Dilemma X

U.S. Census rethinks Hispanic on questionnaire Haya El Nasser USA TODAY Hispanics may become a race of their own in the U.S. Census — a major change that some Latino advocacy groups are opposing. Currently, the Census considers Hispanic not a race but an ethnic background. Hispanics can be of any race, and Hispanic origin […]

Brazil, Mexico have most Latin American billionaires AFP Brazil and Mexico have the most billionaires in Latin America but earn the least from estate taxes, according to a new study from a regional economic group. Brazil tops the billionaires list with 30, followed by Mexico, with 11, said this month’s report from the Economic Commission […]

Oliver Cromwell and the English Protestant Puritans banned Christmas in England in 1644 English Protestant Puritans viewed the festival (Christ’s mass) as an unwanted remnant of the Christian Roman Catholic Church In the late 16th century the English Puritans viewed Christmas as a dangerous excuse for excessive drinking, eating, gambling and generally bad behaviour. This […]

FTA Signs historic agreement to fund Honolulu rail project Honolulu Rail Transit The City and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) signed a historic agreement that secures $1.55 billion in federal funding for Honolulu’s rail transit system. The agreement was signed during a ceremony on December 19 in Washington D.C., with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray […]

Fastest growing U.S. states United States Census Bureau FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Thursday, December 20, 2012 North Dakota’s total population climbed by 2.17 percent between July 1, 2011, and July 1, 2012. This is the fastest growth of any state, and nearly three times faster than the nation as a whole, according to U.S. Census Bureau state […]

On this day December 17 in 1903 aviation changed forever Dilemma X On this day December 17 in 1903 – The first successful gasoline-powered airplane flight took place in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Orville and Wilbur Wright made the flight. A 12 second, 120-foot flight that launched the Age of Aviation on Thursday, December […]

U.S. Public transit systems recording conversations with microphones and video surveillance systems Audio and video can be monitored in real-time, but are also stored Metro Magazine AUSTIN, Texas — According to The Daily, government officials are installing audio surveillance systems on public buses across the U.S., including in cities such as San Francisco; Hartford, Conn.; […]

Gantt architecture design firm, a designer of key Charlotte buildings, is sold By Kerry Singe The Charlotte Observer Gantt Huberman Architects, the firm that built such Charlotte landmarks as Transamerica Square and ImaginOn, has been sold to a New York-based company. The firm, founded by former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt and business partner Jeff Huberman, […]

A once-in-a-lifetime date 12/12/12 Today will be the last such triple date until January 1, 2101. The Gregorian calendar came into use in Europe on February 24, 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII signed decree signed the papal bull. Many places around the world do not use only the Gregorian calendar. Japan adopted the Gregorian calendar […]

Jessica B. Harris – A culinary history of the African Diaspora Jessica B. Harris is the author of eleven cookbooks documenting the foods and foodways of the African Diaspora. A culinary historian, she has lectured on African-American foodways at The Museum of Natural History in New York City, The California Academy of Sciences in San […]