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

Despite Loveless Loss vs Chicago, Cleveland Cavaliers Have Bright Season Ahead

Written By Marcus Atkinson Follow me on twitter: @marcusatkinson Ray Allen Ray Allen reportedly will make a decision soon after all-star break with the Cavs leading the pack of choices over teams like Atlanta and Golden Stat However, headed into the break the Cavs have settled into a cohesive unit and with each game become more and more together. Quite simply, adding another wrinkle to a Cavs team just beginning to gel would only hurt their realistic chances of playing in the NBA Finals. Kevin Love The Cavs will not reach their goal of an NBA Championship without an effective Kevin Love playing his best, Lebron James knows this and whatever he has to do to motivate his teammates to make that goal come true, he will. After a recent game, James told a reporter he was willing to sweep floors, come off the bench, whatever necessary to win a championship, he seemed to be speaking to the rest of the Cavs team and more specifically Love. Love, who was traded for Andrew Wiggins, the Cavs number one draft pick of last year does have pressure on him, he’s never made the playoffs despite averaging a double, double in his career, now on a team with realistic goals of going all the way, he appears to pressing to impress, much like MLB players do when those in a lineup around him are struggling. Love is used to being the man on the team, the be all end all for his team, but now he’s on a team where skill is plentiful, with players like Irving, and James who are perennial all – stars. In a recent tweet, James appeared to be sending Love of message on how to be a team player. The James tweet referred to players needing to “fit in”, as opposed to “fitting out”, seemingly toward Love but Love said he was caught unaware of the tweet until it was brought to his attention. “I was caught off-guard when I heard about it,” Love said Tuesday, according to Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal. ”We’re teammates, we see each other, there’s no problem with us.” Lloyd asked Love directly if he thought the tweet was meant for him. “I don’t know," Love responded, per Lloyd. "I truly feel if LeBron had a problem with me or had to talk to me for good or worse, he would’ve come up and talked to me. I truly believe that.” The following game, Love had the highest scoring game of his season with James on the court, his previous Cav highs were when James did not play. James insisted if he has a message to send to his team, he would not use social media to do so, but speak in person to his teammates. I would agree this is true, however as twitter goes, it provides an avenue to share spontaneous, spur of the moment feelings. Despite any surface differences, it’s nothing that cannot be overcome by the wining the Cavs have done and will continue to do.

Cleveland's Browns a Place of Lost Cause

Written By Marcus Atkinson Follow on twitter: @marcusatkinson It’s no news to anyone that the Browns are a mess, dysfunction manifested by coaches fleeing, players in or needing rehab and front office staff being accused of NFL infractions. Embarrassing to any loyal Browns fan, and on top of that, the franchise decided to raise ticket prices by 30 percent, raising the prices of some long time ticket owners by $300 - $500. A sad stat indeed. A prime example of this situation is the case of former Browns offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who was practically begged to come to Cleveland in the first place, and in his desire to be a head coach, he came to Cleveland, then promptly left two years before his contact was up, presenting a 32 point presentation on why owner Jim Haslam should let him out his contract. Weeks prior to the presentation, Shanahan was the prime suspect and whistleblower for who sent text messages from the front office to the coaching staff on the field during a game (the team is now being investigated by the NFL with the prime suspect being general manager, Ray Farmer). Since his departure, Shanahan has taken the same job of offensive coordinator with the Atlanta Falcons who have Matt Ryan as quarterback – as opposed to a Browns team, who has a QB in rehab as the leading candidate to start the first game of the year. No doubt seeking to keep a good name to his coaching peers, Shanahan in an interview had this to say about Johnny Manziel, the aforementioned quarterback in rehab "Johnny's a great guy, and I think he does get a little bit of a bad rep with that, because Johnny worked very hard for me," Shanahan said. "I really enjoyed coaching him." Of course Shanahan is thinking of his future goals in becoming a head coach when he told ESPN’s Bryant this. Though the statement goes against previous reports released by local Cleveland newspaper The Plain Dealer as well as national outlets such as CBSSports.com. Since Shanahan’s departure, the Brown has had trouble signing a new coaching staff, many are simply saying no to the offer, seeing it as a bad career move and I do not blame them, I would do the same. As the times of the Browns continue to change, one thing remains the same – the culture needs vast improvement, but who in management has the knowledge, experience, and guts to make the change. Feel free to leave a message or comment on my twitter page.

Ohio State Signing Day a Success

Signing day for college football has come and gone, though Ohio State wasn’t number one this time (Alabama for the 4th year in a row) they did finish number 6, and as one person put it “I’m sure Urb got who he wanted”. Urban Meyer once again has a more than solid recruiting class, receiving 27 signees. NCAA rules say a college can only have 25 but Meyer insist the number will lower to the required amount. If I was writing this a week ago, I would say the star recruit was Joey Burrow, QB out of Athens Ohio who threw over 60 touchdowns and just three interceptions. The two time Gatorade Ohio Player of the year is a traditional quarterback who plays within the pocket. He looks to be in line to eventually start for OSU. I just hope the four start QB doesn’t become another Justin Zwick. My top pick however is Mike Weber, who de-committed from the University of Michigan and decided on the last day to attend OSU. Meyer credited the choice by Weber to current running back Ezekiel Elliott who was in contact with the Detroit native via phone. “He’s a guy that became very very close to Ezekiel Elliott,” Meyer told the Big Ten Network. He said “the relationship with the players was the difference”. Bu of course, OSU winning the championship. Weber is the eventual replacement for Elliott who will likely leave for the NFL after next season. There are definitely some notables like Justin Hilliard, linebacker and Torrance Gibson, recruited as an athlete but he insist he is here to play quarterback despite the apparent logjam. “There’s a chance two of our guys will be gone next year,” Meyer said referring to Braxton Miller and Cardale Jones. And if you think any of this star recruits are planning on redshirting, Meyer says no. Meyer tells the recruits, “If you want to redshirt, go somewhere else”, according to the Big Ten Network. Yes, there is no doubt, the future is bright in Columbus. ,

