The Berkeley, Missouri, police officer who fatally shot a black teenager on Tuesday was issued a body camera earlier that night, but wasn’t wearing it at the time of the shooting. The dashboard camera in his police cruiser also was not activated. On Wednesday, St. Louis County Chief of Police Jon Belmar said that the officer — who is still unnamed, but was described as a white 34-year-old and six-year veteran of the police force — was responding to reports of a theft at a Mobil station when he confronted 18-year-old Antonio Martin and another person. Belmar said Martin “produced a pistol with his arm straight out, pointing at the officer,” at which point the officer responded by firing three shots at …

The Berkeley, Missouri, police officer who fatally shot a black teenager on Tuesday was issued a body camera earlier that night, but wasn’t wearing it at the time of the shooting. The dashboard camera in his police cruiser also was not activated.

On Wednesday, St. Louis County Chief of Police Jon Belmar said that the officer — who is still unnamed, but was described as a white 34-year-old and six-year veteran of the police force — was responding to reports of a theft at a Mobil station when he confronted 18-year-old Antonio Martin and another person. Belmar said Martin “produced a pistol with his arm straight out, pointing at the officer,” at which point the officer responded by firing three shots at Martin, striking him once and killing him. The person with Martin then fled.

Surveillance footage from the Mobil station has been released, and appears to show a person in the background — said to be Martin — raising his arm in the direction of a police cruiser and officer. The camera seems to be too far away from the incident, however, for anything to be to determined conclusively from the video.

Video captured by a body camera or dashboard camera likely would have been able to reveal more details about the incident. Belmar said the car’s dashboard camera wasn’t activated because the cruiser’s emergency lights hadn’t been turned on at the time, which would have automatically triggered the recording.

At a later press conference on Wednesday, Berkeley Mayor Theodore Hoskins said he wasn’t concerned that the officer hadn’t turned on his body camera. He noted that the equipment is new for the town’s police department and that officers haven’t received full training yet.

“In the future and when we get well trained, there will be a severe penalty for an officer who does not turn [their body camera] on,” Hoskins said.

Body cameras are frequently cited as a key way to bring transparency to interactions between law enforcement and civilians, especially in the wake of the police killings of Michael Brown and other unarmed individuals who died in encounters that weren’t recorded. One frequently cited pilot program in Rialto, California, found that between 2012 and 2013, in the first year of the city using police cameras, the number of complaints filed against officers fell by 88 percent and use of force by officers fell by almost 60 percent.

While President Barack Obama has joined the call for the implementation of body cameras with the announcement of a $75 million grant for the equipment, the limitations of the devices have already been exposed. In the case of Eric Garner, for example, there was video of the confrontation that led to his death, and yet a grand jury declined to indict the police officer who put him in an illegal chokehold.

In addition — as the Police Executive Research Forum presented to the Department of Justice in a 2014 report — there are still plenty of concerns from both the law enforcement and civil rights communities about how, exactly, a large-scale police camera program would be implemented. Which interactions, for example, would be recorded? How would the review process work? What would the penalties be for failing to record an interaction? Such questions are further complicated by state laws that differ on when and where people may be recorded, as well as how such recordings may be stored and accessed by the public.

And while these questions might be addressed as more police departments adopt such programs, the Berkeley shooting reminds us of a simpler truth: A camera is useless if it’s not recording.

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Police Officer Who Killed Black Teen In Missouri Had Been Issued Body Camera, Wasn’t Using It

More than 20 years since Bayside closed its doors on the original “Saved by the Bell,” Screech is back! In a recent sketch from “Friends of the People,” actor Dustin Diamond returned to Bayside’s hallowed halls, but this time in the role of Mr. Belding. In the sketch, Diamond tries to explain the messed up logic of sitcoms to the school’s black students. (There’s also a super-meta moment when the old Screech acknowledges the new one.) It’s been a tumultuous time for Diamond since the actor’s former sitcom ended. There has been a fake sex tape, a controversial tell-all book and a…

More than 20 years since Bayside closed its doors on the original “Saved by the Bell,” Screech is back!

In a recent sketch from “Friends of the People,” actor Dustin Diamond returned to Bayside’s hallowed halls, but this time in the role of Mr. Belding. In the sketch, Diamond tries to explain the messed up logic of sitcoms to the school’s black students. (There’s also a super-meta moment when the old Screech acknowledges the new one.)

