The Tello Files. (All things strange, witnessed, verifyable and/or credible (?)

[tellomon]

MSNBC host brutally mocked for lack of self-awareness when expressing concern over Elon Musk buying Twitter
April 26, 2022 

MSNBC host Ari Melber was slapped with a brutal lesson in self-awareness on Monday after expressing fear that Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter would result in election manipulation.

What are the details?
Melber, speaking on his show "The Beat With Ari Melber," complained that Musk could exploit Twitter to manipulate democracy.

"If you own all of Twitter or Facebook or what have you, you don't have to explain yourself. You don't even have to be transparent," Melber said.

"You could secretly ban one party's candidate or all of its candidates, all of its nominees. Or you could just secretly turn down the reach of their stuff, and turn up the reach of something else and the rest of us might not even find out until after the election," he added.

What was the reaction?
Melber's concerns immediately drew fierce backlash because Twitter already engages in "content moderation" practices that seemingly do exactly what Melber is concerned about.

A prime example is the bombshell New York Post story about the Hunter Biden laptop. Twitter intentionally suppressed the story over "lack of authoritative reporting on the origins of the materials included in the article." But as it turned out, the story was 100% true. Twitter also purged tens of thousands of accounts after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, for example.

Here is how people responded to Melber's commentary:

"The utter shamelessness for MSNBC to say this with a straight face in light of what has actually occurred on Twitter over the past few years," Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said.

"This is exactly what the Machine\Left\Democrats have done to their opponents for years, you absolute [clown] @AriMelber. Enjoy the ride into irrelevance…," David Rubin reacted.

"Twitter manipulating the reach of stories for political reasons during an election? Nah, that could never happen," reporter Jerry Dunleavy mocked.

"The utter lack of self-awareness in this clip is the thing that makes it," Noam Blum observed.

"I can’t even hold in my head, the idea that @msnbc would be airing this. Isn’t this *their* playbook? It seems like complaining about the loss of media gaslighting as a monopoly. Or something," Eric Weinstein said.

"Ari Melber making Michael Scott seem like the king of self-awareness with this one," John Cooper, communications director at the Heritage Foundation, said.

"No sense of irony," Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) observed.

"This is what @Twitter was doing to Republicans for years," the Twitter account for the House Republicans said.

"MSNBC host Ari Melber had a revealing moment on Monday that seemed almost a clinical (if not comical) example of transference," constitutional lawyer Jonathan Turley said.

"There is truly nothing funnier than this MSNBC host ranting about what Elon Musk could do to Twitter, and accidentally giving a perfect description of how Twitter has actually operated for the last five years," Cabot Phillips of the Daily Wire said.

For what it's worth, Musk has not announced any changes to Twitter. In fact, he has repeatedly affirmed his commitment to free speech and his desire to improve Twitter for everyone.

https://www.theblaze.com/news/ari-melber-twitter-elon-musk-transparency?utm_source=theblaze-dailyPM&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily-Newsletter__PM%202022-04-26&utm_term=ACTIVE%20LIST%20-%20TheBlaze%20Daily%20PM

423

[tellomon]

1517076 Views

[tellomon]

Brian Stelter, after Elon Musk buys Twitter, wonders who'd want to attend a party 'where there are no rules, where there is total freedom for everybody'
April 26, 2022

   

After hearing the news Monday that multibillionaire Elon Musk purchased Twitter, Brian Stelter — CNN's chief media correspondent — wondered on air if folks will want to use Twitter if it offers them too much freedom, as Musk has made it clear he wants Twitter to open the free speech floodgates.

What are the details?
"If you get invited to something where there are no rules, where there is total freedom for everybody, do you actually want to go to that party, or are you going to decide to stay home?" Stelter asked. "And that's a question for Twitter users."

At that point the camera was trained on the larger group behind the big desk, and the expressions on the faces of CNN Newsroom hosts Alisyn Camerota and Victor Blackwell were priceless.

Stelter continued: "Some Twitter users [would] love the idea that there's gonna be absolutely no moderation and no rules at all. Others might not want to be anywhere near that. Am I crazy, Matt?"

With that, Stelter turned in his own rather telling expression as he let loose with a pained chuckle:

CNN reporter Matt Egan agreed with Stelter and added that little to no moderation on Twitter also could scare away advertisers.

Here's the clip:

How did viewers react?
Commenters had no mercy on Stelter:

Talk radio host Dan O'Donnell noted that Stelter "just revealed that he's never actually been to a party."

"Is this accurate? I think not," writer Ann Bauer offered. "There will be rules. Musk is talking about verifying more accounts (anonymity is one of the most lawless facets of Twitter imo) and I'm positive he's planning to regulate hate speech. This 'no rules' pitch is bulls**t. It won't be THEIR rules."

"Uh ... yes. Yes, I want to go to that party," another commenter wrote. "What kind of parties does he go to?"

"Tell me you never got invited to parties without telling me you never got invited to parties," another user quipped.

Anything else?
Stelter hasn't had an easy time of it lately. Just days ago he got wickedly mocked over the demise of CNN+, and about week ago Twitter's former CEO Jack Dorsey ripped Stelter and said he's seen CNN promoting falsified news reports. Not to mention the college freshman who challenged Stelter on mainstream media bias at a "Disinformation" conference earlier this month.

https://www.theblaze.com/news/stelter-twitter-party-freedom?utm_source=theblaze-dailyPM&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily-Newsletter__PM%202022-04-26&utm_term=ACTIVE%20LIST%20-%20TheBlaze%20Daily%20PM

[tellomon]

How Social Media Could Cause America’s COLLAPSE | Jonathan Haidt | The Glenn Beck Podcast | Ep 143


If Winston Churchill were alive today, would he get canceled? Jonathan Haidt can tell you, but his answer is not exactly comforting. Haidt is a social psychologist and professor at NYU who has devoted his career to the study of morality.

But while he’s always been an optimist, he’s noticed some concerning changes since the rise of social media. Now, he argues, social media is not just out of control, it could cause the collapse of America. It’s the subject of Haidt’s recent article for the Atlantic, “After Babel: Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid.” On this episode of “The Glenn Beck Podcast,” Glenn and Haidt discuss whether America just experienced a second Tower of Babel, why social media has fueled our political divide and devastated Gen Z, and what we must do to reverse course: “We need a Geneva Convention for the culture wars.”

https://teapartyusa.org/how-social-media-could-cause-americas-collapse-jonathan-haidt-the-glenn-beck-podcast-ep-143-3/

[tellomon]

'Annoying as hell': Google Docs features 'inclusive warning' pop-ups telling users to choose 'chairperson' instead of 'chairman' and other woke edicts
April 26, 2022  

Google Docs recently launched a rollout of new "assistive writing" features, and among them is an "inclusive warning" pop-up that tells users if words they've typed in don't cut the mustard on the woke scale.

What are the details?
The platform gives you the lowdown on its Workspace Updates page, even showing you what happens when a Google Docs user makes the unfortunate choice of typing the non-inclusive term "chairman" into a document. Like a virtual slap on the wrist, the pop-up instructs the user to choose the more inclusive "chairperson":

'Annoying as hell'
Vice gave the feature a test drive and called it "annoying as hell."

After one of its staffers typed in the word “Motherboard" — the name of the Vice department reporting on the new Google Docs feature — the inclusive warning pop-up indicated that "some of these words may not be inclusive to all readers. Consider using different words.”

The outlet added that journalist Rebecca Baird-Remba tweeted an inclusive warning she received on the word “landlord” — along with the suggestion that she change it to “property owner” or “proprietor.”

