Muhammad Ali and Mom &Dad Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, grew up in a supportive and loving family. His parents, Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. and Odessa Grady Clay, played significant roles in shaping the future boxing legend's values and determination. Cassius Sr. was a billboard painter and muralist, known for his outspoken personality and artistic skills. His creativity and boldness left a mark on young Cassius, who would later adopt a similar larger-than-life persona in the ring. Odessa, a household domestic worker, was a devout Baptist, deeply rooted in her faith. Her strong sense of morality and dignity influenced Ali's commitment to justice and later his conversion to Islam. The Clay household was one of modest means, but it was filled with warmth and encouragement. Despite living in a segregated America, Odessa and Cassius Sr. instilled in their sons the values of self-respect, hard work, and resilience. Ali would carry these lessons throughout his life, becoming not only a boxing champion but also a global symbol for racial equality, humanitarianism, and spiritual dedication. Ali often spoke about his admiration for his mother, crediting her with his kind nature. His father’s assertive demeanor was also evident in Ali’s confidence and fearless spirit, both inside and outside the ring. Together, they nurtured one of the most iconic athletes in history.

The Longest bridge in America The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in Louisiana is the longest bridge in the United States, stretching 23.83 miles (38.35 kilometers) across Lake Pontchartrain. It's also the longest continuous bridge over water in the world. The bridge connects New Orleans with smaller communities on the north shore of the lake and is comprised of two parallel bridges supported by 9,500 concrete pilings. Constructed by The Louisiana Bridge Company, the southbound lane of the Causeway was completed in 1956. The parallel northbound bridge was added in 1969, linking the communities of Metairie and Mandeville. This impressive feat of engineering held the Guinness World Record for the longest bridge over water until 2011, when China's Jiaozhou Bay Bridge claimed the title. However, due to a technicality, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway now holds the record for the longest continuous bridge over water.

Sam and Hattie McDaniel were siblings and pioneers of black actors in Hollywood movies. Sam had over 220 acting credits and Hattie had over 90. Sam first appeared in film in the 1929 movie "Hallelujah," and Hattie began her career in 1930 in the film "Deep South." Hattie was known for her role in "Gone with the Wind" (1939), where she won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Both actors took on stereotypical roles (mostly servants or maids) in Hollywood but opened doors for many black filmmakers today.

Blue Streak (1999) After being released from prison Miles poses as a cop to retrieve a diamond he stole years ago. If you enjoy daft comedies with a splash of action then this late 90's offering will definitely fit the bill if you haven't seen it already. With a half decent plot the laughs come thick and fast, there's a few nice action sequences and it's got a good soundtrack and accompanying score by Edward Shearmur.This movie was the perfect vehicle for Martin Lawrence to showcase his talent and he found himself well supported by Luke Wilson, William Forsythe, Peter Greene, Tamala Jones, Nicole Ari Parker, Carmen Argenziano, John Hawkes and the forever bonkers Dave Chapelle. All in all this one is great fun and at just over 90 minutes it's one of those perfect time filling movies. 🎬

THE INSPIRING STORY OF DHL In 1969, 3 young men decided to start their delivery business with the few resources they had. *1. ADRIAN DALSEY* *2. LARRY HILLBLOM* *3. ROBERT LYNN* ....whose initials formed *DHL* will revolutionize this industry. *55 years* later today DHL owns ♤250 planes. ♤ 32,000 vehicles. ♤ 550,000 employees and today DHL is present almost everywhere in the world. Revenues are estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars. *In life, surround yourself with people who talk about projects, business, success, dreams, goals.....not negative, fearful, lazy people.* ```If your friend refuses to join you in starting a business, it's not a friend.``` ```If your brother refuses to support you to progress in your business... he's not a brother.``` If you got into business... hold on strong... it took 55 years for DHL to be DHL. Success takes time, effort, intelligence and focus. Be inspired to do more today🌹🌹🌹

