TYB
Ruth Bader Ginsburg honored at DVF Awards; Hillary Clinton, more attend
WASHINGTON — What Democratic debate? On Wednesday night, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and female camaraderie took center stage in D.C.
The "Notorious RBG," 86, was honored with the DVF Awards' Lifetime Achievement Award for being a trailblazer, contributing to gender equality and supporting women's issues.
Supermodel Iman, along with Priti Patkar, who is working to stop the cycle of intergenerational sex trafficking in India, and Saskia Nino de Rivera, who provides services to those in Mexico's prison system, were also honored for their contributions Wednesday.
The 11th annual DVF Awards, which are normally in New York and held around springtime, traveled to the capital and were held at the Library of Congress for the first time — all for Ginsburg. Diane von Furstenberg said that in order to honor RBG, they had to work around Ginsburg's schedule.
The DVF Awards were created in 2010 by von Furstenberg, 73, to honor extraordinary women who are making an impact on other women's lives: "Women who have had the courage to fight, the strength to survive and the leadership to inspire," she explained.
"It's hard to believe that I'm going to be at the Library of Congress, at the same time there's two exhibitions honoring women ," von Furstenberg said. "This is the 100th anniversary that women can vote… all of those things all tied together make an incredible energy around this evening."
She was right. The energy at the Library of Congress was palpable. Accomplished women like former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were in attendance, and there was a sense of camaraderie among the guests.
There were small but noticeable moments that exhibited the respect and kindness shared among the big names in attendance: Iman and von Furstenberg fan-girled when speaking about Ginsburg and being in her presence.
"Your mother raised you well," Iman told fellow supermodel Karlie Kloss between interviews.
"To All the Boys I've Loved Before" star Lana Condor shared that von Furstenberg helped her fix her jumpsuit before she walked the carpet: "She literally came and tied it herself… I tied it wrong," Condor, 22, told USA TODAY.
But RBG was "the true rockstar" of the evening, as Iman noted.
Clinton, 72, presented the award to the Supreme Court Justice and shared a few humorous anecdotes while praising Ginsburg's landmark case.
"Advancing the rights of women and girls is the great unfinished business of the 21st century and no one has done more to push it into reality than Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg," Clinton said. "Every step of the way throughout her career, she has sent a clear message that women belong in all places that decisions are being made." While speaking about Ginsburg's efforts in the fight for gender equality, Clinton recalled how a Harvard professor once told her "we don't need any more women" in the university's law program. Clinton, author of The "Book of Gutsy Women," also took a playful jab at her husband to illustrate how much of a difference Ginsburg's pioneering work made in her personal and professional life.
"I couldn’t get a credit card after I got married. I made more money than my husband," Clinton joked. "A common experience throughout our marriage." When Ginsburg took the stage to accept her award, there was a thick silence that fell over the audience.
Flipping the script, Ria Tabacco Mar, the director of the ACLU's Women’s Rights Project asked Ginsburg what advice she has for men who are balancing work and kids. Ginsburg left the crowd with a few words of wisdom: "One of the saddest things about men's lives is that they're out there working to turn over a buck and one day their children are grown and they didn't have any real part in raising them."
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/2020/02/20/ruth-bader-ginsburg-honored-dvf-awards-true-rockstar/4805365002/
I'd like to go to India. . .
Contrary to Clinton's 'ghost town', Trump will find Agra a living city
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/contrary-to-clintons-ghost-town-trump-will-find-agra-a-living-city/articleshow/74231894.cms
Why Trump’s car ‘The Beast’ distressing Agra authorities?
The city of Agra is getting a makeover ahead of US President Donald Trump’s two-day visit to India next week. President Trump’s car nicknamed –The Beast – has already arrived at the Agra airport to ferry the President and First Lady of US to one of the seven wonders of the world – Taj Mahal. However, Agra authorities have raised concerns over the diesel-run car that is going to ferry around the Taj Mahal, Hindustan Times reported.
The Supreme Court order of India 1998 bars the use of any vehicle except electric conveyance in close proximity to the 16th-century monument.
Authorities also expressed concerns over The Beast which weighs around 6.4 tonnes, to cross a dilapidated railway overbridge along with a convoy of SUVs. Authorities claimed that the one-kilometre long bridge is made only for light vehicles, HT report added.
Officials in Agra are yet to reveal the details regarding the vehicle to be used by the visitors. According to the superintending archaeologist (Agra circle), Archaeological Survey of India, Vasant Swarankar, cited in the HT report, the Supreme Court’s guidelines of using only electric vehicles will be complied with.
The Agra Development Authority has prepared a well-furnished, battery-operated, bus which can be used in an exigency. However, Centre has not confirmed on its deployment on February 24, HT report added.
Bill Clinton, in his visit to India in 2002, used a special battery-operated bus, although he was accorded VVIP treatment, as per media reports.