Vice also said an excerpt from former President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address was typed in, and a suggestion came back to change the phrase “for all mankind” to “for all humankind.” However, the outlet added that a "transcribed interview of neo-Nazi and former Klan leader David Duke — in which he uses the N-word and talks about hunting black people — gets no notes."

What did Google have to say?
Vice reported that Google said the feature is an “ongoing evolution.”

“Assisted writing uses language understanding models, which rely on millions of common phrases and sentences to automatically learn how people communicate. This also means they can reflect some human cognitive biases,” a Google spokesperson said, according to the outlet. “Our technology is always improving, and we don't yet (and may never) have a complete solution to identifying and mitigating all unwanted word associations and biases.”

In addition, the Workspace Updates page indicates that users can disable the new feature, and they can accept or reject suggestions for new words or phrases.

Anything else?
Vice said if writers want to be "racist, sexist, or exclusionary in their writing, and [want] to draft that up in a Google document, they should be allowed to do that without an algorithm attempting to sanitize their intentions and confuse their readers. This is how we end up with dog whistles."

The outlet added that "trying to shoehorn self-awareness, sensitivity, and careful editing into people’s writing using machine learning algorithms — already deeply flawed, frequently unintelligent pieces of technology — is misguided. Especially when it’s coming from a company that’s grappling with its own internal reckoning in inclusivity, diversity, and mistreatment of workers who stand up for better ethics in AI."

https://www.theblaze.com/news/google-docs-inclusive-warning?utm_source=theblaze-7DayTrendingTest&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Afternoon%20Auto%20Trending%207%20Day%20Engaged%202022-04-26&utm_term=ACTIVE%20LIST%20-%207%20Day%20Engagement

[tellomon]

The Word “Marijuana” is Deemed Racist in Washington State
Another censorship causality in the unending war of Everything is Racist
APRIL 26, 2022

The Washington State Legislature recently enacted a bill that replaces the word “marijuana” in all state legislation with “cannabis,” citing the Spanish word’s purported racist origins.

According to local CBS station KIRO 7, Democratic state Rep. Melanie Morgan argued during 2021 testimony over House Bill 1210, which she sponsored, “the term ‘marijuana’ itself is derogatory and discriminatory.”

“As recreational marijuana use became more popular, it was negatively associated with Mexican immigrants,” Morgan described. “Even though it seems simple because it’s just one word, the reality is we’re healing the wrongs that were committed against Black and Brown people around cannabis.”

Morgan went on to reference Harry Anslinger, the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, who was a key figure in the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act, which prohibited the sale and processing of marijuana.

“It was … Anslinger that said, and I quote, ‘Marijuana is the most violent causing drug in the history of mankind. And most marijuana users are Negroes, Hispanic, Caribbean, and entertainers. Their satanic music, jazz, and swing result from marijuana usage,'”  Morgan stated.

She went on to say, “It was utilized as a racist euphemism to lock up Black and Brown people.”

After passing overwhelmingly on March 11, Gov. Jay Inslee signed the bill, and its provisions will take effect in June.

In 2020, Washington state lawmakers established the “Washington Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis,” with the goal of increasing diversity among pot shop owners by providing grants and financial aid to minority cannabis license applicants.

This piece was written by Staff Writer on April 26, 2022.

https://www.lifezette.com/2022/04/the-word-marijuana-is-deemed-racist-in-washington-state/?utm_source=daily-email&utm_medium=email

[tellomon]

Psaki responds to Musk’s takeover of Twitter by announcing ‘reforms’ to combat misinformation
April 26, 2022

The progressive left’s worst nightmare became a reality when billionaire Elon Musk bought Twitter, a day that will live in infamy for Democrats and their shock troops and the idea that free speech will be restored appears to be of major concern to the White House.

During Monday’s press briefing, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki reacted to Musk’s takeover of the social media giant with her answer suggesting that there could be political moves coming to counter Musk’s relaxing of the censorship of conservatives, an alarming prospect for her party’s control over the narrative.

When asked by ABC News chief White House correspondent Cecelia Vega about the change in leadership at Twitter and whether the ban on former President Trump would be lifted, Psaki teased future government action.

Vega asked for a comment on Musk’s purchase, “does the White House have any concern that this new agreement might have President Trump back on the platform?”

“Well, I’m not going to comment on a specific transaction,” Psaki replied. “What I can tell you as a general matter, no matter who owns or runs Twitter, the President has long been concerned about the power of large social media platforms, what they… the power they have over our everyday lives, has long argued that tech platforms must be held accountable for the harms they cause.”

She added, “He has been a strong supporter of fundamental reforms to achieve that goal, including reforms to Section 230, enacting antitrust reforms, requiring more transparency, and more, and he’s encouraged that there’s bipartisan interest in Congress. In terms of what hypothetical policies might happen, I’m just not going to speak to that at this point in time.”

Later Psaki was asked whether she was concerned if Musk would allow “disinformation” back on the platform, a term frequently used to describe any slight deviation from the official stance of the Biden White House and the sprawling health bureaucracy’s COVID policies.

“I would say that our concerns are not new,” Psaki said. “We’ve long talked about and the president has long talked about his concerns about the power of social platforms, including Twitter…to spread misinformation, disinformation, the need for these platforms be held accountable.”

Unmentioned by Psaki is that the “power of social platforms” which allowed for the story about Hunter Biden’s abandoned laptop which was broken by the New York Post in the weeks before the 2020 election to be suppressed, had until Monday afternoon, solely served the political interests of the Democratic party.

Another reporter asked, “The Surgeon General has said that misinformation about COVID amounts to a public health crisis, I’m wondering regardless of ownership would the White House be interested in working with Twitter like it has in the past to continue to combat this kind of misinformation or are we in a different part of the pandemic where that kind of partnership is no longer necessary?”

“Well, I think we engage regularly with all social media platforms about steps that can be taken, that has continued and it will continue,” replied Psaki. “But there are reforms that we think Congress could take, and we would support taking including reforming Section 230, enacting antitrust reforms, requiring more transparency and the president is encouraged by the bipartisan support for, or engagement in those efforts.”

MSNBC’s Ari Melber also expressed concerns in a segment that was jaw-dropping, essentially admitting what social media has been doing to Republicans before Musk took over.

“You own all of Twitter or Facebook or what have you, you don’t have to explain yourself, you don’t even have to be transparent, you could secretly ban one party’s candidate, or all of its candidates, all of its nominees or you could just secretly turn down the reach of their stuff and turn up the reach of something else and the rest of us may not find out about it until after the election,” he said.

Democrats were already in big trouble with even their loyalists acknowledging that they will be wiped out in the midterm elections, and that was with Twitter rigged in their favor, allowing their political adversaries to freely express their ideas is absolutely the worst thing that can happen to a party that has strayed far from bedrock American principles under its current leadership.

https://www.bizpacreview.com/2022/04/26/psaki-urges-fundamental-reforms-for-social-media-pushes-accountability-in-response-to-twitter-acquisition-1230337/?utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_source=Get%20Response&utm_term=EMAIL&utm_content=Newsletter&utm_campaign=bizpac

[tellomon]

Lefties won’t like the results of this new poll,
but Elon Musk will
April 26, 2022

As the left melted down over Twitter being sold to the world’s richest man, a new poll shows that a majority of American voters actually back the idea of Elon Musk as owner of the social media platform.

Before the final moves were made and Twitter had second thoughts about Musk’s offer of a $54.20 per share price to buy the company, a Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll began to monitor the topic with voters and found a majority also felt the platform negatively targeted conservatives.