Some facts about bamboo: 1.Fast Growth: Bamboo is the fastest-growing plant in the world. It has been recorded at growing 47.6 inches in 24 hours. Some species can even grow over a meter per day under optimal conditions. A new bamboo shoot reaches its full height in less than a year. 2. Oxygen Release: A grove of bamboo releases 35% more oxygen than any other tree out there. 3. Carbon Dioxide Absorption: Bamboo absorbs carbon dioxide at a rate of 17 tons per hectare every year. It can act as a valuable carbon sink given how fast the plant grows. 4. No Fertilizer Required: Bamboo doesn’t need fertilizer to grow. It can self-mulch by dropping its leaves and use the nutrients to grow. 5. Drought Resistance: Bamboos are drought-tolerant plants. They can grow in the desert. 6. Wood Replacement: Bamboos can be harvested in 3-5 years compared to the 20-30 years of most softwood trees. 7. Building Material: Bamboo is incredibly strong and sturdy. It has been used as support for concrete as well as scaffolding, bridges, and houses. 8. Soil Stability: Bamboo has a wide network of underground roots and rhizomes that prevent soil erosion. 9. Natural Air Conditioner: Bamboo cools the air surrounding it by up to 8 degrees in the summer. 10. Invasiveness: Some species of bamboo, especially ‘running’ bamboos, can be invasive due to their extensive root systems, which allow them to spread rapidly. However, not all species are invasive, and with proper management, the environmental impact can be minimized. 📸 Organizer Bamboo Nursery

Iman Shumpert and Teyana Taylor have settled their heated divorce. Shumpert must pay Taylor a seven-figure sum and $8,000 monthly in child support for their daughters, plus private school fees. Taylor keeps four properties worth over $10 million, while Shumpert keeps his Miami condo and properties in Georgia. She also keeps her companies and luxury cars. Shumpert revealed Taylor's earnings of nearly $99,000 a month in court, compared to his $48,000 before taxes, arguing against his current child support obligations. #ImanShumpert #TeyanaTaylor #CelebrityNews

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD'S FIRST BLACK WOMAN TRAIN ENGINEER Edwina Justus (July 11, 1943) is a African-American trailblazer engineer who is best known for being Union Pacific's first black female train engineer. At a young age, Edwina's role as a change-maker began when she became the first African-American girl to attend Brown Park School, and she was the only person of color in the entire school. In search of better opportunities, Edwina applied for a job at Union Pacific. After her application was denied, she enrolled at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. When she applied at Union Pacific for the second time, her application was a success. Justus began her career at U.P. in 1973 as a clerk at one of its Omaha facilities. Edwina Justus was one of five black women who worked in the Omaha office. In 1976 she applied for an engineer opening in North Platte, Neb. She got the job and became UP’s first black female engineer at the age of 34. North Platte was a big operation. Union Pacific is the largest railroad in the United States. “When I received the offer in North Platte, Nebraska, my dad encouraged me to take it.” However, the work environment wasn't supportive. Edwina endured racial slurs and the belief that she couldn't do good work as a woman. But she was not deterred. She used her wit and performance to excel in her career. Justus worked 22 years before retiring in 1998. She hauled items such as livestock, automobiles and airplane wings to Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Denver, Colorado, never taking for granted the beauty of a sunset or quiet night. “Railroading isn’t easy, but I didn’t let anyone bully me and I always stood up for myself,” Justus said. In 2018, Justus was honored in a Durham Museum exhibit. The exhibit shares the diverse experiences of 12 Nebraska women through time.

In England, it is not uncommon to see "wavy" brick walls. Interestingly, the design uses fewer bricks than a straight wall. A straight wall that is just one brick thick is not sturdy enough to stand alone & can be easily toppled, so they generally have a thickness of at least two or more layers of bricks, & are also reinforced at regular intervals with vertical posts serving as buttresses. But a wavy "one-brick" wall stands just fine on its own due to the arch support provided by its shape, which combines both wall & buttress. Such a structure is called a "crinkle crankle wall" "the Old English version of "zig zag."