It’s been a tumultuous time for Diamond since the actor’s former sitcom ended. There has been a fake sex tape, a controversial tell-all book and a Lifetime movie (which said book inspired). These things obviously haven’t sat well with the former cast. So with all that, you can’t help wonder why this guy would want to go back.

Despite all the controversy, Diamond says he has nothing but good memories of his former cast members and many stories from his book were taken out of context. That’s good news because Bayside without Screech isn’t really Bayside at all.

Image: AutoStraddle

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Dustin Diamond Returns To Bayside In ‘Saved By The Bell’ Sketch

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, five editors at The Huffington Post got together to rank characters in the “Star Wars” universe, from Jar-Jar Binks to best. The subjective list weighed a number of factors — cultural imprint, importance to the story, coolness and whether or not the characters were toys we wanted to own right now as children. With this list, you’ll disagree. In the comments, let us know. And may the Force be with you. Always. 73. Jar Jar Binks (pictured) 72. Anakin Skywalker 71. Greedo (who shot first) 70. Nute Gunray 69. Boss Nass 68. Watto 67. Characters from chess board on…

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, five editors at The Huffington Post got together to rank characters in the “Star Wars” universe, from Jar-Jar Binks to best. The subjective list weighed a number of factors — cultural imprint, importance to the story, coolness and whether or not the characters were toys we wanted to own right now as children.

With this list, you’ll disagree. In the comments, let us know. And may the Force be with you. Always.

73. Jar Jar Binks (pictured)

72. Anakin Skywalker

71. Greedo (who shot first)

70. Nute Gunray

69. Boss Nass

68. Watto

67. Characters from chess board on Millennium Falcon

66. All power converter salesmen at Tosche Station

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65. Sebulba (pictured)

64. Oola, Jabba’s dancer

63. Malakili, rancor keeper

62. Shmi Skywalker

61. Saché

60. Sabé

59. Zam Wesell

58. General Veers

57. Exogorth

56. Bail Organa (pictured)

55. IG 88

54. Bib Fortuna

53. Gamorrean Guards

52. Dianoga

51. The Sarlacc

50. Admiral Ozzel

49. Uncle Owen (pictured)

48. Aunt Beru (pictured)

47. Plo Koon

46. Bothan spies

45. Wampa

44. Tauntauns

43. Kit Fisto

42. Bossk

41. Dak Ralter

40. Shaak Ti

39. Jango Fett

38. Admiral Motti (whose lack of faith was disturbing)

37. Jek Porkins

36. Ki-Adi-Mundi

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35. Count Dooku (pictured)

34. General Grievous

33. All the Ewoks except Wicket

32. Salacious B. Crumb

31. Imperial Guards

30. Wicket

29. Mace Windu

28. Lobot

27. All the Jawas

26. Greedo (who didn’t shoot first)

25. All the Tusken Raiders

24. Padmé Amidala (pictured)

23. Nien Nunb

22. Figrin D’an and The Modal Nodes

21. Wedge Antilles

20. Mon Mothma

A leading figure in the Rebel Alliance, Mon Mothma briefs the rebel forces before the Battle of Endor. Remember: Many Bothans died to bring us these rankings. — Chris Greenberg

19. Rancor

A rancor is classified as a large, carnivorous reptomammal, and reptomammal is one of the coolest words to ever exist. Permitting you have an appropriately sized pit, there is no excuse for you to not have a rancor as a pet. — Ryan Kristobak

18. Stormtroopers

Even before John Boyega popped up in a Stormtrooper uniform, Stormtroopers were pretty cool. — Christopher Rosen

17. Grand Moff Tarkin

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It takes a special kind of Moff to hold Darth Vader’s leash. It takes Grand Moff Tarkin. Entrusted with the keys to the first Death Star by Emperor Palpatine, this high-ranking Imperial official was the man who destroyed Alderaan and nearly wiped out the Rebel Alliance at the Battle of Yavin. Unfortunately for the Empire and himself, Luke Skywalker’s X-wing slipped through his fingers as he tightened his grip on the uprising. — CG

16. Luke Skywalker

Luke is the ostensible everyman of the “Star Wars” universe, the unwitting hero thrust into the middle of a galactic battle that raged long before he was even born. So why is he so annoying? In “A New Hope” and “The Empire Strikes Back,” Luke is such a teen he might as well stomp up the stairs and slam the door to his bedroom. In “Return of the Jedi” his demeanor becomes equal parts smug and cocky, like a college freshman returning to his parents’ house for winter break. It’s all too much. (Meanwhile, Han and Leia are carrying the heavy water for the Rebel Alliance.) Fans might find this controversial, but search your feelings, you know it to be true. — CR

