#having someone THAT famous on a flight could actually be a hazard to all involved

[idekwtf-is-happening]

Seeing people on Twitter trying to hate on Taylor swift is so funny like, she’s living in their heads rent free as they scramble for reasons to hate her

[thatalfredpennyworth]

Why People Discard Parrots

This is something very personal to me as someone who has owned birds and worked with them since I was a kid. Nothing irks me more than unfair stereotypes. I don't have any issue with people being afraid of parrots, they are big and make a BIG entrance so it's understandable. I do however have a problem with people who unfairly stereotype parrots as loud, out of control, wild, crazy...you've probably heard the list. The saddest part, these labels often come from confused so called "animal rights activists" who would rather see the population of parrots in captivity die off than be loved and nurtured by someone who understands birds. Calling all parrots wild hazards is as unfair as calling pitbulls killers. There are ethical ways to keep parrots in captivity that don't involve cages and neglect. The first bird I ever formed a relationship with was a species that is known to be stereotyped as violent. His name was Delta, he was a blue fronted amazon in his 20's and he had quite a strong beak. He belonged to my grandfather whom is still one of the worst people I know. How this bird didn't develop aggression issues I'll never know but I was the only person who wasn't afraid of Delta and was willing to pick him up by hand out of his cage...and keep in mind I was four at the time. I'll be honest, my grandfather was abusive and one day, he threw me in his garage and slapped me after I refused to finish my entire waffle. He grew up in a military home so he was always told to ration and finish his plate. He had also tossed the bird in the garage as well and locked me in there for two hours. The bird waddled to me side and climbed onto my shoulder and leaned in for a hug. Anyone else would have backed away because they'd assume he'd be bluffing and planning to strike but I hugged back and that was when I decided birds really do have the capacity for compassion towards people. Delta was unfortunately re-homed due to my grandfather's time constraints, something that all too sadly, often happens to large parrots when owners don't know what they are getting into. Even now as I type this, I know Delta is still alive and hopefully, he found a forever home. The main reason so many parrots are discarded is not because they are terrible pets, but because most people are terrible owners. People see the cute videos and think that parrots are these cute talking sky dogs and they purchase one only to find out that isn't the case at all. Parrots are two generations removed from their wild ancestors and thus, they are going to act like they would in their own wild colonies. This is not to say that parrot ownership is something I'm against, that's what the animal activists want, what I'm trying to say is it takes a special kind of person to own a parrot. In the right hands, parrots are compassionate, fun, intuitive, inquisitive and even sassy, but most people are not equipped to handle owning an animal that needs 98% of your daily attention. Some birds are more picky than others. Here's the thing though, don't ever say a dog is less dangerous than a parrot simply because they are domesticated. A parrot bite does hurt, all people who handle birds will make a mistake and agitate their bird at some point, but a parrot's beak won't kill you. Parrots are smart enough to know how hard to press and most bites are warnings rather than true threats. Even if a bird tried to kill you, which they WON'T do, the worst they could do is leave you with some stitches on your arm. A dog that is large enough could actually kill you and some have indeed killed people. Animals are unpredictable domesticated or not, that's just a fact. I have been around birds long enough to know how compassionate they really are when we actually respect them. Luigi, a yellow naped amazon, is famous for his compassion for disabled children. It really takes a special kind of a person to own a parrot and most people are not that sub population. Birds only become difficult when they are not given their needs. Birds need to fly, they need to interact, they need to roam, they need to be like the element of air itself. As a bird trainer, I know what birds want from us. The more owners and trainers listen, the less birds will succumb to problem behaviors. Parrots don't have to be such a discarded pet, people just need to be better owners. This is something I had to vent because documentaries like Parrot Confidential are EXTREMELY one sided and biased. I love working with birds and it really does piss me off when people unfairly label them as bad pets when it is really them that are the bad owners. Stop clipping wings, free flight train them, let them explore, and trust me, your bird will be a much loved member of your family. 

Caique: Tinkerbell Galah: Ziva Blue Throated Macaw: DiNozzo Human: ME!

[thisdaynews]

Transfer deadline day - who will make last-minute moves?

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/transfer-deadline-day-who-will-make-last-minute-moves/

Transfer deadline day - who will make last-minute moves?

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Live Reporting

By Gary Rose

All times stated are UK

Posted at 10:0510:05

Harry Redknapp Q&A

Harry Redknapp

Former manager at various clubs

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Abdul: What’s your worst ever transfer?