The survey, released to The Hill on Monday, showed that 57 percent of voters approved of the sale which finally went through on Monday, selling Twitter to Musk for $44 billion. Meanwhile, another 52 percent indicated that they believed conservative speech is censored on the platform while 48 percent thought the platform was fair.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who last posted on Twitter on March 22, announced, “We’re back” on Monday evening. Carlson’s account had been suspended for “hateful conduct” after he endorsed tweets from the Babylon Bee which was also suspended by the platform.

“Twitter had a poor image and was increasingly out of the mainstream of America and those who believe in free speech,” Mark Penn, co-director of the Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll survey, said. “Most of America welcomes the Musk takeover.”

The poll, which is a collaboration of the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard University and the Harris Poll, surveyed 1,966 registered voters and was conducted April 20-21.

“Voters’ support of Musk’s acquisition sends a clear message: they want less corporate policing and more true debate in social media; they want the digital public squares they have built with their voices to be about political tolerance and not susceptible to political influence and biases,” Dritan Nesho, CEO of HarrisX, said.

As news broke that Musk was successful and would be taking Twitter private with the purchase, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO celebrated.

Countless others joined the billionaire in celebrating the win for free speech, including conservative actor James Woods who certainly has had his share of Twitter suspensions.

Meanwhile, on the left, there was nothing but doom and gloom. Once again, there were countless threats to leave Twitter just as they had vowed to move to Canada in 2016 if Donald Trump was elected president.

Woods found a gif to perfectly capture the hysteria.

Others agreed with Woods’ sentiment and hoped, this time, the lefties would make good on their threats.

https://www.bizpacreview.com/2022/04/26/lefties-wont-like-the-results-of-this-new-poll-but-elon-musk-will-1230353/?utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_source=Get%20Response&utm_term=EMAIL&utm_content=Newsletter&utm_campaign=bizpac

[tellomon]

Twitter staff are told in emergency meeting that their jobs are only safe for six months until Musk completes his $44bn takeover as they demand to know if they will be forced to return to office

"This is a long-ass article. Read at your own risk."

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10751017/Elon-Musk-seize-Twitter-TODAY-talks-reach-final-stages.html?__s=ag92h20zzt76p3po83dg

[*CountessA*]

... and you complain (nicely) about my post lengths...?


Tello, Tello, Tello!

[tellomon]

"Every citizen taxpayer and parent has a right to speak at public meetings and share their input," Bakondy added to Fox News. "Ms. Goodwin doesn’t want to hear that … This is the ultimate form of censorship, and they are destroying our school district, targeting parents, and eliminating dissent."

Cops converge upon mom at school board meeting after chairwoman kicks her out for 'something horrible' she was 'about to say' regarding board member
April 25, 2022  

Police officers were caught on video converging upon a mother who was speaking in front of the microphone at a Florida school board meeting last week after the chairwoman kicked her out for "something horrible" she was "about to say" concerning another school board member.

What are the details?
Melissa Bakondy, a mother of four, called out by name a Sarasota County School Board member at Tuesday's meeting for comments the board member allegedly made during a previous meeting, Fox News reported.

"At the last meeting, Shirley Brown was caught on the microphone talking about –" Bakondy stated before board chairwoman Jane Goodwin cut her off: "Stop talking about school board members. You're done. You're done, Mrs. Bakondy, you're done. Thank you, you're done. You cannot go and expound on school board members. I've told you. I’ve warned you several times. Thank you very much, you're done, move on. Goodbye."

With that, a police officer walked to the podium and stood just a few feet in front of Bakondy.

Two other officers soon followed and stood on either side of the mother.

'You were about to say something horrible'
Bakondy asked Goodwin what the problem was, and the chairwoman replied, "You were about to say something horrible about Shirley Brown, please leave … You’ve said things about me that were untrue. Leave, please!"

Goodwin then asked Bakondy, "Do you have children in our school district? Do you have children in our school district?"

Fox News said that question fired up conservative board member Bridget Ziegler: "Point of order! That is not appropriate! … You don’t get to ask people who come to a public meeting whether they have children or not. Period! You're way out of line."

Soon Goodwin ordered the officers to ask Bakondy to leave, and Fox News said she was ejected from the meeting.

The cable network said Ziegler's husband — Florida GOP Vice Chairman Christian Ziegler — posted the exchange on Twitter, although it doesn't show the ejection:

'The queen of no public input'
Bakondy told Fox News in an interview that Goodwin is "the queen of no public input," and Bakondy and Bridget Ziegler said Goodwin and two other liberal board members want free speech shut down at meetings.

"Every citizen taxpayer and parent has a right to speak at public meetings and share their input," Bakondy added to Fox News. "Ms. Goodwin doesn’t want to hear that … This is the ultimate form of censorship, and they are destroying our school district, targeting parents, and eliminating dissent."

Bakondy also told the cable network, "I do have four children, and three of them will be going back to public school next year, and after this, I worry that they're a target."

Fox News said Goodwin did not respond to its request for comment.

Anything else?
Following the heated exchange, Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman spoke on video Friday taking issue with the Bakondy getting kicked out of the meeting, the Herald-Tribune reported.

Hoffman said officers from the Sarasota County Schools Police Department were at the meeting, not Sarasota County Sheriff's deputies, the paper said.

"The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office would never participate in preventing a citizen from expressing their First Amendment rights during public comment," Hoffman said, according to the Herald-Tribune. "As your sheriff, I don't condone tax-paying citizens being silenced."

https://www.theblaze.com/news/cops-converge-upon-mom-at-school-board-meeting-after-chairwoman-kicks-her-out?utm_source=theblaze-dailyAM&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily-Newsletter__AM%202022-04-26&utm_term=ACTIVE%20LIST%20-%20TheBlaze%20Daily%20AM

[tellomon]

... and you complain (nicely) about my post lengths...?


Tello, Tello, Tello!

I issued the appropriate disclaimer, yes?

[tellomon]

DeSantis Exposes Vile Material Liberals Use To Indoctrinate Children
April 22, 2022

Liberals are quick to bemoan this or that issue but they always fail to accurately represent what they’re actually protesting against.

Case in point: Massive liberal outrage erupted this week after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis banned certain textbooks from elementary schools. This spurred hysteria like never before, but libtards failed to mention what was actually inside these textbooks.

Florida’s Department of Education released examples of critical race theory in mathematics textbooks, including one book that claimed conservatives are more racially prejudiced than liberals, according to a press release.

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office announced earlier this week that the state’s education department rejected 41% of the math textbooks for reportedly including “indoctrinating concepts” and Common Core standards.

[source: The Daily Caller]

Florida’s education department released examples of CRT material Thursday after they received multiple requests from the public to view the alleged controversial books, according to a press release.

One textbook showed students a bar graph that measures racial prejudice by political identification. The graph shows that conservatives are reportedly more racist than liberals, citing data from the debunked Race Implicit Association Test.

A separate page highlighted the concept of “social-emotional learning,” which is steeped in the tenets of critical race theory.

DeSantis’s spokeswoman Christina Pushaw initially claimed “copyright” issues prevented the office from immediately sharing specific examples.

The state education department and governor’s office have not provided information on which textbooks included CRT-related material versus those that were axed for Common Core standards. DeSantis’ spokeswoman claims that the governor’s office is not privy to specifics on which books were rejected.

Mainstream news outlets and left-wing activists capitalized on the slow release of CRT examples to criticize Americans who take issue with racial and gender ideology being pushed in public schools.