15. Jabba the Hutt

Jabba’s only notable appearance in the franchise comes in “Return of the Jedi” (sorry, Special Edition Jabba in “A New Hope”), but his Tatooine lair is such a world unto its own that the crime lord has remained one of the franchise’s defining figures. The many creatures who inhabit his cave have become just as much a part of his image as their own, from Bib Fortuna and the green slave woman to a band that rivals the Mos Eisley cantina group. Jabba may be a massive blob, but his spittle has earned its spot in the “Star Wars” canon. — Matthew Jacobs

14. Emperor Palpatine

With the ability to deceive and maintain control over most of the galaxy, Emperor Palpatine was arguably the most powerful character in the “Star Wars” universe. But like many villains, his downfall was the result of his overconfidence and pride. He incorrectly believed that he had enslaved Darth Vader to the point of no return. And while the Emperor was the worst of the worst, he’s also kind of fun? Sometimes you just want to obscure your face in your hoodie and let out an twisted, raspy, “Greetings, young Skywalker!” — Andy McDonald

13. Admiral Ackbar

If you believe Admiral Ackbar’s significance lies solely in his leading the attack on the second Death Star, stop that line of thinking — IT’S A … pitfall. Part of what makes Ackbar so meaningful to “Star Wars” is that he is one of the highest-ranking military figures in the Rebel Alliance (Supreme Commander) and a non-human. Ackbar’s existence represents precisely the progressive values held by the rebellion in its battle against a Galactic Empire known for being xenophobic toward non-humans. Okay, but yes, also, fine: IT’S A TRAP! — AM

12. C-3PO

In terms of pure comedic relief, there is no better member of the “Star Wars” ensemble than C-3PO. Fluent in “over 6 million forms of communication,” Threepio is one-half of the best dysfunctional multilingual duo in movie history (alongside R2-D2, of course). The gold droid with the heart of a puppy dog and the temperament of an anxious worrywart is vital in getting the Rebels off of Hoth and Han out of Jabba the Hutt’s palace. He may be an Anakin Skywalker creation, but he’s more fun than any other “Star Wars” character. Just don’t call him a mindless philosopher, you overweight glob of grease! — MJ

11. Darth Maul

There have been few greater collective nerdgasms than the moment when Darth Maul unleashed the second blade of his double-sided lightsaber. (Look at that thing.) Horn-headed, fire-red for eyes and flips for days, Maul is a demon’s whisper that slinks in and out of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan’s peripherals before their epic final confrontation. Basically a manifestation of pure evil, the Sith Lord’s brief but insidious film stint was so haunting, his image has reached further than just the “Star Wars” universe. — RK

10. Lando Calrissian

Hello, what have we here? Lando Calrissian, of course. The true rapscallion of the “Star Wars” universe, Lando was a classic anti-hero in “The Empire Strikes Back.” Full redemption came later in “Return of the Jedi,” but the real reason he’s listed here is because of the way he says “Han” and “Chewbacca.” — CR

9. Qui-Gon Jinn

When the Jedi High Council hands down a decision, the Jedi Order listens without question. Everyone, that is, except for Qui-Gon Jinn. An O.G. Jedi badass, Qui-Gon asked the difficult questions while simultaneously showing love for even the smallest and seemingly most insignificant beings (seriously, he even liked Jar-Jar). Outside his many words of wisdom, we have Jinn to thank for discovering the Chosen One. — RK

8. Chewbacca

Is there a more lovable, oversized fuzzball than Chewbacca? If only we all had a sidekick as loyal as Han Solo’s Wookiee, who’s committed to protecting him after Han is dismissed from the Imperial Navy for refusing to kill Chewie. (We just went expanded universe on you guys.) He’s more than just friendly devotion and animalistic wails, though. Chewbacca convinces Han to turn back when he wants to abandon the Rebels in “A New Hope,” and how would the Millennium Falcon’s hyperdrive functions cooperate without his handiwork? He saved Yoda in “Revenge of the Sith,” and he basically gets the final word (so to speak) in “A New Hope.” He may seem like a “walking carpet,” but The Force would fall apart without our old pal Chewie. — MJ