The Railway bridge
In 2019, The Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) had announced the railway overbridge unfit for heavy vehicles. The bridge, at its starting point, has a board that reads: not fit for heavy vehicles.”
According to Yogesh Pawar, superintending engineer, PWD, the administration has already informed the Agra authorities regarding the condition of the bridge. The final decision on the route selection is still to be taken by them. The PWD has already initiated the process of preparing the bill. However, it remains unsanctioned with the Agra authorities, as per HT report.
President Trump will visit Agra after his mega-event “Namaste Trump” at a newly-built cricket stadium in Ahmedabad. For this, Agra authorities have painted the walls around the airport. They have also released fresh Yamuna water in the channel situated right in front of the Taj. More than 3,000 artists from Agra, Mathura, Vrindavan will present cultural events along the route, NDTV reported.
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/why-trumps-car-the-beast-distressing-agra-authorities/article30868741.ece#
On the lighter(?) side. . .
Hillary Clinton Has a Clever $6 Hack to Keep Herself From Slipping in Heels
High heels can be notoriously difficult to walk in, but Hillary Clinton has an ingenious trick.
While speaking onstage today at the Clinton Global Initiative meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the former first lady wore a pair of black pumps with anti-slip pads pasted to the bottom. Apart from the shoes, Clinton wore one of her signature pantsuits, choosing a dark color with a matching shell underneath.
Her footwear was a pair of black pumps with a pointed toe and kitten heel. The shoes appeared to have a smooth sole, which can lead to slippage on wet floors and other slick surfaces. Anti-slip pads are made of non-skid material, reducing the likelihood of sliding or even falling in high heels. They also can increase the life span of shoes by preventing wear and tear on the sole.
Throughout her decades in the public eye, Clinton has worn many hats, but one thing has remained virtually unchanged: her penchant for demure, comfort-focused footwear. The Yale Law School alum tends to choose flats or heels with heights of two inches or less, most often picking understated colorways like black, tan and white. Past worn brands of Clinton’s include Miu Miu, Salvatore Ferragamo and Chloe.
While Clinton is a millionaire, her heel hack is actually very affordable: We spotted anti-slip pads on Amazon for as little as $6. Below, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite options.
Don't Listen to the 'Michael Bloomberg Lost the Debate' Hype
(Final 2 paragraphs)
Aesthetically, the debate was a mixed bag. Buttigieg’s five o’clock shadow was weird and distracting. It couldn’t have been unplanned given his fastidiousness. Both Biden and Bernie had noticeable dandruff. Whoever did Biden’s makeup was presumably an infiltration agent sent by the RNC. Klobuchar’s bob haircut doesn’t work for someone who moves her upper body rapidly. Yes, these are catty points, but TV is a visual medium, and so is national politics. As a Mel Brooks character once said, “Everything is showbiz.”
The net result of the evening is that the race remains unsettled, but is drifting toward a choice between leftwing ideologue Sanders and establishment globalist Bloomberg. The debate did have the air of being in a parallel universe in which our country is in the depths of an economic depression, and in which we victimize the sick and poor for fun. Of course, none of that is true, which makes one wonder if this whole Democrat contest is a big argument over who gets to lose to Donald Trump in November.
https://news.yahoo.com/dont-listen-michael-bloomberg-lost-124500724.html
Bloomberg’s Own Campaign Manager Concedes Ex-Mayor Tanked Last Night
Kevin Sheekey, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s campaign manager, admitted on Thursday that his boss’ debut in the Democratic presidential primary debate wasn’t pretty.
“Listen, I think Mike’s gotta get his legs under him,” Sheekey told MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle. “Certainly he had a better second half of debate than the first, I will admit that.”
Though he downplayed Bloomberg’s performance as a mere hiccup in the long election cycle ahead, the campaign manager agreed grimly with Ruhle’s observation that the former mayor seemed incapable of defending himself against his rivals’ blistering attacks.
“Listen, I think you’re right,” Sheekey said. “We need to push back a little harder against people who were screaming about things they haven’t done and get Mike’s record out there better than we did last night.”
The campaign aide said he welcomed the “Bronx cheer” Bloomberg had received, a reference to the multiple boos the crowd dealt to the billionaire when he bungled his responses to scathing jabs his tax returns and the allegations of sexual misconduct at his company.
“But I think Mike will be back,” Sheekey said. “This is a campaign that right now is just getting interesting.”
Still, the campaign chief seemed already resigned to the possibility that Bloomberg’s campaign won’t survive Super Tuesday on March 3, saying that he’s “not sure” the billionaire will manage to sink frontrunner Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) come Super Tuesday on March 3.
“It may be there’s not much campaign in March after that date, but we’re certainly fighting hard as we can to make sure that there is,” Sheekey said.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/bloomberg-campaign-manager-admit-debate-performance-bad
https://twitter.com/TPM/status/1230546114748846081
RUSSIA RUSSIA RUSSIA
https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1230612487608905729?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
Looks good. o7