This sight is providing 10 action for us to do over the next 100 days. They have only reveled the first one and it is really easy to accomplish on your own. Check it out! We had card stock left over from my training days. With a quick check on the steps, we printed out 40 postcards in minutes! Now all we need to do is fill them out, stamp and mail!
(https://www.womensmarch.com/100/)
“Amendment 1 - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” Attributed to Winston Churchill
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
1st Amendment Assaults
I think Yates can be proud of her stand. It’s not like she was fired by Obama. Being the first to be fired by this president is the biggest badge of honor! The key element in the oath of office for all federal government employees and military personnel is “. . . will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” SHE did - HE didn’t!
As if the latest Executive Order banning Muslims (US citizens, US green card holders, US visa holders, etc. etc. etc.) from lawful entrance to America, “presidents” Bannon and Conway continue the attacks on the press. From the old, “You will eat your spinach, and like it young man!” to “You talk nice about us or you will be put in time out (FIRED)!”
They just can’t stand an independent FREE press! Heaven forbid that the truth should be told to the American people who pay their salaries and that of the REAL* president! I think Sean Spicer, who supposedly has political experience at least from working for the Republican party, is a fish out of water. He is not suited for the role he must play nor for kowtowing to the president. I think he is a short-timer. He is not Trump and fails at that impersonation!
*I know it was hard to type that word but I couldn’t really find one that would convey the right tone without being disrespectful of the office.
“Amendment 1 - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” Attributed to Winston Churchill
As if the latest Executive Order banning Muslims (US citizens, US green card holders, US visa holders, etc. etc. etc.) from lawful entrance to America, “presidents” Bannon and Conway continue the attacks on the press. From the old, “You will eat your spinach, and like it young man!” to “You talk nice about us or you will be put in time out (FIRED)!”
They just can’t stand an independent FREE press! Heaven forbid that the truth should be told to the American people who pay their salaries and that of the REAL* president! I think Sean Spicer, who supposedly has political experience at least from working for the Republican party, is a fish out of water. He is not suited for the role he must play nor for kowtowing to the president. I think he is a short-timer. He is not Trump and fails at that impersonation!
*I know it was hard to type that word but I couldn’t really find one that would convey the right tone without being disrespectful of the office.
“Amendment 1 - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” Attributed to Winston Churchill
Saturday, January 28, 2017
UPDATED - The President's Immigration Executive Order
Guess what! More than 50 years ago, Congress outlawed such discrimination against immigrants based on national origin. (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/27/opinion/trumps-immigration-ban-is-illegal.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-left-region®ion=opinion-c-col-left-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region). So, you could include this in your email.
Below is the text of the message that I have just sent to both of my Senators and my Representative. Feel free to borrow my text in your own emails to Washington, DC. Thank you!
Please please do something! The President’s immigration executive order needs to be stopped! There have been no fatal terror attacks in the US by immigrants from the 7 banned Muslim countries (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/no-terror-attacks-muslim-ban-7-countries-trump_us_588b5a1fe4b0230ce61b4b93?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009)! He says he would prioritize resettling Christians over other refugees! (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-christian-refugees-syria_us_588bb872e4b0b065cbbbf26f?qphtqwf9sqgehr529&&)! Has he never read the US Constitution – the 1st Amendment – “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; . . .”
I know I have called about not confirming De Vos and Price but this is more important than even those departments! We are talking about other people – men, women and children. Let us not repeat the shameful acts of the 1930s and early 1940s with respect to Jewish immigrants! (https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007652).
I know you probably don’t need all of these links but please please do something! This is so sad and heart breaking! Really what would Jesus have said or done about this. I don’t need a response I need you to act!
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
Below is the text of the message that I have just sent to both of my Senators and my Representative. Feel free to borrow my text in your own emails to Washington, DC. Thank you!
Please please do something! The President’s immigration executive order needs to be stopped! There have been no fatal terror attacks in the US by immigrants from the 7 banned Muslim countries (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/no-terror-attacks-muslim-ban-7-countries-trump_us_588b5a1fe4b0230ce61b4b93?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009)! He says he would prioritize resettling Christians over other refugees! (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-christian-refugees-syria_us_588bb872e4b0b065cbbbf26f?qphtqwf9sqgehr529&&)! Has he never read the US Constitution – the 1st Amendment – “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; . . .”
I know I have called about not confirming De Vos and Price but this is more important than even those departments! We are talking about other people – men, women and children. Let us not repeat the shameful acts of the 1930s and early 1940s with respect to Jewish immigrants! (https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007652).