7. Yoda

What to be said, need be? Yoda is one of the most recognizable characters in all of pop culture. He’s one of the wisest and most powerful of all the Jedi. A speech pattern named after him he has. In “Empire Strikes Back,” he’s introduced as a goofy little green muppet — but with the soul of a philosopher. By “Return Of The Jedi,” as you sadly watch Yoda fade away into “forever sleep,” you completely forget that he’s made of cloth and latex. That’s when you walk out of the room and tell your friends there’s “something in your eye.” — AM

6. R2-D2

The case can be made that with a few bloops and bleeps, R2-D2 is the most charming member of the “Star Wars” universe. The extremely well put-together droid is sassy in a way that makes him endearing — he doesn’t put up with C-3PO’s antics, for instance, and displays no fear in the face of the evil Empire. He’s also loyal: look at how hard he works to find Obi-Wan in “Episode IV” as evidence. Speaking of which: Without R2-D2’s bravery, would the events of “A New Hope” even occur? If Princess Leia had give the Death Star plans to C-3PO, we’d all be wearing drab grey uniforms and worshiping at the feet of Darth Vader. Hero status: legit. — CR

5. Boba Fett

It’s one thing to have a lot of great lines or amazing appearances in a film, but it’s quite another to have almost zero dialogue, just a handful of scenes, and still be seen as one of the most terrific characters in the entire series. But that’s Boba Fett. When even Darth Vader shows a modicum of respect for you, that’s saying something. And though the prequels killed his tough-guy image a bit — and the original trilogy … well, just killed him altogether (pre-expanded universe) — Boba Fett is a character whose likeness is forever canonized. And not by George Lucas or some poorly conceived prequels, but by the fans. Like his Mandalorian armor, Fett’s legend is not easily compromised. — AM

4. Obi-Wan Kenobi

From the first moment we see him as a Padawan to his days in recluse as Ben Kenobi, Obi-Wan’s resolve, patience and excellent lightsaber skills make him one of the most important Jedis to ever exist. Look at this resume: He was the first Jedi to defeat a Sith Lord in approximately 1,000 years, routing on Darth Maul when all hope seemed lost. He conquers Anakin in combat, and despite all of the egregious actions his former Padawan has undertaken (younglings, guys, Anakin killed younglings), Obi-Wan chooses not to end his pupil’s life (because Obi-Wan’s love runs too deep for his friend). And in the end, Obi-Wan sacrifices his life so that Luke can become the Jedi he was destined to be. True, compassionate and genuinely good, Obi-Wan is what makes a man a man. — RK

3. Leia Organa

Rebel. Politician. Soldier. Diplomat. Sex Symbol. Princess. Leia Organa is the woman that women want to be and that sibling Jedi and smugglers want to be with. From the moment her ship, Tantive IV, enters the screen carrying those stolen plans in “A New Hope,” this fearless and feisty heroine goes where most Galactic males feared to tread. Though she may look the part of the damsel, Leia doesn’t do distress, even when she’s in grave danger. She withstands Darth Vader’s torture on the first Death Star and gets fatal revenge on Jabba The Hutt for objectifying her with that iconic metal bikini. A one-woman committee for change in the galaxy, Leia also lands Han Solo and turns out to be Force-sensitive. — CG

2. Darth Vader

The first time Darth Vader ever appeared onscreen, he was cloaked in a haze of white exhaust from a Stormtrooper shootout. As his black cape comes into view, everyone flees — and one of cinema’s most iconic villains is born. There may be no movie character more synonymous with a few bars of music than Darth Vader is with the Imperial March. Over the course of the original “Star Wars” trilogy (we’re not talking about Anakin Skywalker here), Darth Vader’s guttural voice and masked visage gave us many of the franchise’s most memorable quotes (“I find your lack of faith disturbing”) and introduced the most terrifying way to die in screen history. Vader ranks behind only Hannibal Lecter and Norman Bates on AFI’s list of the greatest movie villains of all time, but surely neither of the other two has sold more than his body weight in toys and memorabilia. Impressive. Most impressive. — MJ

1. Han Solo

Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be smugglers. Don’t let ’em fire blasters and drive that old Millennium Falcon. Make ’em be Jedi and Imperial Governors and such. Unless, of course, you want them to be like Han Solo. A scoundrel with a heart of gold, Solo is the dashing, world(s)-weary cynic who shoots first and fixes the hyperdrive later. He may have joined up with Rebellion for the paycheck and not the ideals, but that didn’t stop him from helping to destroy a few Death Stars along the way. Don’t worry, he knows you love him. — CG

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Ranking 73 ‘Star Wars’ Characters (Yes, Even Horrible Jar Jar Binks)