Difficult, we’ve all had bad ones! I signed Marco Boogers at West Ham. Actually he wasn’t a bad player, he wasn’t expensive and we took a gamble on him. But he got sent off at Old Trafford for taking out Gary Neville. That wasn’t my instruction to do that. Then he disappeared. Someone told me he was living in a caravan! We ended up selling him to someone in Holland.

Posted at 10:0310:03

Solskjaer not expecting any signings today

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said he ‘doesn’t think’ his club will sign any players before the transfer deadline closes later today.

Solskjaer wanted a striker in addition to midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who joined United for £47m on Thursday.

But, despite Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe confirming United’s interest in Norway striker Josh King earlier this morning, Solskjaer is pessimistic about further signings.

“I don’t think we will do any more business,” said the United boss.

“January has always been difficult. It is not something you just do like that. I am happy with the ones I have here.”

Solskjaer did previously say Ashley Young and Marcos Rojo would not be leaving Old Trafford this month but both subsequently did.

here.

Posted at 9:579:57

Harry Redknapp Q&A

Harry Redknapp

Former manager at various clubs

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Adrian: Looking back, is there one player you were on the verge of signing but missed out on, that you regret never managing?

Eden Hazard. Joe Cole rang me when he was at Lille and said, “Harry, I’m playing with the best player I’ve ever played with”, and I said, “Woah, that’s some statement Joe, you’ve played with some absolute greats.” So I went over three times, but I didn’t need to see him three times, as once was enough to see how good he was. I went three times, as I wanted to meet him and tell him how keen we were to bring him to Spurs, but unfortunately the deal never got done.

Posted at 9:539:53

Harry Redknapp Q&A

Harry Redknapp

Former manager at various clubs

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Richard Neldet: Who was your best deadline-day signing?

Difficult question. But Rafa Van der Vaart was a great signing. We were looking to loan Rafa because the fee was high but then at the last minute Daniel Levy came to me and said the club need money so we can get him cheaply, and would I be interested in signing him permanently and I said “Yeah, of course I would”, so that was that, we signed him.

Posted at 9:519:51

Giroud to Tottenham ‘possible’

Ian Dennis

Radio 5 live senior football reporter

Olivier Giroud to Tottenham is a possibility but is dependent on Chelsea finding a replacement.

Frank Lampard will block the France forward leaving Stamford Bridge if Chelsea are unable to sign anybody today.

Posted at 9:499:49

Harry Redknapp Q&A

Harry Redknapp

Former manager at various clubs

Benjamin Park: How quickly can last-minute deals get done?

They can get done very quickly. You don’t even have to be with the player. As long as they have the right paperwork to sign to be registered. You’re relying on your secretary. Managers aren’t involved with the paperwork.

Posted at 9:479:47

Guess the deadline-day signing – reveal

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Whoops sorry, this is a little late. I’d given the floor to Harry Redknapp!

Anyway, here is the answer to the guess the deadline-day signing teaser.

It is Alvaro Arbeloa, who signed for Liverpool on this day way back in 2007. The clue was in the first two words of my entry at 09:11 GMT.

Plenty of you got this one right, so well done!

Another to come just after 10:00 GMT.

Posted at 9:439:43

Harry Redknapp Q&A

‘Listen Harry, do you want to loan Aaron Lennon?’

Harry Redknapp

Former manager at various clubs

Anonymous: What time do you get to the training ground on transfer deadline day and what time do you leave?

Well you leave when the window closes and you get in at about 7am. Sometimes though you just shut up shop and go home. But I’ve had plenty of late requests. I remember when I was at QPR and Daniel Levey rings me and says, “Listen do you want to loan Aaron Lennon?” and I was like,”Yeah course I would, but how we going to get hold of him now, it’s half past nine at night?!” We tried, but we couldn’t get hold of him, which was a great shame.

Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features

Posted at 9:389:38

Harry Redknapp Q&A

Harry Redknapp

Former manager at various clubs

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Anonymous: What happened with that failed famous Peter Odemwingie transfer?

Time was dragging on and we couldn’t quite get a deal done with West Brom, but they wanted to get rid of him, so we said you better travel down, as we’re going to run out of time, so if we agree a fee, we’ll then be able to get it done. But he made a big mistake though Peter. Instead of going to the hotel that we’d booked him into round the corner, he came to the football ground. West Brom saw it on TV and thought we were taking a liberty and so pulled the plug! I feel sorry for him, but he was bang to rights.

Posted at 9:329:32

Harry Redknapp Q&A

Harry Redknapp

Former manager at various clubs

When you think of transfer deadline day, who do you think of?

Well Mr Transfer Deadline Day himself, Harry Redknapp, of course.

We asked for your questions, and you inundated us and didn’t disappoint.