I know you probably don’t need all of these links but please please do something! This is so sad and heart breaking! Really what would Jesus have said or done about this. I don’t need a response I need you to act!
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
Friday, January 27, 2017
I don't know about you but I'm . . .
sending this (How the Nazis Took Control of Germany) to everyone I know, including my representative/and senators in Washington. Best to be aware than to be surprised.
(http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/01/27/how-the-nazis-took-control-of-germany.html)
Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
(http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/01/27/how-the-nazis-took-control-of-germany.html)
Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
Isn't it IRONIC
Our Vice-President-elect wants to keep the public from accessing HIS EMAILS. Note, these are not personal emails but from when he was Governor of Indiana (a public office). Isn’t it IRONIC!
(http://m.dailykos.com/stories/1599136)
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”― Edmund Burke (in a letter addressed to Thomas Mercer).
(http://m.dailykos.com/stories/1599136)
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”― Edmund Burke (in a letter addressed to Thomas Mercer).
Not Exactly a 1st Amendment Issue but Important None the Less
A little clarification on the President’s Immigration Ban that you might find interesting enough to forward on.
(http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/27/1625863/-Trump-s-immigration-ban-just-happens-to-miss-countries-where-Trump-has-businesses)
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
(http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/27/1625863/-Trump-s-immigration-ban-just-happens-to-miss-countries-where-Trump-has-businesses)
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Contact Speaker Paul Ryan
Tell everyone you know
Since Paul Ryan has blocked his office phones and fax numbers, and is turning away people who show up to deliver petitions, it's time to change tactics.
Please mail post cards to his home address saying NO to defunding Planned Parenthood*, NO to repealing the Affordable Care Act, and NO to privatizing Medicare!
PAUL RYAN
700 ST. LAWRENCE AVE.
JANESVILLE, WI 53545
Please copy and paste this info and share. Let's see what 67 million cards in the driveway looks like.
*For those of you who may not know the Hyde Amendment already prevents funding for abortions. Here’s a link that explains the current Planned Parenthood funding.
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
Since Paul Ryan has blocked his office phones and fax numbers, and is turning away people who show up to deliver petitions, it's time to change tactics.
Please mail post cards to his home address saying NO to defunding Planned Parenthood*, NO to repealing the Affordable Care Act, and NO to privatizing Medicare!
PAUL RYAN
700 ST. LAWRENCE AVE.
JANESVILLE, WI 53545
Please copy and paste this info and share. Let's see what 67 million cards in the driveway looks like.
*For those of you who may not know the Hyde Amendment already prevents funding for abortions. Here’s a link that explains the current Planned Parenthood funding.
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
The President's Conflicts of Interest
Can you give something three minutes?
If you want to support Senator Warren's request to audit President Trump's finances for conflicts of interest, the woman who answered the phone at the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office said the most effective way to be sure your support counted was to email two administrators, Katherine Siggerud and Timothy Minnelli.
There is a third email address for tracking people who are urging support for the audit.
Send ONE email addressed to:
(1) siggerudk@gao.gov
(2) minnellit@gao.gov
(3) congrel@gao.gov
Subject line: Audit for President Trump's financial concerns
Dear Ms. Siggerud and Mr. Minnelli,
I’m writing in support of Senator Elizabeth Warren's request for an audit of President Trump's finances in order to prohibit conflicts of interest that would prevent him from carrying out the responsibilities of the office without corrupt influence.
Sincerely,
Cut and paste this...and send away....
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
If you want to support Senator Warren's request to audit President Trump's finances for conflicts of interest, the woman who answered the phone at the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office said the most effective way to be sure your support counted was to email two administrators, Katherine Siggerud and Timothy Minnelli.
There is a third email address for tracking people who are urging support for the audit.
Send ONE email addressed to:
(1) siggerudk@gao.gov
(2) minnellit@gao.gov
(3) congrel@gao.gov
Subject line: Audit for President Trump's financial concerns
Dear Ms. Siggerud and Mr. Minnelli,
I’m writing in support of Senator Elizabeth Warren's request for an audit of President Trump's finances in order to prohibit conflicts of interest that would prevent him from carrying out the responsibilities of the office without corrupt influence.
Sincerely,
Cut and paste this...and send away....
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
Like the president, Steve Bannon swore to uphold the constitution in his own oath of office. Now, he threatens the press to shut up.
(https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/26/business/media/stephen-bannon-trump-news-media.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=b-lede-package-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news)
While I have a lot of thoughts on the topic – 1st Amendment, I am going to leave it to Jake Tapper’s response. I couldn’t have said it better or need to add more.