The fatal shooting of a black Missouri teenager who allegedly pointed a gun at a white police officer late Tuesday night was labeled a “tragedy” for the teen’s family and the cop who pulled the trigger. “This is a tragedy for everybody. Our hearts certainly go out to the decedent’s family,” St. Louis County Chief of Police Jon Belmar said at a press conference early Wednesday. “This is also a tragedy for the officer’s family. He will carry the weight of this for the rest of his life, certainly for the rest of his career.” Belmar made the remarks while giving a preliminary account of …

The fatal shooting of a black Missouri teenager who allegedly pointed a gun at a white police officer late Tuesday night was labeled a “tragedy” for the teen’s family and the cop who pulled the trigger.

“This is a tragedy for everybody. Our hearts certainly go out to the decedent’s family,” St. Louis County Chief of Police Jon Belmar said at a press conference early Wednesday. “This is also a tragedy for the officer’s family. He will carry the weight of this for the rest of his life, certainly for the rest of his career.”

Belmar made the remarks while giving a preliminary account of the shooting of the 18-year-old, which happened at a gas station in Berkeley, a St. Louis suburb near Ferguson.

An unnamed, six-year veteran of the Berkeley force fired about three shots at the teen because he allegedly pointed a gun at the officer, according to Belmar. The teen did not shoot at the officer, Belmar said.

The 34-year-old officer was summoned by reports of a theft to the Mobil station, where he encountered the teen and a friend. Belmar said the officer tried questioning the teen, but that he disobeyed the officer’s commands to stay put.

The teen “produced a pistol with his arm straight out, pointing at the officer,” at which point Belmar said the cop fired at the teen. The person who was with the teen fled, police claim.

“The officer responded with commensurate force,” Belmar said. He noted the officer is on leave as the incident is investigated.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has identified the slain teen as Antonio Martin, but Belmar wouldn’t confirm his name at the press conference.

The killing, just a few miles from where ex-officer Darren Wilson shot Michael Brown in August, precipitated clashes between police and protesters overnight. Belmar said bricks were hurled at police and explosive devices were detonated in the Mobil gas station parking lot. An officer from the nearby suburb of St. Ann was injured in the commotion, Belmar said.

It was “understandable” that a crowd would gather there, Belmar said, but he said it was unacceptable for protesters to arm themselves.

Belmar denied claims that officers used tear gas and flash bangs to disperse the crowd last night.

Police released surveillance video from the point at which the teen arrived at the gas station up until when he allegedly points a gun at the Berkeley police officer.

Belmar said he withheld additional footage to spare the teen’s family from seeing him shot.

There have been widespread calls to provide officers with body cameras after incidents such as Brown’s killing. In this case, the officer had been given a body camera earlier in the night, but he didn’t clip it to his uniform, Belmar said.

Belmar said he believes the police car’s dash cam, which is activated when the car’s police lights are on, was not on during the incident.

Some observers have called for officers to use stun guns or pepper spray instead of firearms, but Belmar said such tactics would not work in a situation such as this.

“That’s unreasonable,” Belmar said. “We have somebody pointing a firearm. There’s not time.”

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St. Louis County Police Chief Calls Shooting Of Black Teen By White Cop A ‘Tragedy’

By: Bahar Gholipour Published: 12/24/2014 09:13 AM EST on LiveScience All that texting is changing your brain. A new study shows that the delicate, repetitive finger movements that people use on their smartphone’s touch screen result in a change in the brain’s sensory-processing area. The findings suggest that a common, daily activity such as smartphone use could teach scientists about the details of brain plasticity, which is the ability of the neuronal networks to conform to changes in the body or the environment. “Smartphones offer us an opportunity to understand how normal life shapes the brains of ordinary people,” said study co-author Arko Ghosh, a neuroscientist at …

By: Bahar Gholipour
Published: 12/24/2014 09:13 AM EST on LiveScience

All that texting is changing your brain.

A new study shows that the delicate, repetitive finger movements that people use on their smartphone’s touch screen result in a change in the brain’s sensory-processing area.

The findings suggest that a common, daily activity such as smartphone use could teach scientists about the details of brain plasticity, which is the ability of the neuronal networks to conform to changes in the body or the environment.

“Smartphones offer us an opportunity to understand how normal life shapes the brains of ordinary people,” said study co-author Arko Ghosh, a neuroscientist at University of Zurich in Switzerland.

