Book Review: Out of Ashes

Marcus Atkinson

Follow me on twitter: @marcusatkinson

Written by Avery L. Sutton, I would consider Out of Ashes a rare breed, combined with a must read.  This novel blends factual historical events with fictional characters in a way which makes it easy to get lost in reality.  Few authors along can do this, but to have this done in the background of Jim Crow Birmingham Alabama in 1963 makes it not only unique. 

As a person who loves history and studies the civil rights era, I was captivated by how Sutton ties in real historical events with the fictional day to day lives of the characters.  Bombings in Birmingham, political news from then President Kennedy all were part of the lives of Peg, Dr. Carson and others. 

Characters developed in a way which seemed natural and realistic.  In today’s readings, too many times protagonist and antagonist are static – that is they have little to no character development.  This is often a choice by the author to keep the character simple and easy for the reader to follow along, but Sutton allows his characters to evolve, change in a way that while reading you are unsure if it is for the better, or for the worse. 

Like any good book, the story is compelling, suspenseful and a definite page turner.  It’s not hard to become lost within the pages and begin to attempt to predict what is going to happen next.

And what does happen next is both surprising and at least in my case, fulfilling.  The natural progression of the novel is obviously meticulous and calculated.  It’s not hard to see why Avery L. Sutton’s Out of Ashes has been read and enjoyed by so many, including myself. 

High School Basketball: Lorain High Titans Outlast Brunswick High Bluedevils in Triple OT

By Marcu Atkinson

Follow me on twitter: @marcusatkinson

Last night in front of a packed gym, the Lorain High Titans took on the Brunswick High Blue Devils in what may turn out to be the most exciting game of this year’s Ohio High School Athletic Association tournament.

Lorain defeated Brunswick in triple overtime 59-56 in a game where the absence of a shot clock was glaringly obvious.  In a pregame interview, Brunswick head coach, Joe Macke said a low scoring game where the end score is in the 40s favors the Blue Devils.

At halftime the score was tied at 22.

Both teams showed their strengths and weaknesses from the start. Lorain missed free throws and shot 25 percent from the field in the 1^st half.  On the other hand they forced turnovers and went on scoring streaks every few minutes.

At times, it seemed Brunswick would never miss a three-point shot, their offensive discipline was apparent.  Yet their inability to hold onto the ball gave away easy points and their lack of athleticism made rebounding hard. 

1^st Quarter

Brunswick outscored Lorain after one quarter, as they made their shots and Lorain did not.  During one trip down the court, Lorain missed a three, gained an offensive rebound, missed a second three, gained another offensive rebound, and proceeded to miss a third three

To put it simply Lorain struggled to make a basket as they trailed after one. 

2^nd Quarter

The beginning of the 2^nd quarter was much like the 1^st as the Titans shot just 25 percent from the field at the midpoint of the quarter.  Brunswick began to push the ball early in the quarter, scoring easy points close to the basket, however Lorain was able to stay in the game through turnovers, keeping the score within a good distance, giving up only 7 2^nd quarter points to Brunswick.

“We got caught playing their game”, said Lorain coach John Rositano said in a postgame interview. “But there’s a belief we will find a way”

With key turnovers and timely shooting, Lorain ended the 2^nd quarter on a 9-0 run to head into halftime with the game tied at 22

.

At the half, Brunswick had 13 rebounds and was 4 of 9 in three point shots.

Lorain was 1 for 4 in free throws in the 1^st half (61 percent for the season), with 14 rebounds and they forced 7 turnovers. 

The 3^rd and 4^th quarter played out much the same as the first two, with Brunswick shooting well from the three point line and Lorain keeping it close with key forced turnovers.  Brunswick began the 3^rd and 4^th quarters breaking away but Lorain ended strong, including the 4^th quarter when they scored the last 8 points in thrilling fashion to force the first of what would be 3 overtimes.

“There’s always a concern”, Rositano said.  “But never panic, the kids are winners.”

Winners indeed, especially Devon Andrews who seemingly took the team on his shoulders and willed them through possessions, got key rebounds, and stepped up and made free throws when it became crucial.  He ended up with 26 of Lorain’s 59 points, the next highest scoring Lorain Titan had 8 points.

“He knows when it’s time to play,” Rositano said, speaking of Andrews.

The first overtime, each team had little scoring, Lorain held the ball for over 30 seconds to take the last shot, but missed a three point shot to go into double overtime.

In double overtime, it appeared Lorain was headed to victory, up four when Andrews got the defensive rebounded, passed the ball to Rashaad Berry, who then gave a two-handed dunk.  However, down 6 and near the end, Brunswick showed resilience and heart scoring 6 unanswered points to tie the game and go into triple overtime.

Now in triple overtime, Andrews for the first time made both his free throws.  Brunswick missed a layup on the ensuing possession then immediately fouled Berry who shoots only 49 percent from the free throw line on the season. Berry missed the first, made the second.