CRT-inspired materials in textbooks are popping up around the country, according to multiple reports. Paradise Valley Unified School District in Arizona also considered adding a math textbook that claimed conservatives are more racist than liberals.

Other examples include a public school district in Missouri asking questions on math homework about the sexual abuse of a minor, according to DeSantis’ spokeswoman. Another question asked about a mother who worked as a “pimp, prostitute,” and “Night Club Dancer.” Other listed answers include “bookie” and “drug dealer.”

Critical race theory-inspired materials are popping up in state-wide curriculum standards as well. Seattle Public Schools designed its K-12 mathematics curriculum around ethnic studies, according to the district’s website. Oregon’s Department of Education insisted that asking students to show their work was a form of “white supremacy.”

https://lifeandlibertydaily.com/2022/04/22/desantis-exposes-vile-material-liberals-use-to-indoctrinate-children/

[tellomon]

.

[tellomon]

Musk Declares “Woke Mind Virus” Making Netflix “Unwatchable”
Fri, Apr 22, 2022

Elon Musk took a not-so-subtle jab at Netflix after Tuesday’s report that it lost subscribers for the first time in a decade, saying the “woke mind virus” rendered it “unwatchable.”

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO’s tweet came after Netflix reported a 200,000 drop in subscribers through March and ominously predicted a further loss of another 2 million by the end of June. Musk cited the “virus” as the biggest threat to civilization and imported the platform to make a sci-fi/fantasy at least *mostly* about sci-fi/fantasy.

Musk is an outspoken critic of “wokeness,” deeming it “divisive, exclusionary, and hateful.” The entrepreneur says the practice gives people a way to be mean and cruel, all the while being “armored in false virtue.” Last year he deplored trends that he says will make comedy illegal as he referenced efforts to have his friend Dave Chappelle’s comedy axed from the platform. Many called the standup special “transphobic.”

The company, which benefited from stay-at-home orders during the pandemic, is now challenged by less demand and increased competition.

Other issues include Netflix’s withdrawal from Russia, which cost it 700,000 subscribers, as well as heightened competition from other providers. Subscriber growth has fallen short in four of the last five quarters for the company, and Wednesday alone saw a $54.4 billion loss in market cap.

Whether the platform heeds Musk’s advice or not, it is implementing changes including addressing the up to 100 million households worldwide using its service for free with shared passwords. It is also considering a move long avoided — a lower-cost ad-supported tier.

All of this comes while Musk is working to secure funding along with up to $15 billion of his own cash to take Twitter private. On many occasions he has taken the social media giant to task for censoring free speech, particularly that of conservatives.

Whether Netflix has succumbed to “wokeness” is debatable, but Musk is clearly right about one thing. Actions spawn reactions, and the further leftward the country’s elites drift, the more the conservative majority will look to hear its own voices. And that applies to streaming entertainment, social media, and the news.

Just ask CNN+. 

https://republicanpost.net/musk-declares-woke-mind-virus-making-netflix-unwatchable/

[tellomon]

This Woke Promotion Could Cost Uber Millions
April 22, 2022

Uber's decision to waive delivery fees from black-owned restaurants during the George Floyd riots could cost the company $91 million.

A New York appeals court ruled this week that the ride-share giant must pay the costs to the American Arbitration Association (AAA), which is handling 31,000 claims against the race-based promotion, which users say violated civil rights law.

https://freebeacon.com/courts/this-woke-promotion-could-cost-uber-millions/

[tellomon]

Never was and will never be my President
Obama promptly gets called out for demanding gov't intervention over 'harmful' online content after promoting free speech
April 22, 2022  

Former President Barack Obama claimed Thursday that he is "pretty close" to a First Amendment "absolutist."

But in the same speech, Obama demanded more action from social media companies to combat "disinformation" and even suggested the federal government should get involved.

What are the details?
During a speech at Stanford University about the dangers of social media and hyper-connectivity to democracy, Obama said Big Tech needs more regulation.

Obama claimed that content moderation "doesn't go far enough" because it does not prevent the distribution of "clearly dangerous content."

Thus, stopping the spread of "potentially harmful content" should not be "left solely to private interests," Obama added, explaining that Big Tech platforms "need to be subject to some level of public oversight and regulation."

Obama explained what he believes that regulation should be:

A regulatory structure, a smart one, needs to be in place, designed in consultation with tech companies, and experts and communities that are affected, including communities of color and others that sometimes are not well represented here in Silicon Valley, that will allow these companies to operate effectively while also slowing the spread of harmful content. In some cases, industry standards may replace or substitute for regulation, but regulation has to be part of the answer.

The former president said that in the same way food processors are subject to governmental regulatory inspections, so social media companies must be inspected to ensure they are "following certain safety standards that we as a country — not just them — have agreed are necessary for the greater good."

Obama also claimed that "people are dying" because of disinformation and misinformation, referring to social media content that bucks the government's narrative on COVID-19 and COVID vaccines.

Ironically, Obama's suggestion for government intervention came after he promoted free speech principles.

"I’m pretty close to a First Amendment absolutist. I believe that, in most instances, the answer to bad speech is good speech," Obama said. "I believe that the free, robust, sometimes antagonistic exchange of ideas produces better outcomes and a healthier society."

"The First Amendment is a check on the power of the state. It doesn’t apply to private companies like Facebook or Twitter, any more than it applies to editorial decisions made by the New York Times or Fox News. Never has," he added.

Who called out Obama?
Jonathan Turley — a constitutional scholar, professor at George Washington University Law School, and self-described "liberal" — called out Obama for claiming to support freedom of speech while advocating for increased regulations.

Turley described Obama's claim as being "akin to claiming to be a vegetarian absolutist while calling for mandatory meat consumption."

"Obama supports free speech unless he considers the speech to be 'disinformation' and then he becomes an advocate for speech controls. If Democrats want to become the party of censorship, they should have the integrity to call it for what it is," Turley challenged.

"So Obama is 'an absolutist' except for anything that he deems 'lies, conspiracy theories, junk science, quackery, racist tracts and misogynist screeds' or otherwise disinformation," he added, referring to Obama's own words.

https://www.theblaze.com/news/obama-promptly-gets-called-out-for-demanding-govt-intervention-over-harmful-online-content-after-promoting-free-speech?utm_source=theblaze-dailyAM&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily-Newsletter__AM%202022-04-23&utm_term=ACTIVE%20LIST%20-%20TheBlaze%20Daily%20AM

[tellomon]

5 Eloquent and Enduring Quotes From Maya Angelou
Apr 22, 2022

Writer, activist, entertainer and teacher Maya Angelou was a beloved figure and household name, a rarity for a female African American artist who confronted controversial topics in public. She spoke about race, violence, gender and Black history in her autobiographies, poems and speeches.

Angelou is perhaps best-known for her 1969 memoir "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," which recounts her childhood in Stamps, Arkansas, and in San Francisco. Dealing with themes of racism, identity and sexual violence, the book won the hearts of literary critics and everyday readers alike and has been reprinted numerous times. Yet, it is often banned from schools for its depictions of rape and supposed "anti-white messaging."

The success of that first memoir spurred Angelou to write six more autobiographies, in addition to three books of essays, several books of poetry, plays, screenplays and even two cookbooks. She earned dozens of honorary degrees; a Presidential Medal of Freedom and a legacy that has endured in class curricula, contemporary Black feminist writers, and even internet memes. Angelou's words are so resonant that you can't throw a stone in U.S. media without hitting one of the late author's quotes.