The body’s entire surface is mapped out in a part of the brain called the somatosensory cortex, which receives signals from sensory receptors on the skin and other organs. So, for example, if you touch something with your fingertip, or if you bite your tongue, the region of the cortex that corresponds with those places in the body would receive the signal.

But these areas can adapt and become more sensitive when a particular part of the body is used frequently. For instance, violinists show greater activity in the somatosensory cortex in response to touch on the little fingertip, compared with people who don’t use their little fingers as much. [4 Unusual Ways Music Can Tune Up the Brain]

In the new study, researchers set out to examine whether people who frequently use their fingers to work with smartphones undergo a change in the somatosensory cortex. They used electroencephalography (EEG) to measure the brain’s electrical activity in response to touch on the thumb, index and middle fingertips. Of the 37 participants in the study, 26 used touch screen smartphones and 11 used old-fashioned cellphones.

The results showed that the people who used the touch screens had greater activity in brain areas associated with the fingertips, compared with those using cellphones.

Interestingly, the researchers said, this change in the processing of sensory information was closely related to how intensely and how frequently people used their fingers, particularly their thumb tip.

“Remarkably, the thumb tip was sensitive to the day-to-day fluctuations in phone use: the shorter the time elapsed from an episode of intense phone use, the larger the cortical potential associated with it,” the researchers wrote in their study, published today (Dec. 23) in the journal Current Biology.

The findings suggest that “repetitive movements on the smooth touch screen reshaped sensory processing from the hand and that the thumb representation was updated daily, depending on its use,” the researchers said.

In other words, the brain may be continually shaped by people’s use of personal digital technology, they said.

• 9 Odd Ways Your Tech Devices May Injure You
• 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Brain
• 11 Odd and Intriguing Smart Home Technologies

Copyright 2014 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Using Your Phone Is Changing Your Brain

As much as we love the holidays, with all of the awful headlines we’ve been confronted with lately, sometimes we can’t help but feel a little bit grinchy. But our foul moods instantly evaporated when the letter below showed up in our inbox. A proud mother tells us that her son, who is in 4th grade, wrote this note to Santa and read it to his class earlier this month. “When he brought the letter home, I knew it was a special letter,” the mother told us in an email sent to The Huffington Post. “He tells me his teacher was crying. The other kids…

As much as we love the holidays, with all of the awful headlines we’ve been confronted with lately, sometimes we can’t help but feel a little bit grinchy.

But our foul moods instantly evaporated when the letter below showed up in our inbox.

A proud mother tells us that her son, who is in 4th grade, wrote this note to Santa and read it to his class earlier this month.

“When he brought the letter home, I knew it was a special letter,” the mother told us in an email sent to The Huffington Post. “He tells me his teacher was crying. The other kids took it in their stride. It’s not a big deal.”

The letter reads:

Dear Santa,

I wish for everyone to have equality[–] black, white, brown, gay, transgender, and every other race. I wish for familys [sic] to love each other even if their [sic] trans or gay. I wish for no shootings, no hate, and no racism. My big sister[’s] name is Molly. She used to be called Sam but she came out as trans [when] she was 18. She took hormones that made her look and sound more like a girl. Luckly [sic] my family and I accepted her, but some familys [sic] are not like that[.] [P]eople have killed their children because of them being transgender or gay. I want that to stop, and start the love.

Love, B

The mother, who is part of an “online support group for parents with trans* youth,” said she’s proud of her son, who has an older sister named Molly, now 20, who identifies as trans.

“He’s obviously paying attention to what is going on. He asks lots of questions and has a great amount of empathy. He has a huge heart and has great pride in his sister,” she writes. “We have had nothing but support from everyone but I know minds need changing and people need educating. If I’m raising a young man to have a voice and to advocate then I’m immensely proud. I don’t think he realizes yet he has the power to move people and touch hearts with his words.”

He certainly moved us and touched our hearts and we have a feeling that once this letter starts making the rounds on the Internet, there will quite a few others who will be feeling the love this holiday season.

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4th Grader Asks Santa For Equality, Writes About Transgender Sister

Nothing gets us more in the holiday mood than our favorite yuletide tunes. From Mariah Carey singing “All I Want For Christmas Is You” to John Coltrane’s “Favorite Things,” the wide-ranging tastes of the HuffPost BlackVoices editors have managed to compile a pretty eclectic mix. Check out our playlist of holiday classics past and present to complement this month’s festivities.

Nothing gets us more in the holiday mood than our favorite yuletide tunes.