Lorain was now up three and with no shot clock and the ball, Lorain played ball control and came away with the victory

.

Rashaad Berry finished with 8 points, 2 blocks, and key momentum shifting dunks and rebounds.

Now 24-0 Lorain, the number 1 ranked team in their bracket, ranked 2 in the state will play either Strongsville or St. Ignatius Saturday night at Midview High School (Grafton, Ohio).

Guest Post: Love Poem to a Cougar

By: Ryan Sagert

Your beauty is a bottle of vintage wine
Well aged and delightfully tasteful
It meets my lips with curiosity
And seems to satisfy the desire
That stems from the animal inside

Entranced by your orphic eyes
I commit the taste of your lips to memory
Inhaling your stories and aspirations
From years bound with wisdom

The veins in your hand are as blue as the ocean
Yet there is no ring on your finger
No contract to bind your affections
And so you seduced me
Somehow in your infinite wisdom
You seduced me!

Death of a King" Inspiring but Not Why You Think

By Marcus Atkinson

Follow on twitter: @marcusatkinson

I recently read the book, Death of a King: The Real Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Final Year, written by Tavis Smiley.  I read the book because I wanted to learn something beyond what I hear every January and February.  I read the book because I wanted to go beyond the Letter from a Birmingham Jail, beyond a march, beyond the Dream.

This book did that. 

This article is not a review of the book.  To read a review from the New York Times click here. My purpose is to explain what I got out of it and my life takeaway.

Generally, when we see King on recorded video we see a confident man, with a clear vision with defined goals and steadfast convictions that led him to become the man we created in our minds.  Smiley attempts to show a truer side of King, a man not unlike you and me and he does just that.

In his speech at Riverside in New York a year before his death, King publically came out against the Vietnam War, effectively opposing President Johnson, the man who advocated and signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. After that, this book details the life of a man overwhelmed with uncertainty and doubt, a year of ups, downs, many failures, and few successes.

On the surface, the title suggest the literal, physical death of King, however, I believe the title signifies an emotional death, a death founded in a community who now believed King was “out of date”.  As Smiley wrote, before his death, King was seen as the ultimate Negro in a time when his people now identified themselves as “Black”.  King was seen as increasingly out of touch and more people were turning away from non-violence and toward a more militaristic approach to racial equality.

This change took a physical and emotional toll on King, his spirit became weak, his doubts increased.  The book shows a man who smoked cigarettes to relieve stress, a man who cursed, drank alcohol unapologetically on occasion, and a man who at times showed anger toward those he loved and cared about.

In short, King was human, like you and I.

Founded by King, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference appeared to have lost direction, with members upset with King’s public stance against the war. Funds were low and the future was in doubt.  The SCLC appeared to have a divided leadership, some of which did not agree with King.  This again caused King to question himself, increase his stress and ad worry to an already caring and heavy hearted man. 

And his new book did poorly in sales, adding to his personal financial troubles. 

Ultimately, this book was inspiring.  Inspiring because it shows a man no different than you and I, with doubt, with faults, with uncertainly and vices.  A man who didn’t have all the answers.  A man who argued, who had anger and a man who could not sleep at night.

Like you and I.

It is inspiring because King accomplished so much, meant so much to so many people, despite all the above.  It shows that we today can do the same.  Though King was special, though he was unique, we today can accomplish the same he did and more.

We put King on an unattainable pedestal, making his goals and aspirations impossible for us to meet, but this book shows another side.  A side that says there is another King living today, walking among us, we just need to find him or her and make that person believe in their capabilities. Death of a King It gives hope, a realistic view which in turn creates a realistic vision of Dr. King’s dream, an attainable dream.

Death of a King shows a man who kept moving despite an increasingly unpopularity.  A man who worked tirelessly for his people even after some abandoned him.  It shows a man who persevered and never gave up, virtues we all hold inside of us.

On that day in Memphis King’s last fall came while standing up for poor people, for people who were being taking advantage of financially.  Working long hours, in very poor working conditions, risking death and health on a daily basis.  King died in a city which still believed in non-violence in a time of war.

Despite his vices, his doubts, his worries.  King held true to his convictions, something all of us can do. 

Cyber Security: Our Government's Attempt to Secure our Lives Digitally

By Marcus Atkinson

Follow me on twitter: @marcusatkinson

Recently, the Obama administration issued an executive order encouraging private business to work together and with the federal government in an effort to improve cyber security for all of us.

In addition, the administration sent legislation to Congress, asking them to formally pass a bill giving the Department of Homeland Security (which covers cybersecurity), permanent status within the government.

This legislation is part of a larger federal government spending bill due to expire on February 27.

Since its formation shortly after 9/11, the DHS has been working on what is called a “continual resolution”, which according to the head of the DHS, severally restricts the budget and thus capability of the DHS.

