Tuesday, May 14, 2013
New map based on Tweets says no. What do you think? Tell us in the comments!
A new map based on Twitter postings and the location of those tweeting has created a bigotry map of the United States. The project is called "Geography of Hate" and it maps homophobic or racist tweets to determine "hotspots." The Huffington Post reported: The map, created by geography students at Humboldt State University in California, looks at more than 150,000 geocoded tweets (tweets that say where the user is located) between June 2012 and April 2013, sorting for those that contained a racist, homophobic or anti-disability word. The researchers then decided whether or not the tweet was using the word in a hateful way. South Carolina had some warm spots (like near Orangeburg and Spartanburg) but no real hotspots. The Charleston area …
Monday, May 13, 2013
The targeted groups (numbering in excess of 100) received greater scrutiny than others with different political views.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Do you say "pen" for "pin" and soften your R's? Tell us in the comments!
In the Charleston area, we have developed a way of talking that almost puts a neon sign on newcomers as "from off." Simons is pronounced "Simmons," Huger is pronounced "U-gee" and Cooper is pronounced "Cup-ah." Aside from our own unique pronunciation of words, there are also actual dialects that have been mapped in the area. According to a new North American Dialects map, Charleston area natives say "pen" for "pin" and drop their R's, in addition to the Southern dialect already prevalent in the region. Click here to see a full map of North American dialects. But the Charleston area has a growing number of people who did not grow up here — coming from different parts of the South, from the North or West, or even from another nation. …
Friday, May 10, 2013
Some government offices were closed on Friday for Confederate Memorial Day.
Confederate Memorial Day was Friday, May 10, and you may have noticed that some government offices were closed in rememberence of the public holiday. Some public offices were closed Friday including Dorchester County and state offices. South Carolina is one of nine states that observes Confederate Memorial Day. The other states include: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, according to TimeandDate.com. Last year, a Winnsboro-area House representative called for an end to public entities closing on the day, to no avail. "We have important issues that need our attention, but instead, the Legislature is taking a day off to observe an archaic state holiday," State Rep. Boyd Brown said. "I’m …
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Star of "Pit Boss" will be at Saturday fundraising event in Charleston.
Are pit bulls killers, prone to violence? Or are they just another powerful breed caught up in hype, like the doberman or rottweiler? Has your perception of this breed changed in recent years? Find Love in Pit Bulls is holding a pit bull awareness and fundraising event 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday at Hooters in North Charleston. Star of Animal Planet's "Pit Boss" Sebastian Saraceno will be at the event. Here is what Saraceno told Charleston City Paper: There is no merit at all to the bad reputation (pit bulls) get. The only reason — and this goes for all animals that people own as pets — the only reason that pit bulls would be aggressive is because of human nature and the owner making them that way. If owners are responsible in socializing …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Should we all try to emulate hero Charles Ramsey? Tell us in the comments!
Rough around the edges, Charles Ramsey has been catapulted into the national spotlight for what has been described as a heroic act — something he refuted and said he was just reacting to the situation. Ramsey was the savior of three missing women and a child being held in captivity in Cleveland. The Huffington Post reported: Charles Ramsey, the neighbor who helped to free three women from the Cleveland-area home where police said they were held for more than a decade, told CNN's Anderson Cooper that any reward money tied to the case should go to the victims. Watch the video above for an interview with Ramsey as he tells about kicking in a door to help save the women after one pleaded for help. Ramsey told Cooper: I’m a Christian, an …
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Should teen parents be allowed to have yearbook pictures with their children?
A North Carolina high school senior was unable to have a pic of her son and her in her yearbook, Live 5 News reported. The picture of the two of them was reported "pulled" from final publication. The teen mom chose to take her son with her when the school asked seniors to bring a "prop" that best represents them. School officials have said the yearbook should be about the student and not his or her family. Click here to read more. Here is local information about teen pregnancy rates in Charleston County, provided by Charleston County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Council: In Charleston County, 10 girls under age 20 become pregnant every week. In South Carolina, 169 girls under age 20 become pregnant every week. In Charleston County, 1 girl …
Friday, May 3, 2013
Weather mild but slightly rainy this weekend.
It should be "May Flowers" time but it seems like we're still getting those "April Showers." Despite a few rain drops, some outdoor activities like gardening, walking the dogs, and a few outdoor festivals and expos should still be enjoyable this weekend. Temperatures are in the high 60s. Click here for The Weather Channel's full weekend forecast. Speak Out: What are you doing this weekend and why? Tell us in the comments! Need some ideas on what to do? Here are a few options:
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Judge assigns 30 days in jail after inmate calls her an derogatory word.
A Charleston County judge has held an inmate in contempt of court after he allegedly called her a derogatory word, Live 5 News reported. The publication reported Mark L. Swinton, who is facing an attempted murder charge from earlier this year, was assigned a $30,000 bond for a different charge by Judge Linda Lombard. "$30,000 ain't (expletive). When I get out, I'm going to get that charge dismissed, (expletive)!" Swinton said. Swinton refused to apologize, so Lombard held him in contempt. "Don't nobody care about no 30 days, girl," Swinton said. Click here to read more. Speak Out: Is cussing a jailable offense? Was this an overreach by the judge or did the circumstances warrant the sentence? Tell us in the comments!
Friday, April 26, 2013
An Upstate school test is making the rounds on social media disputing the existence of dinosaurs, based on biblical principles. Tell us what you think in the comments section below.
GREER, SC -- A test from an Upstate Christian school is making the rounds on social media. The test, allegedly given to fourth-grade students at a Christian-based school north of Greer, is titled "Dinosaurs: Genesis and the Gospel." A book with the same name was published in 2004 by Answers in Genesis. The test first started making rounds on social media on Sunday when it was posted in a chat room on atheism on Reddit. According to Snopes, the test is legitimate as someone believed to be the child's father sent a statement to the website saying that the test had been brought home by his 10-year-old daughter. The man wrote that some of the test questions were first brought to his attention when he and his daughter heard a commercial about a…
Karen
7:28 am on Saturday, May 18, 2013
@ Stanley Seigler- I'm sure racism does exist in S'ville, I just haven't noticed allot, and I've been here 13 years- but then I don't live in Robinwyn (sorry- bad joke). @ Mary Grady, didn't mean to sound racist- more ›