Dr. Linda Wagner-Martin, author of the books "Maya Angelou: Adventurous Spirit" and "The Life of the Author: Maya Angelou," notes that Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson quoted Angelou at the White House after her recent Supreme Court confirmation. "I am the dream and the hope of the slave," said Jackson, referencing a line in Angelou's poem "Still I Rise."

"Maya Angelou reminds us all of our better selves," says Wagner-Martin. Let's delve deeper into the life of this renowned author, using five of her most memorable quotes.

1. "Believe people when they tell you who they are. They know themselves better than you."

This quote appeared in Angelou's sixth autobiography, "A Song Flung Up to Heaven," which chronicles her life between 1965 and 1968. In context, Angelou was referring to a man named Phil, who said that he was ornery and a crazy liar when he met her. Weeks later, he purposefully stopped on railroad tracks while Angelou was in the car, taking off just in time to narrowly miss an approaching train. The incident scared Angelou deeply and convinced her that he was, indeed, mean and ornery. But this was a lesson that likely reared its head many times over the course of her life.

"People took advantage of her in the usual ways — so she had learned to be suspicious of motives," says Wagner-Martin, acknowledging all the jobs Angelou worked to support herself and her son. "By the time she became the impressive public speaker that people remember, she had lived through decades of penury, decades of various betrayals: She knew how unkind people could be, but her message in her dynamic lectures remained positive."

The quote is sometimes phrased as, "When people show you who they are, believe them" and Oprah Winfrey added her own twist on this. Winfrey considered Angelou a close friend and mentor and in a 1997 episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Winfrey recalled discussing a boyfriend, who continuously stood her up and was unreliable, with Angelou. Angelou reminded her of the life lesson and asked her why she didn't get it the first time it happened? So, Winfrey said her adjunct to Angelou's quote is, "When people show you who they are, believe them the first time."

2. "You may shoot me with your words/You may cut me with your eyes/You may kill me with your hatefulness/But still, like air, I'll rise."

Angelou was no stranger to adversity. She didn't speak for several years after being raped as a child. She was profoundly devasted by the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, as she'd worked with King and been friends with Malcolm. And she struggled with romance and money. Yet her story is not mired in tragedy.

One of Angelou's most popular poems, "Still I Rise" addresses her personal difficulties and the collective hardships of Black people, responding to them with hope and perseverance. In the poem, she acknowledged the hard truths of history while envisioning a bright future.

"Her poems, particularly the early ones, grew from songs that she had written while she was a dancer, singer and actress. Angelou drew from not only American music but African, from free forms that were universal, and she emphasized the sounds her poems created," says Wagner-Martin. "In these longer poems, she is speaking for so much human consciousness, such broad sympathy, that her personal words reach into other people's lives, something like an anthem might in a musical program at church."

3. "History, despite its wrenching pain/Cannot be unlived, but if faced/With courage, need not be lived again."

In 1993, Angelou became the second person ever to read a poem at a U.S. presidential inauguration. She composed and read "On the Pulse of Morning," the poem in which the above lines appear, at the first inauguration of President Bill Clinton.

The poem was tuned to the inaugural spirit of renewal and hope, but it was still in Angelou's wheelhouse. It highlighted themes of unity, optimism, and courage that she often imbued in her literature. In fact, she often said that she considered courage the most important virtue, because without courage you couldn't practice any of the other virtues. "She understood how much bravery life demanded, and she took on any challenge that she saw," says Wagner-Martin.

While the poem itself wasn't a fan favorite, people praised her performance of the poem and the inspiration it provided. By this time, Angelou was well-established as an advocate for social change and a celebrity artist. Her recording of the poem won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Album in 1994 and sales of her other works increased in the wake of the inauguration.

4. "You are only free when you realize you belong no place — you belong every place — no place at all. The price is high. The reward is great."

In an interview with Angelou, journalist Bill Moyers emphasized that she had "done almost anything [she] wanted to" and asked her about the price she paid for that freedom. The above quote was her response.

"Place, then, was more of an attitude than it was a physical house. And she learned to expand that sense of a stable, given identity, during the years she lived in Africa, where she found good employment, good friends and self-confidence," says Wagner-Martin. "Was her home in Arkansas? Was it in California? Was it in Africa? Was it in New York? And for the last 20 years of her life, was it in Winston-Salem, North Carolina? She manages through words to make readers see how unimportant 'place' really is."

"Being free is as difficult and as perpetual — or rather fighting for one's freedom, struggling towards being free, is like struggling to be a poet or a good Christian or a good Jew or good Muslim or good Zen Buddhist," Angelou added in the Moyers interview. "You work all day long and achieve some kind of level of success by nightfall, go to sleep and wake up the next morning with the job still to be done. So, you start all over again."

5. "One must nurture the joy in one's life so that it reaches full bloom."

This was not a case of "do as I say and not as I do." When it came to living a full life, Angelou led by example. "To read through Maya Angelou's various poem collections is to see her development not only as a poet but as a human being," says Wagner-Martin. By the time of her death in 2014, Angelou had cemented her status as "the people's poet."

In the above quote from "Rainbow in the Cloud: The Wisdom and Spirit of Maya Angelou," Angelou made it clear that cultivating joy is integral to a person's happiness. She had no problem putting someone out of her house for making a racist or homophobic joke or comment. "I believe that a negative statement is poison," Angelou told Winfrey in another interview. "And if you allow it to perch in your house, in your mind, in your life, it can take you over."

"She created these maxims or sayings that acknowledged the widely based life she had lived, but she did not dwell on humanity's evils," says Wagner-Martin.

Now That's Interesting
Many quotes have been misattributed to Maya Angelou, perhaps as a sign of her popularity. In 2015, a commemorative stamp for the author featured the quote "A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song," which was really from a poem by children's book author Joan Walsh Anglund. Another common Angelou misattribution is, "People may forget what you said — but they'll never forget how you made them feel." This should be attributed to Carl W. Buehner, an official in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/maya-angelou-quotes.htm?utm_source=HowStuffWorks+Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=roundup-04-22-22

[tellomon]

Time May Not Exist, Say Some Physicists and Philosophers
April 21, 2022

Does time exist? The answer to this question may seem obvious: of course it does! Just look at a calendar or a clock.

But developments in physics suggest the nonexistence of time is an open possibility, and one that we should take seriously.

How can that be, and what would it mean? It'll take a little while to explain, but don't worry: Even if time doesn't exist, our lives will go on as usual.

A Crisis in Physics
Physics is in crisis. For the past century or so, we have explained the universe with two wildly successful physical theories: general relativity and quantum mechanics.

Quantum mechanics describes how things work in the incredibly tiny world of particles and particle interactions. General relativity describes the big picture of gravity and how objects move.

Both theories work extremely well in their own right, but the two are thought to conflict with one another. Though the exact nature of the conflict is controversial, scientists generally agree both theories need to be replaced with a new, more general theory.

Physicists want to produce a theory of "quantum gravity" that replaces general relativity and quantum mechanics, while capturing the extraordinary success of both. Such a theory would explain how gravity's big picture works at the miniature scale of particles.

Time in Quantum Gravity
It turns out that producing a theory of quantum gravity is extraordinarily difficult.

One attempt to overcome the conflict between the two theories is string theory. String theory replaces particles with strings vibrating in as many as 11 dimensions.

However, string theory faces a further difficulty. String theories provide a range of models that describe a universe broadly like our own, and they don't really make any clear predictions that can be tested by experiments to figure out which model is the right one.