So we’ve picked a selection and obviously there was only one place we could start…

Mark: Did you realise your car window interviews would become such a staple of deadline day?

Ha, no I never did. I just find it hard not to be nice to people. There was always someone from Sky TV there and they have a job to do, so if I can do them a favour, I will do. Usually they’d be stood outside for hours. It might have been raining, snowing, freezing cold, and they’d carry on standing there. Sometimes I’d take them a cup of tea, or invite them in for a sandwich in the canteen.

Read more from The Times here

Posted at 9:219:21

‘I know what Manchester United means to him’

Bournemouth v Aston Villa (Sat, 15:00 GMT)

Bournemouth

More from the Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe on Joshua King:

“We have missed him since he has been out injured, so speaking as manager I would be very reluctant to let him leave. With a day to go in the window it’s very difficult to find a replacement.

“It’s going to be [a decision] between the chief executive and owner. I love Josh as a player and person. I know what Manchester United means to him with his history with the club, so I understand his position.”

Posted at 9:209:20

‘I won’t deny anything you have read’

Bournemouth v Aston Villa (Sat, 15:00 GMT)

Bournemouth

Right here is theBournemouth boss Eddie Howe.

Very little chat about a six-pointer with Aston Villa on Saturday but plenty on potential incoming players and Joshua King’s future:

“We’re looking as always. We have never been in the market for permanent deals, we’ve been looking at loans and what we can do. It’s difficult to find players who can make a difference on loan, so I don’t imagine too much happening today, but you can never say never.”

On Joshua King being linked to Manchester United:“I’m not going to deny anything you have read but I don’t want to talk about it too much. He is much valued and loved by us.

“He is a massive part of our team, he brings that unique pace and strength, coupled with technical ability and an eye for goal.”

Posted at 9:189:18

Come in number 18

Manchester United made the biggest signing of the transfer window when they signed Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon for £47million yesterday.

Fernandes has been given the number 18 shirt previously worn by Paul Scholes and, latterly, Ashley Young.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should be talking about Fernandes soon and, possibly, Josh King, who United have spoken to Bournemouth about.

BBC SportCopyright: BBC Sport

Man UtdImage caption: Man Utd

Posted at 9:149:14

Post update

Steve Bruce’s news conference at Newcastle is under way. As soon as we have anything from that you’ll see it here.

In the meantime Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe is on his way. Wonder if Joshua King will get a mention?

Posted at 9:129:12

comments

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Text 81111 (UK only)

SMS Message: I work in Mayfair and just seen Coutinho enter the private medical centre opposite my office, followed by someone in a blue tracksuit, Chelsea maybe?? from Marc, London

I work in Mayfair and just seen Coutinho enter the private medical centre opposite my office, followed by someone in a blue tracksuit, Chelsea maybe??

That would certainly bring Deadline Day to life!

Posted at 9:119:11

Guess the deadline-day signing

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Right. Back to our deadline day teasers. Any idea who this player is?

Guesses to#bbcfootball.

Answer at half past.

Posted at 9:099:09

All quiet on the Liverpool front

Mandeep Sanghera

BBC Sport

There are unlikely to be any major ins and outs at Liverpool on transfer deadline day today.

On the signings front, the Premier League leaders did their main business by bringing in winger Takumi Minamino from RB Leipzig at the start of the month.

In terms of outgoings, the Reds knocked back approaches from Roma and Sevilla to take Xherdan Shaqiri on loan earlier this month. They insist they will not consider selling the attacking midfielder until the summer as they remain on course for the top-flight title and are still in the Champions League and FA Cup.

Read More

[tamboradventure]

Why Don’t More Black American Women Travel Solo?

Posted: 8/13/2020 | August 13th, 2020

Today, we have a guest post from Senitra Horbrook. She’s a frequent solo traveler who uses miles and points to experience champagne travel on a budget. She has been to six continents and is working on her next goal of visiting 100 countries. In this post, she’s going to talk about Black American women and solo travel.

Sometimes when I travel outside of the United States, I take a look around at the faces of other people. I don’t often see any else who looks like me, a Black American woman. On the occasions when I do see another Black person, they’re frequently not an American but someone from an African country, usually residing in that location for work or school.

Closer to home, like in the US, Mexico, or the Caribbean, I may be more likely to see other Black American travelers at resorts or tourist attractions, but rarely do I come across another Black woman traveling solo like me.

Why is that?

It’s something I’ve always thought about. Now, I don’t proclaim to speak for all Black American women, but, after talking to others and reflecting on my own experience, I think it has to do with the following reasons:  

We Probably Don’t Have Passports

According to data from the US Department of State, fewer than half of Americans have a passport. It’s unknown exactly how many Black American women have a passport, as the statistics do not break down passport issuance by race or gender. But, in my experience, the importance of having a passport was not something that was communicated to me growing up.