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jake-tapper-steve-banno-model-for-journalists-everywhere_us_588ab632e4b0303c0752e618?gj2m9zn4ndwo8ncdi&)
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
(https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/26/business/media/stephen-bannon-trump-news-media.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=b-lede-package-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news)
While I have a lot of thoughts on the topic – 1st Amendment, I am going to leave it to Jake Tapper’s response. I couldn’t have said it better or need to add more.
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jake-tapper-steve-banno-model-for-journalists-everywhere_us_588ab632e4b0303c0752e618?gj2m9zn4ndwo8ncdi&)
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
The President's Tax Return
Check out (and please sign) this petition to the White House that the President release to the public his tax return. He believes that it is only the press that want to see his tax returns. Show him that we, the public, also want to see the tax returns for conflicts of interest.
(https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/immediately-release-donald-trumps-full-tax-returns-all-information-needed-verify-emoluments-clause-compliance)
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
(https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/immediately-release-donald-trumps-full-tax-returns-all-information-needed-verify-emoluments-clause-compliance)
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
Sunday, January 22, 2017
People Are Calling This Song The Anthem Of The Women's March Movement - BuzzFeed News
Whether or not it is the anthem - it is beautiful! Enjoy!
(https://www.buzzfeed.com/adolfoflores/people-are-calling-this-song-the-anthem-of-the-womens-march?utm_term=.vin7wg7pm)
(https://www.buzzfeed.com/adolfoflores/people-are-calling-this-song-the-anthem-of-the-womens-march?utm_term=.vin7wg7pm)
Laugh When People Don't "Tell The Truth Or Say Stupid Stuff"
The following came from one of my email recipients:
“I really admire Chuck Todd for pressing her [Kellyanne Conway] on truth versus ultimate truth. But he should've responded to her, in my humble opinion, that he's gonna laugh at her when she says stupid things.”
I think that idea is great! Moving forward, I’m going to laugh loud/hard whenever Kellyanne Conway, Sean Spicer, or the President doesn’t tell the truth or says stupid stuff. Remember “Laughter is the Best Medicine” (from the Reader’s Digest). This way I should live another 20-30 years. I hope the money holds out! JJJ
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
“I really admire Chuck Todd for pressing her [Kellyanne Conway] on truth versus ultimate truth. But he should've responded to her, in my humble opinion, that he's gonna laugh at her when she says stupid things.”
I think that idea is great! Moving forward, I’m going to laugh loud/hard whenever Kellyanne Conway, Sean Spicer, or the President doesn’t tell the truth or says stupid stuff. Remember “Laughter is the Best Medicine” (from the Reader’s Digest). This way I should live another 20-30 years. I hope the money holds out! JJJ
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
This Morning's Point #2 - Autocracy: Rules for Survival by Masha Gessen AGAIN
Here are the rules out of Masha Gessen’s book:
Rule #1: Believe the autocrat.
Rule #2: Do not be taken in by small signs of normality.
Rule #3: Institutions will not save you.
Rule #4: Be outraged.
Rule #5: Don’t make compromises.
Rule #6: Remember the future.
(http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/11/12/1597457/-Autocracy-Rules-for-Survival-by-Masha-Gessen)
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
Rule #1: Believe the autocrat.
Rule #2: Do not be taken in by small signs of normality.
Rule #3: Institutions will not save you.
Rule #4: Be outraged.
Rule #5: Don’t make compromises.
Rule #6: Remember the future.
(http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/11/12/1597457/-Autocracy-Rules-for-Survival-by-Masha-Gessen)
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
This Morning's Point #1 - "Alternate Facts"
Below is a portion of Kelleyanne Conway’s appearance on Meet The Press this morning. Now FAKE news or outright LIES are considered “alternate facts.” When I’m out on my daily bike ride, I listen to various podcasts. The other day a guest on the Science Friday podcast explained how he avoids using the word “fact(s).” Since he considered that a “hot button,” he now uses the word “evidence” to explain/define his information/position. Maybe the best way to weigh information to determine FACTS is to look for/at the EVIDENCE.
I extracted only the “alternate facts” section and do not want to be faulted for editing to my advantage, here is the link for the entire program. (http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meet-press-01-22-17-n710491)
“CHUCK TODD:
--answer the question of why the president asked the White House press secretary to come out in front of the podium for the first time and utter a falsehood? Why did he do that? It undermines the credibility of the entire White House press office--
KELLYANNE CONWAY:
No it doesn't.
CHUCK TODD:
--on day one.