In the 1980s and 1990s, many physicists became dissatisfied with string theory and came up with a range of new mathematical approaches to quantum gravity.

One of the most prominent of these is loop quantum gravity, which proposes that the fabric of space and time is made of a network of extremely small discrete chunks, or "loops."

One of the remarkable aspects of loop quantum gravity is that it appears to eliminate time entirely.

Loop quantum gravity is not alone in abolishing time: a number of other approaches also seem to remove time as a fundamental aspect of reality.

Emergent Time
So we know we need a new physical theory to explain the universe, and that this theory might not feature time.

Suppose such a theory turns out to be correct. Would it follow that time does not exist?

It's complicated, and it depends what we mean by exist.

Theories of physics don't include any tables, chairs or people, and yet we still accept that tables, chairs and people exist.
   
If time isn’t a fundamental property of the universe, it may still "emerge" from something more basic.
PETE LINFORTH/PIXABAY
Why? Because we assume that such things exist at a higher level than the level described by physics.

We say that tables, for example, "emerge" from an underlying physics of particles whizzing around the universe.

But while we have a pretty good sense of how a table might be made out of fundamental particles, we have no idea how time might be "made out of" something more fundamental.

So unless we can come up with a good account of how time emerges, it is not clear we can simply assume time exists.

Time might not exist at any level.

Time and Agency
Saying that time does not exist at any level is like saying that there are no tables at all.

Trying to get by in a world without tables might be tough, but managing in a world without time seems positively disastrous.

Our entire lives are built around time. We plan for the future, in light of what we know about the past. We hold people morally accountable for their past actions, with an eye to reprimanding them later on.

We believe ourselves to be agents (entities that can do things) in part because we can plan to act in a way that will bring about changes in the future.

But what's the point of acting to bring about a change in the future when, in a very real sense, there is no future to act for?

What's the point of punishing someone for a past action, when there is no past and so, apparently, no such action?

The discovery that time does not exist would seem to bring the entire world to a grinding halt. We would have no reason to get out of bed.

Business as Usual
There is a way out of the mess.

While physics might eliminate time, it seems to leave causation intact: the sense in which one thing can bring about another.

Perhaps what physics is telling us, then, is that causation and not time is the basic feature of our universe.

If that's right, then agency can still survive. For it is possible to reconstruct a sense of agency entirely in causal terms.

At least, that's what Kristie Miller, Jonathan Tallant and I argue in our new book.

We suggest the discovery that time does not exist may have no direct impact on our lives, even while it propels physics into a new era.

https://science.howstuffworks.com/time-may-not-exist-news.htm?utm_source=HowStuffWorks+Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=roundup-04-22-22

[tellomon]

10 Correlations That Are Not Causations
April 19, 2022

You would think by now that we could say unequivocally what causes what. But the question of cause, which has haunted science and philosophy from their earliest days, still dogs our heels for numerous reasons.

Humans are evolutionarily predisposed to see patterns, and psychologically inclined to gather information that supports preexisting views, a trait known as confirmation bias. We confuse coincidence with correlation, and correlation with causality.

For A to cause B, we tend to say that, at a minimum, A must precede B, the two must covary (vary together), and no competing explanation can better explain the covariance of A and B. Taken alone, however, these three requirements cannot prove cause; they are, as philosophers say, necessary but not sufficient. In any case, not everyone agrees with them.

Speaking of philosophers, David Hume argued that causation doesn't exist in any provable sense [source: Cook]. Karl Popper and the Falsificationists maintained that we cannot prove a relationship, only disprove it, which explains why statistical analyses do not try to prove a correlation; instead, they pull a double negative and disprove that the data are uncorrelated, a process known as rejecting the null hypothesis [source: McLeod].

With such considerations in mind, scientists must carefully design and control their experiments to weed out bias, circular reasoning, self-fulfilling prophecies and hidden variables. They must respect the requirements and limitations of the methods used, draw from representative samples where possible, and not overstate their results.

Ready to read about 10 instances where that wasn't so easy?

https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/science-questions/10-correlations-that-are-not-causations.htm?utm_source=HowStuffWorks+Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=roundup-04-22-22

[tellomon]

How To Replant Something You Found In The Forest
August 17, 2021

Trees in the yard are frequently moved or relocated by landowners. The trees may have been too dense, or they may be about to outgrow their location. When it comes to replanting, size matters a lot. The larger the tree, the more difficult it is to transplant. If you have a little tree growing away from your home, driveway, or patio, imagine it at full size and determine now whether it needs to go somewhere else in the future. However, it would be best to begin your endeavor much earlier; you should trim the roots a few months before a transplant for the tree to survive in the new environment.

https://outsideresource.com/how-to-replant-something-you-found-in-the-forest/?utm_source=mxl&utm_term=f0efd58303cc0d9edc5d698377bc550d&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=0423-How-To-Replant-Something-You-Found-In-The-Forest-OSR-C

[tellomon]

Creative Uses For Wooden Pallets
April 1, 2022

Do you have any wooden pallets lying around your house or business? If not, you may want to start collecting them! There are endless possibilities for what you can do with a wooden pallet, from furniture to home decor. Wooden pallets have various purposes, many of which are incredibly creative. This blog post will discuss some of the most unique and exciting ways to use wood pallets. Stay tuned because you may find the perfect way to reuse those old pallets!

https://outsideresource.com/creative-uses-for-wooden-pallets/?utm_source=mxl&utm_term=f0efd58303cc0d9edc5d698377bc550d&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=0423-How-To-Replant-Something-You-Found-In-The-Forest-OSR-C

[tellomon]

Tucker Carlson red-flags Obama’s disinformation speech: He’s not liberal, he’s a full-blown fascist who hates you
April 23, 2022

Former President Barack Obama has been making the rounds addressing concerns of so-called “disinformation,” and his latest remarks have Fox News host Tucker Carlson arguing the former leader of the free world may have outed himself as “not liberal at all,” but rather as “a full-blown fascist.”

On Friday’s episode of “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” the host brought up a recent address that Obama had given at Stanford University’s Cyber Policy Center. During an event, hosted in part by the Obama Foundation, the president gave a keynote address on “Challenges to Democracy in the Digital Information Realm.”

“Barack Obama gave a big speech at Stanford yesterday on ‘disinformation,'” Carlson began the segment. “Now, like the Atlantic magazine’s conference on disinformation at the University of Chicago,” which Obama had also attended, “the conference was all about promoting disinformation, but because self-awareness has been banned, nobody noticed. Obama argued that only his political opponents lie and they must be stopped immediately.”

“People like [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, and Steve Bannon for that matter, understand it’s not necessary for people to believe this information in order to weaken democratic institutions,” the former president is heard saying in an excerpt of his speech. “You just have to flood a country’s public square with enough raw sewage, you just have to raise enough questions, spread enough dirt, plant enough conspiracy theorizing, that citizens no longer know what to believe.”

“Oh, so people who disagree with Barack Obama aren’t just saying things that are wrong,” Carlson raised his voice in feigned rage to emphasize, “they’re flooding raw sewage into our country. So this guy is not just liberal, in fact, he’s not liberal at all, he’s a full-blown fascist who hates you and wants to keep you from talking, or else.”

He went on to mock the former president’s slogan of “Hope and Change” and those who voted for those fake ideals before pointing out what Obama has always been after: “He wants censorship of anyone who disagrees with him, and now he just comes out and says it.”

