects for the streaming service. (via THR)
Kal Penn shared how both he and Maggie Q had to deal with racist bullshit on the set of Designated Survivor. (via IndieWire)
After trolling people so heavily and getting so much attention Sasha Baron Cohen admits there is no way to do a season two now. (via SlashFilm)

Hope you are enjoying your Saturday and staying comfortable Bobby Hill style.

(Credit: Fox)

(via Paris Review, image: Paramount Pictures)

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—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—

December 23, 2018

Olympic Champion Allyson Felix Welcomes A Baby Girl And Opens Up About Her Daughter Being Born Premature

https://www.essence.com/celebrity/allyson-felix-welcomes-baby-girl-premature-birth/

Olympic champion Allyson Felix is a new mom. The decorated gold medalist recently welcomed daughter Camryn in late November via emergency C-section at just 32 weeks. Though still hospitalized in NICU, both mom and baby are said to be “doing fine,” according to a statement from US Track And Field. The birth of baby Camryn […]

The post Olympic Champion Allyson Felix Welcomes A Baby Girl And Opens Up About Her Daughter Being Born Premature appeared first on Essence.

December 23, 2018

A Reminder Why Afronerd.Com Exists: Highlighting Tech Wunderkind, Mr. Iddris Sandu

http://www.afronerd.com/2018/12/a-reminder-why-afronerd-exists.html

Offset is a typical man, thought that Cardi would appreciate this “grand gesture”(trash) on a night that was supposed to be about HER, her accomplishments and her music. She was the first female to headline rolling loud but all anybody will remember is his corny ass ?
— fran drescher (@franniiedee) December 16, 2018

I think it's safe to assume that the author of the above tweet is not really the famed comedic actress Fran Drescher but I am sure that the tweet below is from CNN commentator, Symone Sanders:

The festival facilitated the hijacking of Cardi B’s set by a man whose only concern is himself. Do not show up at my job trying to work out our personal biz. This is selfish, the mngmt was unprofessional & I hope there is legal action Cardi can take. Also delete this tweet. https://t.co/H26GXVgtzY
— Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) December 16, 2018

What do both tweets have in common, you ask? The adherence to an almost Trumpian level of cognitive dissonance. Avid listeners to Afronerd Radio are keenly aware that we not only highlight "Blerd" popular culture but also actively promote the branding of the Black intellect. African brainwork. Black calculation. Here's a good one-Black American cogitation. If we ever expect to erect a real life Wakanda (Akon's efforts, notwithstanding), the exaltation of the absurd must cease. I have seen countless tweets, and even think pieces, devoted to varied phenomena that align aspiration with patent dysfunction and again, this must stop. The specific phrase that "triggered" (why did I have to use that word but it does apply) me is "her accomplishments." Check out one of Ms. B.'s accomplishments as displayed in the lyrical content of one her popular songs, Bartier Cardi via the link below (nope...such filth will not grace this site)-

https://genius.com/Cardi-b-bartier-cardi-lyrics

We cannot continue with the subtext that Black/Brown dysfunction as popular culture is "ok" even though the success derived from it comes at the expense of your community. Or more specifically, your people are the first casualties as you ascend up the ranks as a corporate neo-minstrel.

Everything for Your Minstrel Show......even if the rest of us suffer.

Enter tech wunderkind, Iddrs Sandu:

Hat tip goes to our resident cinephile and redoubtable Afronerd Radio supporter, Sergio Mims for bringing this young gentleman's quantifiable accomplishments to our attention. Here's an excerpt on Sandu from CNBC.com:

While other kids were at home watching television, a 13-year-old named Iddris Sandu spent most of his childhood in the library, reading texts about the theory of relativity and studying the German industrial designer Dieter Rams.

Now 21, the self-made entrepreneur and California native has made quite a name for himself in the worlds of technology and entertainment.

With a passion for tech and culture, Sandu has written algorithms and code for tech giants like Uber, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, received the Presidential Scholar Award from President Barack Obama.

And there's even a more introspective expose on Sandu, courtesy of Face2FaceAfrica.com (below):

At just 21, Iddris Sandu is the tech genius behind Uber, Instagram and Snapchat

And there's Sandu in accordance to his own words:

Notice what's written on the sole of Sandu's kicks as worn in the above clip:

The inclusion of the fictional Tony Stark cannot be discounted even if it is to the chagrin of Bill Maher.

Again, to reiterate the main premise of this blog drop, let's start to rally around true Black excellence and actually place focus toward young folk of color who engender advancement as opposed to regression. Reciting the words to Bodak Yellow en route to neo-Black Wall Street/Wakanda is highly unlikely but with Mr. Sandu's software engineering skills, one might have a fighting chance at finding its location.