Stories I Love, Not By Me - Megan Braden-Perry

FORMERLY READING

How ‘Dark Patterns’ in Sports Betting Apps Keep Users Gambling
Source: Scientific American
Date Created: January 23, 2025
Author: Allison Parshall
Editor: Jeanna Bryner

One thing I’m always thinking about, is how society views some addictions as OK when they are often just as bad or maybe even worse as some others. One of those, is gambling addiction. And now that we have these sports betting apps in our hands, it’s far worse than ever before. You go into a casino and of course the slot machines call you, but for the most part they won’t message you and email you. They certainly don’t know what you were doing before you played, any of that. Well these sports betting apps know all of that and, of course, are using it to trap you. I hate it.

Houston Chronicle on Prostitution (2019)
Source: Houston Chronicle
Date Created: May 2, 2019
Author: Gabrielle Banks
Photographer: Godofredo A. Vásquez

How can I reasonably get mad at the world’s oldest profession? To be honest, dating, marriage, and so many other acceptable and even aspirational things are just a thin line away from prostitution. Sex work is real work, and since people are buying of course people are selling. That said, I worry about the safety of the ladies. When I read this story, I thought about Chef Menteur Highway in New Orleans. All day and night, no matter the weather, you’ll see women in fishnet or otherwise sheer clothing, high heels, strutting down the street. It’s a living. But I want them to be safe. Also if anyone gets in trouble, let it be the johns.

Poynter on Gannett’s Taylor Swift Reporter
Source: Poynter.
Date Created: November 7, 2023
Author: Tom Jones

At a time when my fellow super-seasoned unemployed journalists and I can’t find jobs in our field, I’m invested in journalism career news. For me, it seems like all my former colleagues and Press Club of New Orleans peeps are in communications. I tried that. Didn’t work. So I’m praying there’s a job in my field, somewhere. Gannett’s Taylor Swift reporter hire, Bryan West, gives me hope! He’s 35 — no spring chicken! He’s talented! He seems like a really nice guy.

Vince Vance vs. Mariah Carey
Source: Reuters
Date Created: November 2, 2023
Author: Blake Brittain

The Vince Vance and the Valiants “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has been one of my favorite Christmas songs, for as long as I can remember. But I never really thought the song was similar to Mariah Carey’s. I’d seen the suit before and laughed heartily, as to me it gave Morris Bart. However, I looked at the lyrics side-by-side with no sound or anything and um… I see it!

Black Catholics Question Consolidation Plan
Source: WWL-TV
Date Created: October 30, 2023
Author: David Hammer

Black Catholics in New Orleans — myself included — feel our parishes were singled out in the recently announced merger plan from the Archdiocese of New Orleans. I could be wrong, because you know we Black folk have a tendency to hide sexual abuse, but I don’t recall any of our churches or priests getting in trouble. Seems like if we are having to close all these buildings because we are rightfully paying claims of those harmed by the Church, why can’t we take money from those specific parishes involved?

Mac Phipps Q&A
Source: Gambit Weekly
Date Created: October 28, 2023
Author: Jake Clapp

Mac Phipps talks about the evolution of hip-hop, bounce and rap music in New Orleans, and about how he got started. I’m a Mac fan. Since “I Need Wheels,” which I still rap to myself quite often. New Orleans rap is so special to me. There’s an op-ed I wanted to write and still might, but let’s be clear: rap is vital to our communities especially when we are disenfranchised.

Cracking St. Tammany Coroner Cold Cases
Source: NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
Date Created: October 27, 2023
Author: Bob Warren

The St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office is getting closer to cracking yet another cold case, thanks to forensic death investigator Chris Knoblauch and the LSU FACES Laboratory. In recent years these groups have cleared several cold cases using various technology, and Knoblauch is determined to clear many more.

Louisiana Childhood Human Trafficking Survivors
Source: WYES New Orleans
Date Created: October 23, 2023
Author: Karen Swensen

Karen Swensen shares the stories of three young women who were once victims of sex trafficking and child abuse, but who’ve been able work through their trauma to heal and even help others. Louisiana’s First Lady Donna Edwards and a group of nuns on the Northshore of Louisiana play major roles in their healing.

FORMERLY READING

links below might be annotated eventually, at some point, when I feel up to it