KELLYANNE CONWAY:
Don't be so overly dramatic about it, Chuck. What-- You're saying it's a falsehood. And they're giving Sean Spicer, our press secretary, gave alternative facts to that. But the point remains--
CHUCK TODD:
Wait a minute-- Alternative facts?
KELLYANNE CONWAY:
--that there's--
CHUCK TODD:
Alternative facts? Four of the five facts he uttered, the one thing he got right--
KELLYANNE CONWAY:
--hey, Chuck, why-- Hey Chuck--
CHUCK TODD:
--was Zeke Miller. Four of the five facts he uttered were just not true. Look, alternative facts are not facts. They're falsehoods. “
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
I extracted only the “alternate facts” section and do not want to be faulted for editing to my advantage, here is the link for the entire program. (http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meet-press-01-22-17-n710491)
“CHUCK TODD:
--answer the question of why the president asked the White House press secretary to come out in front of the podium for the first time and utter a falsehood? Why did he do that? It undermines the credibility of the entire White House press office--
KELLYANNE CONWAY:
No it doesn't.
CHUCK TODD:
--on day one.
KELLYANNE CONWAY:
Don't be so overly dramatic about it, Chuck. What-- You're saying it's a falsehood. And they're giving Sean Spicer, our press secretary, gave alternative facts to that. But the point remains--
CHUCK TODD:
Wait a minute-- Alternative facts?
KELLYANNE CONWAY:
--that there's--
CHUCK TODD:
Alternative facts? Four of the five facts he uttered, the one thing he got right--
KELLYANNE CONWAY:
--hey, Chuck, why-- Hey Chuck--
CHUCK TODD:
--was Zeke Miller. Four of the five facts he uttered were just not true. Look, alternative facts are not facts. They're falsehoods. “
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
Saturday, January 21, 2017
More FAKE News
And, ordinary people challenged and proved the FAKE was untrue. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cleveland-newspaper-snubs-trump-inauguration_us_5883811be4b070d8cad2b612?i6zb0529)
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
Crowd Size like Hand/Penis Size . . .
from yesterday/today are DIVERSIONS from the president’s activities. My focus is still on the 1st Amendment - how this presidency erodes the freedom of the press and our (the public’s) confidence in the information that journalists provide. If we spend time talking about crowd size and comparisons to previous presidencies, we miss going to page/site 2 and beyond for the interesting items noted below.
Executive Orders:
- Dismantle the Affordable Care Act (http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/20/politics/trump-signs-executive-order-on-obamacare/index.html?sr=fbCNN012117trump-signs-executive-order-on-obamacare0129AMVODtopLink&linkId=33630584)
- Reverse plans to reduce mortgage insurance premiums. (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/01/21/what-does-trumps-first-executive-order-mean-your-mortgage/96881572/)
Department of Justice:
- Requested/granted postponement (01/24/17) hearing challenging Texas voter ID law (intentionally discriminated against Latino and African-American voters).
FYI Changes to WHITEHOUSE.GOV (https://www.whitehouse.gov/):
- Remove pages on climate change, LGBT issues, civil rights, and health care
- Replaces with pages on an "America First Energy Plan," "America First Foreign Policy," "Bringing Back Jobs and Growth," and "Standing Up For Our Law Enforcement Community."
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
Executive Orders:
- Dismantle the Affordable Care Act (http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/20/politics/trump-signs-executive-order-on-obamacare/index.html?sr=fbCNN012117trump-signs-executive-order-on-obamacare0129AMVODtopLink&linkId=33630584)
- Reverse plans to reduce mortgage insurance premiums. (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/01/21/what-does-trumps-first-executive-order-mean-your-mortgage/96881572/)
Department of Justice:
- Requested/granted postponement (01/24/17) hearing challenging Texas voter ID law (intentionally discriminated against Latino and African-American voters).
FYI Changes to WHITEHOUSE.GOV (https://www.whitehouse.gov/):
- Remove pages on climate change, LGBT issues, civil rights, and health care
- Replaces with pages on an "America First Energy Plan," "America First Foreign Policy," "Bringing Back Jobs and Growth," and "Standing Up For Our Law Enforcement Community."
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Sam Bee's Interview with Journalist Masha Gessen Is Absolutely Terrifying
Back on 12/11/16, I sent an email about Masha Gessen’s book. Here is an interview Samantha Bee conducted on Full Frontal this week. Remember that Ms Gessen had to flee Russia.
http://jezebel.com/sam-bees-interview-with-journalist-masha-gessen-is-abso-1791376170
http://jezebel.com/sam-bees-interview-with-journalist-masha-gessen-is-abso-1791376170
Saturday, January 14, 2017
Why Do People Believe Fake News?
