I will never forget the day President Trump invited me to the White House. Not once, but twice. I attended a conference in Washington, D.C., the Presidential Sites Summit, in 2018. I made it pretty public that I got to tour the White House, but I didn't share with many that a few days later, I met President Trump, the First Lady (and Betsy Devos, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Steven Mnuchin, and Kellyanne Conway). Many did not accept the invitation to attend, but I am so glad I did.

This surge of excitement surrounding Barbie showcased nostalgia, curiosity, and for some of us, a hopeful anticipation of witnessing an icon's transformation.
The trailers promised a fresh take on Barbie—a figure not defined by fashion or aspiration but one of depth and humor. Expectations were high, and the film appeared poised to shatter norms. However, as the narrative unfolded, a disheartening realization set in: the Barbie Movie seemed unable to transcend its legacy. Barbie is still trapped in their box.

Last week I was hit by an ad that said The Chicks were coming to Simmons Arena. I will not be the first or last Black American with a bad relationship with Country music, but I was intrigued and got tickets to the show. If I ever had the tenacity to sing karaoke, you would hear me sing every single word of "Landslide" by heart. But most importantly, I faintly remembered them being featured in Advocate - the leading source of LGBT news - and abandoning "Dixie" Chicks to be on the right side of a divided country.

Few artists can claim to have defied convention, weathered the storm of controversy, and emerged stronger than ever. Fewer still can claim to have done so in the traditionally conservative landscape of country music. Last night, I witnessed just that: The Chicks performing live in Little Rock, Arkansas. Known formerly as the Dixie Chicks, their concert was more than a display of musical talent – but was a surprising example of the power of progressive messages in music - and inspired this blog post.

I won’t lie; I had a blast on the 4th of July this year. It was the first time I forgot about COVID, the insurrection, Donald Trump, Kaepernick, Trayvon Martin, Women’s Rights, mass shootings, and the recent disinformation tweet from our Governor, Sarah Huckabee Sanders. 

I've witnessed a steady rise in the sharing economy, with platforms like Airbnb pioneering a revolution in how we think about travel and accommodation.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a futuristic concept anymore. It's woven into every facet of our lives, revolutionizing sectors from finance to healthcare to entertainment. It's making our lives easier, our jobs more efficient, and even our entertainment more immersive. But with all its remarkable capabilities, one pressing question remains: Could AI be used for good? That's the central theme we'll explore today, taking our cues from popular media, specifically the TV series Westworld, and real-world applications.