From Mariah Carey singing “All I Want For Christmas Is You” to John Coltrane’s “Favorite Things,” the wide-ranging tastes of the HuffPost BlackVoices editors have managed to compile a pretty eclectic mix. Check out our playlist of holiday classics past and present to complement this month’s festivities.

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21 Christmas Jingles To Compliment Your Holiday Season (LISTEN)

It seems like yesterday everyone was swooning over Lupita Nygon’o’s red carpet moment at the Oscars, and now it’s the end of 2014, and we’re rounding up the top moments that really made this year beautiful AND controversial. While we could talk about Nyong’o all day long, there were some other stars that made us wish we could slow down the year. For example, we got the chance to pretty up our faces with some cool makeup collections from the likes of a legendary cartoon character and a teenaged heroine. And we found out that Hollywood, once again, was keen to one hairstyle and one hairstyle only. But, of …

It seems like yesterday everyone was swooning over Lupita Nygon’o’s red carpet moment at the Oscars, and now it’s the end of 2014, and we’re rounding up the top moments that really made this year beautiful AND controversial.

While we could talk about Nyong’o all day long, there were some other stars that made us wish we could slow down the year. For example, we got the chance to pretty up our faces with some cool makeup collections from the likes of a legendary cartoon character and a teenaged heroine. And we found out that Hollywood, once again, was keen to one hairstyle and one hairstyle only.

But, of course there couldn’t be a full 12-month run without a little bit of scandal. Natural hair came into the spotlight yet again, but this time it involved Blue Ivy, which was a super low blow.

So, as we think about the beauty trends and crazes we’ll employ in the new year, let’s not forget about 2014 and its role in breaking barriers.

Here’s a list of all the beauty moments from this year that are still hot topics. Are we missing anything? Let us know in the comments section below.

Mature Women Took Over Beauty Campaigns

Who runs the world? Women over 50 do. It was quite refreshing to see fierce, talented and mature women like Jessica Lange, Charlotte Rampling, Tilda Swinton and Helen Mirren front major cosmetics campaigns this year — proving age ain’t nothing but a number.

The Knowles-Carter Family Got Flak Over Their Natural Hair

Remember that outrageous Blue Ivy “Comb Her Hair” petition? Even Auntie Solange wasn’t spared from nasty comments about her wedding day Afro.

Listen up people, ALL hair is good hair!

Everyone Had A Makeup Collection This Year

And we mean EVERYONE.

MAC Cosmetics stood out with their high-profile collaborations, including Sharon and Kelly Osbourne, Lorde and Marge Simpson. Gucci’s former creative director Frida Giannini teamed up with makeup queen Pat McGrath to introduce the luxury brand’s impressive lineup of cream shadow, rich lipsticks and golden bronzers. But Karl Lagerfeld’s much-adored cat Choupette shocked us by snagging her own line with Japanese brand Shu Uemura.

Lupita Nyong’o’s Winning Year

We already knew the 31-year-old was a star when she brought us to tears with her Oscar-winning performance in “12 Years a Slave.” But we couldn’t help but get even more emotional each time we walked by a newsstand, billboard or TV and caught a glimpse of Nyong’o’s flawless face and brilliant smile. Her presence on and beyond the big screen brought greater hope to black girls and women everywhere.

Beauty Becomes More Convenient

Technology isn’t something we usually talk about in respect to beauty, but there were some major moments this year that made makeup and skincare more convenient.

Target went premium in its skincare aisle, offering brands like La Roche-Posay and Laneige, making higher-end products more accessible. For on-the-go manicures, there were Essie polish vending machines and we found out that getting makeup from our office printer could be the way of the future. Finally, UK-based company Lipcote saved our lives with a lipstick search engine.

Male Celebs Get All “Long Hair Don’t Care”

From Jared Leto’s ombré mane and Cary Fukunaga’s French braids to Harry Styles’ top knot game, we spent most of 2K14 convincing the guys in our lives to grow out their locks. Seriously.

Traditional Standards Get Shattered

There were some amazing women who made huge strides to break down and redefine society’s standard of beauty. Melanie Gaydos, Abi Ishola, Laverne Cox, Janet Mock, Lea T. and Cheri Lindsay — get to know them.

The Jenner Sisters Stand On Their Own

Finally, the Jenner sisters stepped out of the Kardashian shadow and did things on their own terms. Kendall not only walked down the hottest runways, but she also landed a major beauty contract as the new face of Estée Lauder. On the other hand, Kylie gave us the gift of fake hair with her own extensions collection. Looks like we need to keep up with the Jenners more often.