This article is really interesting! It is long and dry but provides good insights. Really, slog through it JJJ. At the end of the article are links to additional ways to check out the veracity of information that you find.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/what-is-fake-news_uk_5878e135e4b04a8bfe6a612e?utm_hp_ref=uk
Like knowledge, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/what-is-fake-news_uk_5878e135e4b04a8bfe6a612e?utm_hp_ref=uk
Like knowledge, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
Thursday, January 12, 2017
TYT Network
I will be very disappointed if the newest "news" about the president-elect turns out to be FAKE. Not because I'm looking for sandal on him but because of what it says about mainstream media. Again, the more FAKE news the more we begin to DOUBT all news or worse yet BELIEVE all news. GRRRRRRRR
Anyway, someone sent me a link to another news group that is supposedly trusted. I have not yet verified the recommendation. Maybe between us we can get a feel for the content and its truthfulness. I will also be looking for some more unique content. It seems that all the networks are just rehashing the same content. It might be that the only way to check TYT out is to subscribe. Have any of you checked out TYT? Let me know.
"There are some good alternatives out there. Former MSNBC host Cenk Uygur has put together a terrific team of 'actual' investigative reporters over at TYT Network."
Like knowledge, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
Anyway, someone sent me a link to another news group that is supposedly trusted. I have not yet verified the recommendation. Maybe between us we can get a feel for the content and its truthfulness. I will also be looking for some more unique content. It seems that all the networks are just rehashing the same content. It might be that the only way to check TYT out is to subscribe. Have any of you checked out TYT? Let me know.
"There are some good alternatives out there. Former MSNBC host Cenk Uygur has put together a terrific team of 'actual' investigative reporters over at TYT Network."
Like knowledge, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Committee to Protect Journalists
Meryl Streep’s speech referenced the Committee to Protect Journalists. While this has been a world-wide effort, it looks like we may have more need to protect OUR 1st Amendment rights in America now. Even in today’s president-elect’s 1st press conference since forever, he shunned journalists from organizations that printed/posted/aired information critical to him.
Like knowledge, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
Like knowledge, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
Monday, January 9, 2017
FYI - Follow UP to my previous - WSJ Editor 'Won't Call Donald Trump's Lies 'Lies' Email
Below is the WSJ response to my “Letter To the Editor” -
---------------
Dear Ms. Muffler,
Thank for your email about Wall Street Journal Editor-in-Chief Gerard Baker's recent appearance on “Meet the Press.”
Here is an opinion piece by Mr. Baker published in The Wall Street Journal in which he expanded on his thoughts about this important topic.
Sincerely,
Judi Walsh
NEWS EDITOR, NEWSROOM STANDARDS
Trump, 'Lies' and Honest Journalism
By Gerard Baker
1082 words
5 January 2017
The Wall Street Journal
A15
Copyright 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
'When a politician tells you something in confidence, always ask yourself: 'Why is this lying bastard lying to me?'" As a statement of fierce journalistic independence, this advice from Louis Heren, a veteran correspondent of the Times of London, reflects an admirable if slightly jaundiced view of the reporter's job. As an operating principle of objective, civil and fair-minded journalism it leaves a little to be desired.
But after a remarkable presidential election campaign, and as we stand on the cusp of the Donald Trump presidency, it captures the posture of many journalists toward the president-elect. Mr. Trump certainly has a penchant for saying things whose truthfulness is, shall we say for now, challengeable. Much of the traditional media have spent the past year grappling with how to treat Mr. Trump's utterances. It's an important question and one that has received a fresh burst of energy in recent days, partly, well, because of me.
In a New Year's Day broadcast on NBC's "Meet The Press," moderator Chuck Todd asked whether I, as the editor in chief of the Journal, would be comfortable characterizing in our journalism something Mr. Trump says as a "lie."
Here's what I said: "I'd be careful about using the word 'lie.' 'Lie' implies much more than just saying something that's false. It implies a deliberate intent to mislead."
Immediately, my remarks were followed by another fit of Trump-induced pearl-clutching among the journalistic elite. Dan Rather, a former television newsman of some renown, weighed in to call the remarks "deeply disturbing." I will confess to feeling a little burst of pride at being instructed in reporting ethics by Mr. Rather. It feels a little like being lectured on the virtues of abstinence by Keith Richards.
But these are serious allegations. I -- and The Wall Street Journal -- stand accused of imperiling the republic by adopting a craven deference to presidential mendacity. So let me elucidate. A couple of points ought to be obvious but might be worth pointing out at the start.