June 5, 2001, Turk drops his debut album, "Young & Thuggin'" on Cash Money & Universal Records. It was produced entirely by Mannie Fresh. Among the guests featured on the album were his fellow Hot Boys, the Big Tymers and Mack 10. Young & thuggin basically sums up Turk's profile as a rap artist. With his first solo album, Turk gets the chance to distinguish himself as his Hot Boys brethren Lil Wayne. He's also the last Hot Boy to have a solo album and seemingly the one with the most to prove. Despite making his debut on Juvenile’s 1997 album "Solja Rags", he’s been the Hot Boy to get the least time on the microphone 🎤 as well as their group efforts and his absence from several live dates and other obligations has led to speculation about his future career. But for now, it’s all on him to get his shine. It's never easy for young artists to find their own voice, especially when they’re part of a successful artistic family. If they seek to profit from their family ties, they shouldn’t venture off too far on their own. One of the reasons Cash Money has been so successful these past years is their strong corporate identity. When you buy one of their albums, you just know things will be kept in the family with the Hot Boys and Big Tymers making guest appearances on each other’s albums and Mannie Fresh supplying the beats. Even though change is not always a good thing, that’s what I expect when I buy Cash Money product. Like the Wu-Tang Clan 👐🏾, each member claims to host a different chamber, they still all live under the same roof. The Clan ultimately conquered the world 🌍 with their unique corporate identity. But just like the Wu-Tang temple has undergone renovations and expansions, the Cash Money aural residence is experiencing makeovers, however at a much smaller scale. On Turk's debut album, Mannie Fresh supplies all the beats and the Cash Money Millionaires still crowd the guest spots. One of the things I like about Mannie Fresh is he continues to make good beats, but he adds more variations to them. The three dominant/prominent hip-hop producers of today, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland and Mannie Fresh, all have one thing in common: they prefer spending their time hitting keyboards 🎹 and programming drum machines rather than digging in the crates for samples. When it comes to making beats, dope samples are necessary to make a dope album especially if you have a good ear 👂🏾 for music. That’s why his tracks work on parallel levels: they float and bounce at the same time, they soothe and stir at the same time. You don’t have to go further into "Young & Thuggin'" than "Bout to Go Down", where all these qualities come into effect. He’s also great at creating moods. Check the trouble-seeking “Yes We Do” that he laces with melodies that could come straight off Giorgio Moroder’s "Scarface" soundtrack. Or the playfully confrontational "Wanna Be Down". With a rapper like Turk and a producer like Mannie Fresh the beats will always be more interesting than the rhymes. Unless the producer seriously slips and/or the rapper surpasses himself unexpectedly. That does not mean that these two don’t belong together. You wouldn’t wanna hear a backpack rapper kicking his rhymes over these beats. It just wouldn’t sound right. While Turk and Mannie might not be the perfect combination like the other Hot Boys paired with Mannie are, they’re a good combination. As far as rapping goes, you're not missing anything lyrically. Some have it and some don't. Don’t bother looking for intricate plots, ill similes and clean-cut rhymes on this album. There’s not many. If you’re not into this thug thing and scapegoat Cash Money for all that’s wrong with hip-hop just because their infamous ‘bling-bling’ term stuck in your head, then you’re not trying to pick this album up anyway. With Turk's style of rapping, it's definitely what you'll expect from a representative of the Cash Money roster. Check the steadily rising and lowering delivery in the current single "It’s in Me" that gives you a sensation as if you’re gently hit by a wave of word sound every other bar. In Mannie Fresh’s soulful and spicy orchestration, the rappers play their parts just like all the other instruments. Like the other Hot Boys, Turk does not have the same amount of rapping skills at close inspection. A perfect example is the song "Untamed Guerilla". He keeps the same composure, whether he’s aggravated or peaceful. At the extremes of the lyrical spectrum there are rappers who bring up a new topic in every line on one side, and on the other side there are those who use a whole song to make the same claims over and over again. Once you grasp the idea of the song, you feel like you don’t have to listen to the lyrics anymore. If you remember the song "No Endz, No Skinz" by the late Big L (R.I.P.)🙏🏾🪦⚰️🕯🕊🌷🌹💐, that was based on the statement that you can’t get any female 👱🏾‍♀️ companionship if you have no money 💵💵💵💵💵💵. L kept repeating himself, but you kept listening for how he was going to word it. There are also songs on "Young & Thuggin'" I can totally appreciate. "Trife Livin'" showcases what originally made Cash Money great: conveying a feeling through track and melodic flow alone. “What Would You Do” seeks the listener’s participation in a suspenseful tale where drug business and personal business conflict with each other. The closing "Hallways & Cuts" provides a haunting experience as Mickey, B.G. and Turk, wrapped in a spooky aural aura, describe in stunning detail what’s going on in them project hallways, corridors and cuts. The most solid cut on this album has to be the simply titled "Project". Hakiem of the Capos works the chorus, which makes for a nice change. Apart from that the track is all left to Turk who gives his best performance, changing up his melodic flow while Mannie’s track hits you from all angles: it’s melodic yet thumping and smooth yet sharper than a muthafuckin' butcher knife. From when the only recognizable voice in the Hot Boys used to be Juvenile to now that we know each member from solo efforts, I’ll admit that Turk fits nicely into the Cash Money corporate identity. I ain't gonna say he's the weakest link of the crew, but together with the rest of the Hot Boys, they pull it off well. The story of Cash Money Records has been one of sudden and continued success and I don’t see it about to end as long as their main asset, the music, continues to be as entertaining. I’ve come across so many CMR-related screen names on the internet. If you’re a real fan, go support Turk and buy this album.