The next clip demonstrated just that with Obama saying, “While content moderation can limit the distribution of clearly dangerous content, it doesn’t go far enough. Users who want to spread disinformation have become experts at pushing right up to the line of what, at least published, company policies allow. And at those margins, social media platforms tend not to wanna do anything, not just because they don’t want to be accused of censorship, because they still have a financial incentive to keep as many users engaged as possible.”

The former president isn’t the only one who has come under fire for this rank hypocrisy while supposedly decrying “disinformation.” CNN’s Brian Stelter, who, like Obama, was at the University of Chicago’s “Disinformation and the Erosion of Democracy” conference was called out by a freshman journalist for spreading falsehoods on his network.

After being asked by the Chicago Thinker’s Christopher Phillips about how mainstream media, and especially CNN, make mistakes that favor Democrats and if the public is “expected to believe that this is all just some sort of random coincidence or is there something else behind it,” Stelter deflected.

“Too bad, time for lunch,” he attempted to joke before ignoring the claims and accusing rival network Fox News of doing what Phillips accused CNN of. This behavior which continues to be demonstrated by those on the left, especially as ownership of Twitter continues to be challenged in a way that may stop censorship on the platform, left Carlson to conclude there is only one outcome the president and his allies are after.

“So, me and my friends at the Aspen Institute need to be in complete control of every word uttered or else it’s not democracy. That’s the case he’s making. That’s the case they’re all making,” he said.

https://www.bizpacreview.com/2022/04/23/tucker-carlson-red-flags-obamas-disinformation-speech-hes-not-liberal-hes-a-full-blown-fascist-who-hates-you-1229086/?utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_source=Get%20Response&utm_term=EMAIL&utm_content=Newsletter&utm_campaign=bizpac

[tellomon]

"The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it."

-Chief Joseph   

In 1879, Chief Joseph of the Nez Percé, who was known to his own people as In-mut-too-yah-lat-lat (Thunder-Traveling-Over-the-Mountains), traveled to Washington, D.C., to negotiate the return of his homeland, a swath of North America that spanned from the Bitterroot Mountains of western Montana to the Wallowas of eastern Oregon. While he was visiting, he granted an interview to reporters and began by saying, “My friends, I have been asked to show you my heart.” What followed was a passionate polemic for equality, circling back over and over again to the idea that all men are brothers, and should have equal rights on Earth. Almost 150 years later, it is an idea that remains worth fighting for.

[tellomon]

1517200 Views

[tellomon]

Dozens of NYC teachers put on unpaid leave for allegedly providing fake vaccination cards; teachers' union vows lawsuit
April 23, 2022 

According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, dozens of school teachers in New York City have been accused of providing fake vaccination cards in order to prove compliance with New York City's vaccine mandate, and those teachers will not be returning to the classroom after spring break is over. The union representing the teachers, however, is vowing a lawsuit if the mayor doesn't change his mind.

According to WCBS-TV, the New York City Department of Education identified "fewer than 100" teachers who allegedly submitted fake vaccination cards to the department to demonstrate compliance with former mayor Bill de Blasio's vaccine mandate in the city. The department did not explain how it determined that these vaccine cards were fake, but did say that the teachers would be immediately placed on unpaid leave and were subject to termination.

"I'm really disappointed to learn there were fake vaccination cards. Not only is it illegal, it undermines our entire trust," said Adams. The department further added that law enforcement is investigating these individuals, leading to the possibility of criminal charges.

However, the United Federation of Teachers issued a statement promising to fight back, saying that the punishment is based on "unproven allegations" and that the city's actions are "a clear violation of the basic notion of due process." The union threatened a prompt lawsuit if the city did not immediately change its stance.

Michael Kane, a former teacher who was dismissed for failure to comply with the city's vaccine mandate, criticized the city's actions and the apparent hypocrisy of allowing NBA star Kyrie Irving to receive an exemption from the mandate, but not school teachers. "We now have Eric Adams saying if you're a high paying performer or athlete, you don't have to abide by this rule, but if you're part of the working class, you do. What we have now is not public health. We have class warfare," Kane said.

Approximately 1,400 New York City workers were fired in February for refusing to comply with the vaccine mandate, most of which were Department of Education employees.

https://www.theblaze.com/news/nyc-teachers-fake-vaccine-cards?utm_source=theblaze-breaking&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New-Trending-Story_WEEKEND%202022-04-23&utm_term=ACTIVE%20LIST%20-%20TheBlaze%20Breaking%20News

[tellomon]

Jameela Jamil posts her 'last tweet,' suggests Elon Musk's 'free speech bid' will result in 'totally lawless hate, bigotry, and misogyny' on Twitter
April 26, 2022   

Actress Jameela Jamil posted what she called her "last tweet" on Monday in the wake of news that Elon Musk had struck a deal to purchase the company.

Musk has said that he intends to make Twitter a platform that allows people to participate in free speech.

"Ah he got twitter. I would like this to be my what lies here as my last tweet. Just really *any* excuse to show pics of Barold. I fear this free speech bid is going to help this hell platform reach its final form of totally lawless hate, bigotry, and misogyny. Best of luck," she tweeted.

In an earlier tweet on Monday, Jamil had said, "He’s buying it for free speech. It’s going to become an even more lawless hateful xenophobic, bigoted, misogynistic space." In another tweet she had also said that Twitter will become a place where "people who already have no money" get "manipulated about crypto."

Democrat Howard Dean also appears to have departed from Twitter — his account "no longer exists" according to the platform. The former Vermont governor and former chair of the Democratic National Committee tweeted on Monday that "If Musk takes over Twitter I will be off within a few hours."

Twitter announced on Monday that the company "entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an entity wholly owned by Elon Musk, for $54.20 per share in cash in a transaction valued at approximately $44 billion." The press release noted that once the transaction has completed, the social media platform will be a privately held business.

"The extreme antibody reaction from those who fear free speech says it all," Musk tweeted on Tuesday. "By 'free speech', I simply mean that which matches the law. I am against censorship that goes far beyond the law. If people want less free speech, they will ask government to pass laws to that effect. Therefore, going beyond the law is contrary to the will of the people."

https://www.theblaze.com/news/jameela-jamil-elon-musk-twitter

[tellomon]

"Stop using children as political pawns"

Montgomery County Official Holds Children Hostage Over Booster

County Executive of Montgomery County in Maryland March Elrich recently tweeted a veiled threat to his constituents.

County Exec Marc Elrich
@MontCoExec
Being fully vaccinated at this point is not being completely protected. For us to weather future upticks and surges without mandates, virtual learning, or restrictions - we must increase our booster numbers. Find a vaccination site here: http://ow.ly/cYqj50IQhqq
5:00 AM · Apr 24, 2022·Hootsuite Inc.

Let us not quibble about the fact that Montgomery County has one of the highest vaccination rates in the country for people above 5 or that there is only about one month left of school. Those arguments alone should be enough to shut down this line of reasoning. The real problem with this Tweet is not if boosters would even actually work, which is an open question now, but that it is an implied threat and an open attempt at coercion.

We elect our officials to represent us, not browbeat us into taking action that they think is appropriate. Mounds of scientific evidence is starting to roll in that the lockdowns had a massively negative impact on children. Academic performance is down. Mental illness and suicide attempts involving young people are up. This also does not consider the way the public is shifting on the pandemic restrictions.

Most everyone participated in the early mandates because there were so many unknowns. As we started to get more information on both the lethality of the virus and treatment options people began to differ on the appropriate next steps. As such, the monolithic support for the draconian restrictions began to wane. There is a massive amount of momentum for a return to normal as mandates are falling all over the country.