Note that I said I'd be "careful" in using the word "lie." I didn't ban the word from the Journal's lexicon. Evidently, this carefulness is widely shared in the newsrooms of America. While some of the fresher news organizations have routinely called out Mr. Trump as a liar in their reporting, as far as I can tell, traditional newsrooms -- print, digital, television -- have used the term sparingly. Given the number of times Mr. Trump seems to have uttered falsehoods, that looks like prima facie evidence of a widespread reluctance to label him a liar.
Why the reluctance? For my part, it's not because I don't believe that Mr. Trump has said things that are untrue. Nor is it because I believe that when he says things that are untrue we should refrain from pointing it out. This is exactly what the Journal has done.
Mr. Trump has a record of saying things that are, as far as the available evidence tells us, untruthful: thousands of Muslims celebrating 9/11 on the rooftops of New Jersey, millions of votes cast illegally in the presidential election, President Obama's supposed foreign birth. We can also point out that the circumstances are such that it's reasonable to infer that Mr. Trump should know that these statements are untrue.
The issue is not whether we reporters should test what he, or anyone, says against the known and established facts and offer a fair assessment of its veracity. We do that all the time. We have a duty to our readers to ascertain whether the people we report on are telling the truth. The question is how we present our reporting.
I believe the right approach is to present our readers with the facts. This does not mean presenting a false equivalence between one person's inaccurate statement and the observable truth, as though they were of equal epistemic value, but a weighing of a claim against the known facts. When Mr. Trump claimed that millions of votes were cast illegally, we noted, high up in our report, that there was no evidence for such a claim. No fair-minded or intelligent reader was left in any doubt whether this was a truthful statement.
But I'm not sure the story would have been improved by our telling the reader in categorical terms that Mr. Trump had told a "lie." In fact I'm confident that the story -- and our reputation for trustworthy and factual news reporting -- would have been damaged. The word "lie" conveys a moral as well as factual judgment. To accuse someone of lying is to impute a willful, deliberate attempt to deceive. It says he knowingly used a misrepresentation of the facts to mislead for his own purposes.
Now, I may believe that many of the things Mr. Trump has said in the past year are whoppers of the first order. But there's a difference between believing that, with reason -- my induction from knowledge of the facts -- and reporting it as a fact. The latter demands a very high standard of reporting. If we are to use the term "lie" in our reporting, then we have to be confident about the subject's state of knowledge and his moral intent. I can see circumstances where we might. I'm reluctant to use the term, not implacably against it.
To refrain from labeling leaders' statements as lies is to support an unrelenting but not omniscient press, one that trusts readers' judgments rather than presenting judgments to them. If we routinely make these kinds of judgments, readers would start to see our inevitably selective use of a moral censure as partisanship. We must not only be objective. We must be seen to be objective to continue to earn our readers' trust.
What matters is that we report the story and that we find the truth. It's our job also to point out when candidates, presidents, chief executives, public officials or others in the news say things that are untrue. But I'm content for the most part to leave the judgment about motive -- and mendacity -- to our readers, who are more than capable of making up their own minds about what constitutes a lie.
---
Mr. Baker is The Wall Street Journal's editor in chief.
License this article from Dow Jones Reprint Service
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Document J000000020170105ed150001f
---------------
Dear Ms. Muffler,
Thank for your email about Wall Street Journal Editor-in-Chief Gerard Baker's recent appearance on “Meet the Press.”
Here is an opinion piece by Mr. Baker published in The Wall Street Journal in which he expanded on his thoughts about this important topic.
Sincerely,
Judi Walsh
NEWS EDITOR, NEWSROOM STANDARDS
Trump, 'Lies' and Honest Journalism
By Gerard Baker
1082 words
5 January 2017
The Wall Street Journal
A15
Copyright 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
'When a politician tells you something in confidence, always ask yourself: 'Why is this lying bastard lying to me?'" As a statement of fierce journalistic independence, this advice from Louis Heren, a veteran correspondent of the Times of London, reflects an admirable if slightly jaundiced view of the reporter's job. As an operating principle of objective, civil and fair-minded journalism it leaves a little to be desired.
But after a remarkable presidential election campaign, and as we stand on the cusp of the Donald Trump presidency, it captures the posture of many journalists toward the president-elect. Mr. Trump certainly has a penchant for saying things whose truthfulness is, shall we say for now, challengeable. Much of the traditional media have spent the past year grappling with how to treat Mr. Trump's utterances. It's an important question and one that has received a fresh burst of energy in recent days, partly, well, because of me.
