Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... " While Airbnb might not be the root cause of inequality and gentrification, they are enabling behavior by property owners and investors which directly impacts the housing supply for regular New Yorkers (in a city with a very high percentage of renters). This includes not only renting rooms and apartments to tourists that have historically been rented to residents, but also includes buying and renovating real estate just for the purpose of renting to tourists. Some of the intersections of Airbnb with gentrification are profound. Desirable properties close to Manhattan in under-priced neighborhoods are attractive to both tourists and gentrifiers. I noticed the large number of listings in gentrifying neighborhoods like Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights and Bushwick."

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... I'm not sure if ice cream is a typical migraine palliative, but I'm on day two of a wicked one and I'm considering finishing off the whole container as a distraction. How bad of a migraine? I COULDN'T PLAY VIDEO GAMES. And that little yell actually hurt my ears. Why am I on Facebook? Because I need something to keep me occupied until my meds kick in. If they do. Funny and cute pictures, please. And shhhh, not so loud please. And if someone could bring my the carton and a spoon....

Darlene Pineda

via Facebook... This. " But while the sharp uptick of U.S. drone strikes has succeeded in taking out a handful of key figures, including AQAP deputy emir Said al-Shihri and charismatic extremist cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, the barrage of remotely operated American airpower has failed to deliver anything resembling a knock-out punch to the terror group. Yemenis overwhelmingly oppose the strikes, which they see as violations of the nation’s sovereignty and the rule of law. These misgivings have only been heightened by a series of civilian casualties resulting from the strikes. A number of observers—including former U.S. deputy ambassador to Yemen Nabil Khoury—have vocally criticized the strikes, arguing that they ultimately risk creating as many militants as they kill, ironically threatening to inflame anti-American sentiments to the point of spurring the very attacks the U.S. is aiming to prevent."