The Off Topic Topic

[Syt]

Die Zeit is running a series with a news story from exactly 100 years ago.

Apparently, 100 years ago today, the first black deputy was elected to French parliament:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaise_Diagne

Background

Born from a Serer father, Niokhor Diagne and a Manjack mother originating in Guinea-Bissau, Gnagna Anthony Preira, Galaye Mbaye Diagne was born in Gorée, Senegal, he was later adopted by a Christian family who baptised him Blaise. He studied in France before joining the French customs service in 1892. He served in Dahomey (modern day Benin), French Congo (now Republic of the Congo), Réunion, Madagascar, and French Guiana. In September 1899, while in Réunion, Diagne became a freemason, joining a lodge affiliated with the Grand Orient de France.

Political career

Diagne was elected to the Chamber of Deputies of France in 1914 as Senegal's representative. He was reelected several times, serving until his death in 1934. From 1914 to 1917 he caucused with the Marxist-socialist Section française de l'Internationale ouvrière, forerunner of the French Socialist Party, before affiliating with the Independents led by Georges Mandel. In 1914 after recently becoming the newly elected deputy of Senegal, Blaise Diagne was critical in the government intervention in an outbreak of plague which struck Dakar. In 1916 Diagne convinced the French parliament to approve a law (Loi "Blaise Diagne") granting full citizenship to all residents of the so-called Four Communes in Senegal: Dakar, Gorée, Saint-Louis, and Rufisque. This measure constituted a considerable element of the French colonial policy of a "civilizing mission" (mission civilisatrice). He was a leading recruiter for the French army during World War I, when thousands of black West Africans fought on the Western Front for France.

After the war, Diagne embarked on an administrative career in addition to his responsibilities as a parliamentary deputy. From October 1918 to January 1920 he served as Commissioner General of the Ministry of Colonies with supervision of military personnel from the colonies and workers from France's African possessions. He represented France in the International Labor Office, the secretariat of the International Labor Organization, in 1930. From January 1931 to February 1932 he was Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, a junior level cabinet position. From 1920 to 1934 he served as mayor of Dakar.

He died in Cambo-les-Bains in 1934.

[Duque de Bragança]

Die Zeit is running a series with a news story from exactly 100 years ago.

Apparently, 100 years ago today, the first black deputy was elected to French parliament:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaise_Diagne

Background

Born from a Serer father, Niokhor Diagne and a Manjack mother originating in Guinea-Bissau, Gnagna Anthony Preira, Galaye Mbaye Diagne was born in Gorée, Senegal, he was later adopted by a Christian family who baptised him Blaise. He studied in France before joining the French customs service in 1892. He served in Dahomey (modern day Benin), French Congo (now Republic of the Congo), Réunion, Madagascar, and French Guiana. In September 1899, while in Réunion, Diagne became a freemason, joining a lodge affiliated with the Grand Orient de France.

Political career

Diagne was elected to the Chamber of Deputies of France in 1914 as Senegal's representative. He was reelected several times, serving until his death in 1934. From 1914 to 1917 he caucused with the Marxist-socialist Section française de l'Internationale ouvrière, forerunner of the French Socialist Party, before affiliating with the Independents led by Georges Mandel. In 1914 after recently becoming the newly elected deputy of Senegal, Blaise Diagne was critical in the government intervention in an outbreak of plague which struck Dakar. In 1916 Diagne convinced the French parliament to approve a law (Loi "Blaise Diagne") granting full citizenship to all residents of the so-called Four Communes in Senegal: Dakar, Gorée, Saint-Louis, and Rufisque. This measure constituted a considerable element of the French colonial policy of a "civilizing mission" (mission civilisatrice). He was a leading recruiter for the French army during World War I, when thousands of black West Africans fought on the Western Front for France.

After the war, Diagne embarked on an administrative career in addition to his responsibilities as a parliamentary deputy. From October 1918 to January 1920 he served as Commissioner General of the Ministry of Colonies with supervision of military personnel from the colonies and workers from France's African possessions. He represented France in the International Labor Office, the secretariat of the International Labor Organization, in 1930. From January 1931 to February 1932 he was Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, a junior level cabinet position. From 1920 to 1934 he served as mayor of Dakar.

He died in Cambo-les-Bains in 1934.

They had to import it from the Porkchops LULZ
As for the first Black elected, nope but first African indeed. Blacks from the French America (Guyane or Antilles) had been elected before. One of them even voted for full constituing powers to Pétain later on http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratien_Candace

The first one dates from the French Revolution

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Belley

[Syt]

Spurious correlations:

http://www.tylervigen.com/

[Liep]

The Danish parliament had a video made to encourage young people to vote for the EU election. It has now been retracted because of widespread outrage over it and its violent and sexual content.

Guardian article and NSFW election video:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/13/denmark-voteman-violent-cartoon-ballot-election-european

[Josquius]

The Danish parliament had a video made to encourage young people to vote for the EU election. It has now been retracted because of widespread outrage over it and its violent and sexual content.

Guardian article and NSFW election video:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/13/denmark-voteman-violent-cartoon-ballot-election-european

But....Denmark....

[alfred russel]

The ad is sending mixed messages.

The ad says to vote, but then when it says what voting does it lists a bunch of boring shit. On the other hand, the people not voting seem to be having fun.

[Brazen]

US Navy develops really crappy e-reader:

http://www.naval-technology.com/features/featureus-navy-develops-worlds-worst-e-reader-4265782/

[Barrister]

US Navy develops really crappy e-reader:

http://www.naval-technology.com/features/featureus-navy-develops-worlds-worst-e-reader-4265782/

NeRD?

You sure it isn't April 1 today?

[garbon]

It always warms my heart to see tax dollars hard at work.

[Josquius]

Speaking of which I didn't notice mention of costs there

[CountDeMoney]

It always warms my heart to see tax dollars hard at work.

Think of all the money it saves in not buying books, because you'd probably bitch about that, too.

[derspiess]

Seedy luvs government waste.

[garbon]

It always warms my heart to see tax dollars hard at work.

Think of all the money it saves in not buying books, because you'd probably bitch about that, too.

Yes I'm sure buying books is more expensive than developing a shitty version of existing technology - that from that unflattering description looks like it won't necessarily see widespread use.

[The Brain]

I have mine still.

OK Shakespearean hillbilly.

[derspiess]

I have mine still.

OK Shakespearean hillbilly.

 

A buddy of mine got bored brewing beer and built his own still.  I guess homemade moonshine is the trendy thing now.