We Got The Simple Secret To Anti-Aging From Cindy Crawford

And her message is clear: aging gracefully is the key to living one’s best life.

Kale Still Rules Our Lives… In A Weird Way

Just when we thought kale was out as the ultimate superfood, it crunched back into our lives this year via nail polish. Yep, that’s right. Alexa Chung introduced us to kale-infused lacquer for her Nails Inc. collection. Of course, the leafy veggie found its way into other products, too.

Eyebrow Wigs Go Viral

Lacefront eyebrows have been around for a while, but this year the faux hair became popular. So big, in fact, that one shop in Houston, Texas sold out of their supply. Although the idea of fake eyebrows sounds a little weird, they definitely benefit women and men who have suffered hair loss due to illness and medical treatments. Three cheers for bangin’ brows!

Bold Lipstick Was All Over The Color Spectrum

Somewhere over the 2014 rainbow, lipsticks of all colors were seen on the runways and red carpets. We freaked out over some major lippie moments: like the vampy vibes from the Met Gala, super cool blue on the Ann Yee catwalk and, of course, the resurgence of Taylor Swift red lipstick… and its darker companion. If that wasn’t enough, lip color surprisingly gave us some psychological benefits — so there’s that.

Makeup Gets A #Normcore Makeover

Okay, okay, so normcore wasn’t really our jam, but hear us out. Nail art went back to basics with minimalist manicures, while skin was totally in with “no makeup-makeup.” As far as bleached eyebrows go, let’s just say that happened again.

The Year Of The Lob

This hair trend all started (in our opinion) with Victoria Beckham back in her Spice Girls days. But this year, it seems as though everyone in Hollywood chopped off their locks and hair extensions into a lob haircut. What really made this ‘do a do, was it’s ability to work on every face shape, with every hair color and remain fresh throughout each season.

Original article:

14 Beauty Moments From 2014 That Folks Are Still Buzzing About

LOS ANGELES, Dec 24 (Reuters) – A song poking fun at the killing of black teenager Michael Brown by a white policeman, performed at a retired officer’s party, has prompted the Los Angeles Police Department to launch an internal investigation, its chief said on Tuesday. “Michael Brown learned a lesson about a messin’ with a badass policeman,” goes the song, captured on video and posted on entertainment news website TMZ. It continues: “Michael looked like some old Swiss cheese” … his brain “splattered on the floor.” The video is likely to fuel public anger over police killings of black men. About 200 people marched in New York on Tuesday, defying Mayor Bill de Blasio’s call for protests to be suspended after two…

LOS ANGELES, Dec 24 (Reuters) – A song poking fun at the killing of black teenager Michael Brown by a white policeman, performed at a retired officer’s party, has prompted the Los Angeles Police Department to launch an internal investigation, its chief said on Tuesday.

“Michael Brown learned a lesson about a messin’ with a badass policeman,” goes the song, captured on video and posted on entertainment news website TMZ. It continues: “Michael looked like some old Swiss cheese” … his brain “splattered on the floor.”

The video is likely to fuel public anger over police killings of black men. About 200 people marched in New York on Tuesday, defying Mayor Bill de Blasio’s call for protests to be suspended after two police officers were killed in their patrol car on Saturday in an apparent revenge attack.

Late on Tuesday an 18-year-old black man was shot and killed by police in a St. Louis suburb near where unarmed Brown was killed by in August. Police said the man had pointed a handgun at the officer who shot him.

Commenting on the song, Chief Charlie Beck said on Twitter: “Like many of you, I find it offensive & absurd. It does not reflect the values of the #LAPD.”

“I have directed our Professional Standards Bureau to look into this & determine if any active department employees were involved.”

An LAPD spokesman declined further comment.

The song, which changed the lyrics to “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” a 1973 hit by American folk rock singer Jim Croce, was performed at a party organized by a retired LAPD officer at an Elks Lodge in the Los Angeles suburb Glendale on Dec. 15, local media reported.

A trustee for the lodge, in a statement to LA Weekly, apologized for the song, which he called inappropriate and said does not reflect the group’s values.

A lawyer for the singer, identified as Gary Fishell, a former private investigator, is quoted by TMZ as saying: “He’s a goofball who writes funny songs,” adding that he had now realized the song was “off color and in poor taste.” (Editing by Eric M. Johnson and Robin Pomeroy)

Originally from:  

LAPD Launch Investigation After Song Mocking Michael Brown Performed At Retired Cop’s Party