In my youth and even into early adulthood, getting a passport wasn’t something that I or my parents viewed as being essential to everyday life. Why would we spend almost $150 USD on something that we had no plans of using? And getting a passport for the first time requires applying in person, which may mean taking time off work to do so.

I got a passport for the first time at age 28 to go on a family vacation to Mexico. After my first visit out of the country, I wanted to fill that passport up with stamps and see every country I could, even if that meant I had to go solo. Why was I just now discovering the allure of international travel, I wondered?  

We Think Travel is Too Expensive

This line of thinking is not necessarily limited to Black American women. However, it is definitely something that can hold us back.

There’s the idea that traveling costs even more if you’re alone because you have no one to split accommodation costs with. Or there’s the fact that single travelers on cruises or group tours are charged more.

But in reality, if you plan ahead you can end up spending less because you can better control the costs as a solo traveler.  

We See a Lack of Representation and Role Models to Emulate

Think of the travel magazines, guidebooks, or destination advertisements you’ve seen. How often are Black travelers featured? How often is a Black woman’s solo travel experience highlighted?

When we don’t see others who look like us traveling to fantastic destinations, we start to wonder if maybe it can’t be done or that maybe it’s not for us. You all need role models that look like us.

This has been a historic problem in the travel space.

Thankfully, it’s changing.

In “Tweeting the Black Travel Experience,” a 2018 study published in the Journal of Travel Research, researchers analyzed the hashtag “#TravelingWhileBlack” and concluded that the lack of representation of Black travelers in the tourism industry helped Black travelers create communities on social media to share their travel experiences. Moreover, groups like the Black Travel Alliance are fighting for more representation in the industry.

Thanks to those social media communities, I’ve been able to read about the experiences of other Black American women solo travelers. They have inspired me – and I am sure they have inspired others.  

We Think Black People Don’t Travel Internationally

A 2018 survey of African-American travelers found that more than half of the respondents said they traveled only between 100 and 500 miles from home on their most recent leisure trip. Top US destinations included Florida, New York City, and Atlanta.

When I think of my summers or family vacations while growing up, they didn’t involve leaving the country. Some years it was a trip to Disney or more local amusement parks. Other years a “vacation” was a road trip to visit family in other states. And I didn’t know anyone whose vacations encompassed a trip abroad. The only Black people I observed traveling to other countries — on television or in the news — were famous or in the military.  

Our Families May Pressure Us Not to Travel Alone

Family pressure to avoid solo travel can be a common issue for all types of travelers. For Black American women, we may hear our families tell us the world is too scary for us to be out there alone. They warn us about all of the “what ifs?” They worry about us flying across oceans — despite the fact that car accidents are more common than plane crashes.

Historically, Black Americans have been more likely to travel in groups, say Gloria and Solomon Herbert, publishers of Black Meetings & Tourism magazine and one of the sponsors of the aforementioned 2018 travel study. Traveling in groups offers camaraderie and protection, they explain.

When I see Black travel — in Black-centric magazines, movies, or TV shows — it is most commonly girls’ getaways, family reunions, or cruise ship vacations with friends or family. So those of us who grab our passports and board that airplane alone seem to be trailblazers.  

We’re Waiting on Friends

Movies like Girls Trip idealize fun times away with our girlfriends at big events. Unfortunately, flaky and noncommittal friends are a real impediment to having those types of travel experiences. I’ve been there!

Let’s say you’ve planned a wonderful getaway with a group of friends, but when it comes time to buy the flights, all of a sudden, they have umpteen excuses why they can’t go. Or they just keep putting you off, never saying they can’t go, but never committing to actually going.

Maybe they weren’t able to save up enough money. Maybe they’d just rather stay home. What helped me was the realization that if I was waiting for flaky friends to travel with me, I may be waiting for a long time.

While Black women aren’t the only types of people with flaky friends, this is something I’ve observed as keeping us from traveling solo. It’s time for us to embrace the unknown and travel solo, because, as the saying I’ve seen on social media goes: “They ain’t comin’, sis.”  

We’re Concerned About Racism in the Destination

All travelers have some sort of safety concerns. For some, their biggest fears may be getting pickpocketed or walking down the wrong street in a bad neighborhood. Female solo travelers may fear sexual harassment or assault. For Black travelers, it goes even further: we’re often afraid of being physically targeted because of the color of our skin.