In a New Year's Day broadcast on NBC's "Meet The Press," moderator Chuck Todd asked whether I, as the editor in chief of the Journal, would be comfortable characterizing in our journalism something Mr. Trump says as a "lie."
Here's what I said: "I'd be careful about using the word 'lie.' 'Lie' implies much more than just saying something that's false. It implies a deliberate intent to mislead."
Immediately, my remarks were followed by another fit of Trump-induced pearl-clutching among the journalistic elite. Dan Rather, a former television newsman of some renown, weighed in to call the remarks "deeply disturbing." I will confess to feeling a little burst of pride at being instructed in reporting ethics by Mr. Rather. It feels a little like being lectured on the virtues of abstinence by Keith Richards.
But these are serious allegations. I -- and The Wall Street Journal -- stand accused of imperiling the republic by adopting a craven deference to presidential mendacity. So let me elucidate. A couple of points ought to be obvious but might be worth pointing out at the start.
Note that I said I'd be "careful" in using the word "lie." I didn't ban the word from the Journal's lexicon. Evidently, this carefulness is widely shared in the newsrooms of America. While some of the fresher news organizations have routinely called out Mr. Trump as a liar in their reporting, as far as I can tell, traditional newsrooms -- print, digital, television -- have used the term sparingly. Given the number of times Mr. Trump seems to have uttered falsehoods, that looks like prima facie evidence of a widespread reluctance to label him a liar.
Why the reluctance? For my part, it's not because I don't believe that Mr. Trump has said things that are untrue. Nor is it because I believe that when he says things that are untrue we should refrain from pointing it out. This is exactly what the Journal has done.
Mr. Trump has a record of saying things that are, as far as the available evidence tells us, untruthful: thousands of Muslims celebrating 9/11 on the rooftops of New Jersey, millions of votes cast illegally in the presidential election, President Obama's supposed foreign birth. We can also point out that the circumstances are such that it's reasonable to infer that Mr. Trump should know that these statements are untrue.
The issue is not whether we reporters should test what he, or anyone, says against the known and established facts and offer a fair assessment of its veracity. We do that all the time. We have a duty to our readers to ascertain whether the people we report on are telling the truth. The question is how we present our reporting.
I believe the right approach is to present our readers with the facts. This does not mean presenting a false equivalence between one person's inaccurate statement and the observable truth, as though they were of equal epistemic value, but a weighing of a claim against the known facts. When Mr. Trump claimed that millions of votes were cast illegally, we noted, high up in our report, that there was no evidence for such a claim. No fair-minded or intelligent reader was left in any doubt whether this was a truthful statement.
But I'm not sure the story would have been improved by our telling the reader in categorical terms that Mr. Trump had told a "lie." In fact I'm confident that the story -- and our reputation for trustworthy and factual news reporting -- would have been damaged. The word "lie" conveys a moral as well as factual judgment. To accuse someone of lying is to impute a willful, deliberate attempt to deceive. It says he knowingly used a misrepresentation of the facts to mislead for his own purposes.
Now, I may believe that many of the things Mr. Trump has said in the past year are whoppers of the first order. But there's a difference between believing that, with reason -- my induction from knowledge of the facts -- and reporting it as a fact. The latter demands a very high standard of reporting. If we are to use the term "lie" in our reporting, then we have to be confident about the subject's state of knowledge and his moral intent. I can see circumstances where we might. I'm reluctant to use the term, not implacably against it.
To refrain from labeling leaders' statements as lies is to support an unrelenting but not omniscient press, one that trusts readers' judgments rather than presenting judgments to them. If we routinely make these kinds of judgments, readers would start to see our inevitably selective use of a moral censure as partisanship. We must not only be objective. We must be seen to be objective to continue to earn our readers' trust.
What matters is that we report the story and that we find the truth. It's our job also to point out when candidates, presidents, chief executives, public officials or others in the news say things that are untrue. But I'm content for the most part to leave the judgment about motive -- and mendacity -- to our readers, who are more than capable of making up their own minds about what constitutes a lie.
---
Mr. Baker is The Wall Street Journal's editor in chief.
License this article from Dow Jones Reprint Service
Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Document J000000020170105ed150001f
Saturday, January 7, 2017
"Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections"
The 25-page document is attached. The real “meat” of the report’s findings is on pages 11-15. The remainder of the document explains the various processes that were followed to come to the conclusions they reference in those 5 pages. The appendices get into specific details of the information gathered upon which the conclusion are based. “This report is a declassified version of a highly classified assessment; its conclusions are identical to those in the highly classified assessment but this version does not include the full supporting information on key elements of the influence campaign.”