Today's news

Family approach is best path toward education Cleveland.com Even if research had not yet produced firm evidence that children do better in school when parents participate in their education, it makes sense. Parents, after all, play an important role ensuring students not only make it to school, but have the materials they need. They are in a unique position to share their child's strengths, talents and interests with educators and to establish and reinforce academic expectations, as well as help their children set consistent routines for studying and homework. http://blog.cleveland.com/_cuyahoga_community_college/2015/02/whole_family_approach_provides.html Ohio gov john Kasich releases two year budget plan Cleveland.com COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Gov. John Kasich's budget proposal, unveiled Monday, brought swift reaction from lawmakers and interest groups around Ohio. The governor's two-year budget plan, among other things, seeks to slash personal income and business taxes while raising sales,tobacco, and oil and gas fracking taxes. http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2015/02/john_kasichs_budget_seeks_acro.html

Weekend News

Should charter schools be able to ask for levy money? COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Gov. John Kasich's budget proposal Monday would offer charter schools in Ohio two new potential funding sources -- a $25 million facilities fund and the ability to seek local tax levies from voters -- while putting a greater focus on charter school sponsors, or authorizers, as a way to improve school quality. http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/02/gov_kasich_wants_to_add_more_teeth_to_charter_school_oversight_rules_and_let_charters_seek_local_tax_levies.html#incart_river Bill Cosby Comes to Sandusky How did Sandusky react to the controversial comedian, Bill Cosby? Click the link to watch a video. http://www.sanduskyregister.com/entertainment/attractions/7587376 Employers Making Diversity Personal Today, workplace diversity is undergoing yet another transformational shift – one that takes it beyond board rooms and human resource departments. Forward-thinking organizations are finding ways to sew diversity and inclusion into their fabric from top to bottom by integrating it into performance evaluations, for example, and encouraging inclusive behaviors through professional development and training. http://blog.cleveland.com/_cuyahoga_community_college/2015/01/employers_make_diversity_perso.html Best Cell Reception in Clevleand, who has it? CLEVELAND - We all face the aggravation of dropped calls or slow downloads on our cell phones.So newsnet5.com went digging to find which cell phone company provides the best service: 5 On Your Side Consumer Advocate Jonathan Walsh put our local carriers to the test. http://www.newsnet5.com/news/science-tech/testing-sprint-t-mobile-verizon-att-who-has-the-best-cell-service-in-cleveland

Friday, Jan. 30 - Northern Ohio News in Brief

Old Cleveland school bus converted into mobile uniform shop Newsnet5.com CLEVELAND - The Cleveland Metropolitan School District has turned an old school bus into a uniform shop on wheels. The bus full of uniforms, free for more than 1,300 families, travels all over Cleveland to make it easier for the parents to get them. "It's very hard to get to stores when you don't drive or don't have no one to take you," Nyree Whitsitt, a mother of three boys, said. SOURCES: Cuyahoga County Sheriff Department Chief Clifford Pinkney to be made chief Newsnet5.com CLEVELAND - Cuyahoga County Sheriff Department Chief Clifford Pinkney will be nominated to be the next sheriff, sources tell newsnet5.com. The nomination will be made by County Executive Armond Budish. Pinkney started at the department as a deputy sheriff in 1991 and has worked his way up the ranks, serving as detective, on the narcotics bureau, on the FBI task force and on the U.S. Marshal Violent Fugitive Task Force. He was promoted to department chief—the county's first African-American to serve in that position—in 2013. 5 Tests Women May Need in 2015 Fox8.com 1) Cervical Cancer Screening – Patients should start cervical cancer screenings at age 21, regardless of sexual history. For women aged 21-29, screening should be done every 3 years with a Pap test. For women 30 and older, a PAP test alone could be done every 3 years OR co-testing with a Pap test and HPV could be done every 5 years. If a woman has had a previous hysterectomy, she should consult with her doctor in order to determine the need for screening. 2) Mammogram – The U.S Preventive Services Task Force recommends women between 50 and 74 get a mammogram every other year. 3) Blood Sugar Test – A periodic blood sugar test should be done every three years by age 45. Those women who have risk factors for diabetes or insulin resistance should have it done sooner. 4) Bone Density Test – Women are four times as likely to develop osteoporosis – a disease that causes bones to become weak and brittle. 5)Colon Cancer Screening – It is recommended that colon cancer screening begins at age 50, but people who have a family history of colon cancer or bowel disorders may need it sooner.