President Obama spoke at the Cyber Security and Consumer Protection Summit at Stanford University and he outlined the necessity for private industry to share security information and the federal government’s need to know what is happening with private industry in order to properly protect the American people from cyber-attacks. 

·        Over 100 million cyber accounts were breached in 2014

·        8 in 10 people have said they feel they “lost”, control of their digital identity

Cyber-attacks threaten our banking, our nation’s military system, our health industry and of course, our government itself.  Security goes well beyond making sure your individual password has a capital, letter, a number and a symbol, this is evident with recent hacks within our banks such as JP Morgan Chase, our department store shopping such as Target, and of course, the recent hack of Sony, allegedly by the North Korean government. 

The president emphasized the success of the program hangs of the shared mission and cooperation of private industries to work together as share partners.

The federal government’s role would be primary decimating information to different private industries to they can work in unison in preventing and reacting from cyber-attacks, as well as preventing attacks from foreign hackers.  All while “protecting the civil liberties of the American people”

A general protocol has formed that would prevent, respond, and recover from any and all cyber-attacks.

Finally Fighting: Mayweather Pacquiao, How Money Matters

Marcus Atkinson
Follow on twitter: @marcusatkinson

 Finally after over a decade, its official, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao will fight May 2. The last time this match was even close was in 2009 but due to questions of the use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs), the potentially $100 million dollar fight was cancelled.

 But today is a new day after the two boxers had a verbal conversation at a recent Miami Heat basketball game, the ball began to roll and the two were able to do something high rich attorneys and professional promoters could not; deliver a match millions of fans have been waiting for. The contract is signed, its official, so who won the negotiations? Let’s look at the facts.

 Mayweather will get 60 percent of an early projected $400 million gross revenue
 The fight is through Showtime, which Mayweather is contracted through, which gave in leverage in not only negotiating the split, but smaller perceptive details like the privilege of announcing the fight first, the official name of the fight has his name first, and he will be announced last during ring announcements, giving the perception of championship superiority.

 "I am glad my decision to meet with Manny and discuss making this fight happen helped get the deal done,” Mayweather said through social media. “Giving the fans what they want to see is always my main focus. This will be the biggest event in the history of the sport."

Pacquiao released a similar statement hours later.

 "I am very happy that Floyd Mayweather and I can give the fans the fight they have wanted for so many years," Pacquiao said. "They have waited long enough and they deserve it. It is an honor to be part of this historic event. I dedicate this fight to all the fans who willed this fight to happen and, as always, to bring glory to the Philippines and my fellow Filipinos around the world."

 Early estimates have the match grossing $400 million (in 2009 negotiations had a 50/50 split). 5 common opponents Pacquiao, Mayweather is 5-0 versus those common opponents while Pacquiao lost and had a draw versus Juan Manuel Marquez.

 Early odds have Mayweather 71 percent chance of winning Both boxers are past their prime, though that does not mean the fight will be underwhelming. The last time Mayweather knocked an opponent out was in 2011, Pacquiao 2009.

 These are the beginning facts, Mayweather won the negotiations, but let’s see who wins the fight. If you want future articles on this fight please send a twitter message.

Bobbi Kristina: A Story Still Shaping

By Marcus Atkinson Follow me on twitter: @marcusatkinson The unfortunate saga off Bobbi Kristina Brown continues with what at first seemed a family united in love and a consistent reality to a three way rift defined by self-realities built in self-preservation – something the American public has seen all too often. It what seems like a totally unrelated event, Bobbi Kristina was involved in a car crash which left both herself and another hurt. Days later, as we all know, she was found face down in a bathtub apparently overdosed on drugs, almost three years after her mother died in a similar situation. Now we have Nick Gordon, Bobbi’s boyfriend and closest companion under investigation for possible criminal activity which may have occurred that night. Reports from People Magazine say he may have tried to disregard evidence which would have gotten him in trouble. Gordon has stayed silent throughout the entire matter. In fact, the only public statement he made was through his attorney, stating he would not seek visitation rights to see Bobbi during this time – something in direct contrast to Bobbi’s cousin, Jared Brown who has said Gordon is trying to tell a story of untruths. Meanwhile, both the Houston family and Bobby Brown has stayed away. Asking only for the privacy of the family and asking the media to not talk to Jared who they say is spreading false information and attempting to cause a feud between everyone. Since being off life support repots have conflicted saying Bobbi is stable, other saying she is getting worse. The silence from the Houston and Brown families makes credible information difficult to come by. A promising life, whether she recovers or not, seems to have been lost with drugs and a life style marred in trouble and substance abuse. Bobbie wanted to sing, but it appears that is over for her. Jered Browns seems to be in the outside looking in, as the Houston and Browns families have put aside their differences to keep Bobbi’s station under wraps. Nick Gordon appears to be a person of interest in an infestation, hopefully Bobbi comes home someday and can live a life her mother wanted. A