In the interest of providing TRUE (to combat FAKE) news, I am providing this document un-altered. Read it, or at least the 5-page conclusions and decide for yourself. The election is over and the decision has been made. I believe we need to be informed on this topic so that we can protect our democratic processes going forward. The old “foretold is forewarned” applies here!
Like knowledge, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
In the interest of providing TRUE (to combat FAKE) news, I am providing this document un-altered. Read it, or at least the 5-page conclusions and decide for yourself. The election is over and the decision has been made. I believe we need to be informed on this topic so that we can protect our democratic processes going forward. The old “foretold is forewarned” applies here!
Like knowledge, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Some Margaret Atwood Interesting Links
For those of you who haven't heard of Margaret Atwood, she is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and environmental activist. For me her most famous work was The Handmaid’s Tale, which was published in 1985. For those of you that get HULU (not us), their updated (2005 era) version premiers April 26, 2017. Here’s a link to her participation on a Science Friday Podcast that I find very interesting.
The Handmaid’s Tale is, to paraphrase the author, not a playful “what if” scenario, but a warning against a future of continual discrediting of the media. Check it out here.
The Handmaid’s Tale is, to paraphrase the author, not a playful “what if” scenario, but a warning against a future of continual discrediting of the media. Check it out here.
Wildlife - Santee, CA
A new subdivision is being created to the West of the RV Park we are in for the winter (Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve). The plan is for an additional 400 houses to grace the rolling hills outside the park. Wildlife homes are being replaces with human homes. As a result more critters are exploring the park on a regular basis.
Historically, rabbits have always be hopping here and there, with occasional rattle snakes, raccoons, ground squirrels, coyotes, hawks and owls. Now, we seem to be inundated with more of all of these. Especially young coyotes that have been shunned by the packs. These grayish small dog-like wildlife are boldly walking through sights looking for any food scraps.
Small dogs need to be carefully watched and secured via leash and tight harness or the coyote will pull the dog right out of their collars and take off. Children being naturally curious, need to be informed and watched. While these coyotes might look cute, they are anything but. Boots and Ruthi now walk Karma together for her 9pm final pit stop. While Ruthi has the leash on Karma, Boots carries a stick to tap on the ground letting any creature hidden in the foliage that we are coming. Additionally, the stick could be useful in warding off any approaching wildlife.
Here are some pictures of the coyote that seems to like our section of the park and comes through at least a couple of times a day. So far, Karma has only seen it once and her reaction was "fight" instead of her owners' preferred "flight" approach.
Historically, rabbits have always be hopping here and there, with occasional rattle snakes, raccoons, ground squirrels, coyotes, hawks and owls. Now, we seem to be inundated with more of all of these. Especially young coyotes that have been shunned by the packs. These grayish small dog-like wildlife are boldly walking through sights looking for any food scraps.
Small dogs need to be carefully watched and secured via leash and tight harness or the coyote will pull the dog right out of their collars and take off. Children being naturally curious, need to be informed and watched. While these coyotes might look cute, they are anything but. Boots and Ruthi now walk Karma together for her 9pm final pit stop. While Ruthi has the leash on Karma, Boots carries a stick to tap on the ground letting any creature hidden in the foliage that we are coming. Additionally, the stick could be useful in warding off any approaching wildlife.
Here are some pictures of the coyote that seems to like our section of the park and comes through at least a couple of times a day. So far, Karma has only seen it once and her reaction was "fight" instead of her owners' preferred "flight" approach.
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Teacher's Blog about Teaching Kids To Be On Guard Against Fake News
Thank goodness, someone focusing on future voters and how they might protect themselves from FAKE news.
“Ignorance is Strength” is the third and most powerful slogan chiseled into George Orwell’s Ministry of Truth in 1984.
“Ignorance is Strength” is the third and most powerful slogan chiseled into George Orwell’s Ministry of Truth in 1984.
Monday, January 2, 2017
WSJ Editor 'Won't Call Donald Trump's Lies 'Lies'
While I could possibly understand that "lies" is kinda a 3rd grader "pants on fire" taunt. The WSJ needs reputable journalists (and editors) who call out each and every time the fabrications come out of the president-elect's mouth. OR in his case, off his thumbs on Twitter.
A strong and free press needs to live up to its side of the liberty – we protect it and they write the truth!
“Ignorance is Strength” is the third and most powerful slogan chiseled into George Orwell’s Ministry of Truth in 1984.
A strong and free press needs to live up to its side of the liberty – we protect it and they write the truth!
“Ignorance is Strength” is the third and most powerful slogan chiseled into George Orwell’s Ministry of Truth in 1984.
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