I typically do Google searches for trip reports, looking for experiences from Black women as tourists in countries I am thinking of visiting, since part of my decision-making process in determining where to travel is how the locals of that country view Black people and if that country has a history of racism. While some trip reports I find give me pause, more often than not, there’s no reason to be concerned because, in many countries, we’re just as warmly welcomed as our white counterparts.  

We Want to Avoid Casual Racism

It’s not just racist-based physical assault we may fear, though. Casual racism and prolonged stares can be uncomfortable and unsettling, like being followed around in stores, being refused service in a restaurant, or being refused help from a stranger when you ask for directions.

People who stare may have never seen a Black person in real life before. A smile, nod, and “hello” can go a long way in showing friendliness and approachability. And generally, being an American with money to spend can positively influence a local’s perspective, even if their first instinct may have been to eye us suspiciously.

I’ve been approached by strangers wanting to take pictures of me because I’m “exotic.” Depending on how someone does this, I don’t necessarily view it as a bad thing. If I’m someone’s first or limited interaction with a Black American woman, I want it to be a positive experience.  

We Don’t Want to Face the Stereotypes

Americans are often subject to the “ugly, loud, unruly” stereotype when traveling, especially young twentysomething travelers. But Black Americans can face additional stereotypes.

Some people’s only exposure to Black America is through television and other media, so they only know of the athletes, rappers, singers, or movie stars. So they may shout at us in passing, comparing us to people like Beyoncé, Serena Williams, or even Oprah. Annoying, yes. But no real hazard.

What’s worse are the people whose exposure to Blacks is through negative news and other media that portray us as criminals. Those people may display signs of overt or casual racism, like clutching their purse when you approach or crossing the street as you’re about to walk by.

Even when traveling in the United States, Black female travelers may be more likely to experience poor customer service due to stereotypes, one example being that Black people don’t tip. You could be a great tipper, but that stereotype can potentially set you up for defeat as soon as you enter an establishment.

We have to work to prove we’re different from the stereotypes others may have prejudged us by. My first instinct is to make eye contact and give someone a friendly smile and nod, even if they don’t smile back. It’s great to get a friendly smile in return, but if I feel I’m experiencing hostile behavior, I’ll leave and remove myself from that situation.  

We Don’t Know How to Swim

Many of the best vacations involve water activities: going out on a boat, jet skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling, or a refreshing swim in a cool hotel pool on a hot day. But what if you don’t know how to swim?

According to a 2017 study from the USA Swimming Foundation, 64% of African-American children have no or low swimming ability. By comparison, 40% of Caucasian children are nonswimmers.

We may grow up in a city or neighborhood without access to a community pool. Our parents and family members don’t know how to swim, so they can’t teach us. Lessons are expensive. And there’s the not-so-distant history of racial discrimination and segregation at private pools and athletic clubs. Black people simply weren’t allowed in.

I grew up afraid of the water and did not know how to swim until I enrolled in lessons at age 26. Knowing how to swim has greatly enhanced the types of travel experiences I have.  

We Worry About What to Do with Our Hair

For many Black women, our hair is not just “wash and go.” Styling our hair can be an extensive process. Sometimes we’ve paid a good sum of money to get our hair styled at the salon before a trip. We don’t want to get sweaty or get our hair wet (if straightened, wetting our hair can cause it to revert back to its natural texture). Or it can get tangled or matted.

And if trying to pack light and carry-on only, travel-size hair products just aren’t going to do the job, especially for more than a few days. We want to be cute when we’re “flexin’ for the ‘gram”, that is, posing for our Instagram pictures.

All of these can be reasons why Black women are hesitant to travel.

I have dealt with the “hair issue” in a variety of ways. Earlier in my travels, I’d get my hair weaved or have extensions added, so I could “wake up and go.” And since my real hair was protected underneath the weave, I could go swimming or get my hair wet without worrying about damaging my real hair.

More recently, I’ve worn my hair styled very simply, often in a bun or pulled back. And since I wear my natural texture instead of straightened, I don’t worry about getting it wet.

***

For Black American women who want to travel solo, there are obstacles and fears to overcome, but it can be done. Like many things worth doing, I find that the rewarding feeling of traveling solo outweighs the fears I may have.

Even though I may not often see other travelers, especially Americans, who look like me, I’m hopeful to see more ladies like myself having wonderful solo adventures as more Black travel experiences are highlighted.

Senitra Horbrook has spoken at numerous travel conferences in the US and enjoys sharing her tips on solo travel and strategies to earn many frequent flyer miles and hotel points through credit card rewards. A journalist, you can connect with her online on Instagram or Twitter.

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines, because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the largest inventory. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com, as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it, as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)

Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all those I use — and they’ll save you time and money too!

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