Everyone who wants to get the vaccine has already had ample enough time to do so. Same for the booster shots as well. People are just not in the same place they were 2 years ago. Some public officials like Mr. Elrich have not realized that the winds have changed on this. One of the reasons the Democrats are going to get absolutely creamed in the November elections is because the support for the onerous mandates that they are uniformly in love with is tanking.

It is a disgrace that March Elrich is prepared to sacrifice the well-being of children to push a political viewpoint masquerading as public health. There is enough information out there for people to make an informed decision on steps to take to battle the pandemic. Mr. Elrich should let people make the decisions for their health themselves and stop using children as political pawns.

https://thecongressionalinsider.com/montgomery-county-official-holds-children-hostage-over-booster/

[tellomon]

Crime in Los Angeles is Worse Than Anyone Imagined

After decades of being controlled by left-wing leadership, Los Angeles has some very real problems.

The homelessness crisis is just one example. To this day, there are multiple tents lining various streets of Los Angeles. Many people don’t feel safe in the community; yet, the city’s leaders aren’t taking any real steps to fix this crisis.

Instead, just last week, Los Angeles County implemented a mandatory mask order for anyone using public transit.

Sadly, whether or not people are masking up is the least of Los Angeles’ problems. The massive crime within the city’s transportation system alone is what community leaders should worry about, per PJ Media.

How Crime Has Ruined the LA Transportation System

In the Los Angeles Metro system, crime is far more rampant than any officials in the community want to talk about. Videos of lawless offenses on the city’s buses, trains, and other systems of transportation continue to make the rounds.

People are not safe when they’re riding to and from work, or any location for that matter. Robberies are a huge problem, as are assaults and other violent crimes.

Much of the suffering stems from the left-wing officials who oversee Los Angeles’ boards of directors and supervisors. These are the very same people who put in place policies that allow for Los Angeles’ crime rate to be so high today.

Seeing the results of these policies don’t appear to be swaying officials in any capacity. In the city of Los Angeles, lax bail laws are still an issue and police are not empowered to truly do their jobs.

Even the Metro system itself doesn’t have a great system when it comes to the need to protect innocent civilians. Offenders are allowed to get five different tickets before they get removed.

More police officers would play a huge role in solving this problem; yet, between the city’s officials and pro-crime district attorneys, no one in Los Angeles should count on a greater law enforcement presence anytime soon.

Similar Problems With Public Transportation

The problems with Los Angeles’ transportation system are far from anomalies.

In New York City, the subway has become very unsafe. There are multiple disturbing reports of people being robbed, attacked, and even thrown in front of moving trains.

Many perpetrators behind these assaults appear to suffer from mental health issues, homelessness, or possibly both.

Meanwhile, the mayor of New York City determined that firing police officers for not taking COVID vaccines was a good idea.

https://capitalhillnews.com/crime-in-los-angeles-is-worse-than-anyone-imagined/

[tellomon]

The Left Is Getting Crushed on Multiple Fronts and It Is Glorious

A lot of conservative media time is spent lamenting the inexorable advancement of the left and its agenda. Conservatives for the most part like to play by the rules and when they engage in political fights, they usually consist of holding actions instead of going on the offensive. More ‘regular’ people outside the political universe are realizing that the world they grew up in either no longer exists or is in danger of fading away.

It started with the pandemic. School closures and zoom classes allowed parents to see what left-wing agendas were being pushed on their children. This has led to a lot of people asking what else is going on that they do not know about. There has been a groundswell for action and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is listening.

The Florida legislature successfully passed the Parental Rights in Education Bill which prohibits age-inappropriate sexual topics with young children. Predictably, there was a left-wing outcry. States such as California took punitive economic actions against Florida and heavy hitters like Disney Corporation came out against the bill. California is becoming increasingly irrelevant, and it did not go as Disney planned. Earlier this month the Florida legislature stripped the woke corporation of its tax exemption status.

It got worse for woke culture this week. CNN+ was shut down after less than a month in business. What the media and corporate elites fail to realize is that ‘wokeism’ is only practiced by a very loud but small number of people. Up to this point, the rest of us have just tolerated it. Much like political correctness in the 90s people agreed to play along because it seemed to originate from a good place.

Now that tolerance is gone given the militance in which people are seeking it to be enforced. People are voting with their wallets outside of the news sector. Netflix stock tanked 36% in five days. People do not like being preached to and are not interested in watching content like “He’s expecting” at all.

The ascendance of the left is not preordained. It is time for conservatives to press on the gas and play offense. The day of the holding action is over.

https://projectpatriot.com/the-left-is-getting-crushed-on-multiple-fronts-and-it-is-glorious/

[tellomon]

1517400 Views

[tellomon]

Democrat senator calls for new laws to ‘promote algorithmic justice’ over the ‘dangerous’ influence of Elon Musk and other billionaires

April 26, 2022

Democrat U.S. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts called for new laws to “promote algorithmic justice” after Elon Musk bought Twitter and promised to support free speech on the social media platform.

“Elon Musk and a handful of billionaires now have dangerous influence over the most powerful online platforms. They can’t be trusted, and self-regulation has failed,” tweeted Markey.
 
“We must pass laws to protect privacy and promote algorithmic justice for internet users, especially for kids,” he added.

The phrase “algorithmic justice” refers to bias that enters into digital platforms because of implicit assumptions in the creators that discriminate against minorities and women. Some lawmakers have already called for laws that would hold tech companies responsible for disparities from algorithmic bias.

Critics of the senator mocked the use of the phrase.

“Laws to ‘promote algorithmic justice’ for the sake of the children. It’s like a parody but from an actual senator,” responded Justin Amash the former member of Congress.

“Washington currently has dangerous influence over the most powerful online platforms. And Washington most certainly can’t be trusted. So we should be very worried when they promise to pass laws, especially in the name of ‘algorithmic justice,'” replied Kimberley Strassel.

“Democrats take any topic, add a few buzzwords, and act like they’ve created a new civil rights movement,” said another critic.

“What is algorithmic justice? This nonsensical term is right up there with tree equity. Also where was this vitriol when ever the opposing side was getting silenced through the algorithm?” read another popular response.

Others used the occasion to make fun of Markey.

“Algorithmic Justice, Tuesdays on CBS,” joked Josh Barro.

“‘Algorithmic justice’ is a lesson to all you activists and matchstick men that politicians will say whatever ridiculous shite you come up with. Can’t be too far out. Just go nuts. Really explore the space,” read another popular response.

https://politicofire.com/2022/04/27/democrat-senator-calls-for-new-laws-to-promote-algorithmic-justice-over-the-dangerous-influence-of-elon-musk-and-other-billionaires/

[tellomon]

1517758 Views

[tellomon]

BBC journo lit up after he called Walmart BB gun a ‘rifle’ in smug post: ‘no wonder you guys lost the war’
April 27, 2022

When it comes to social media, it’s hard these days to determine who is being serious and who is being sarcastic, and a BBC journalist on a work trip to the U.S. certainly blurred those lines in a tweet he shared about Walmart selling rifles.

Journalist Padraig Belton took to Twitter on Tuesday to share his conundrum of not having the right plug to fit adapters in the United States — we must presume he’s being serious, as the reporter described himself as “well travelled” and has reported from numerous war zones, according to the Daily Mail.

“Hello, I am a well travelled journalist and also it only occurred to me, at 1 am when I sat down to file my piece, that the US has US-style plugs,” Belton tweeted.

He followed up on that tweet with a photograph of a BB gun for sale at a Walmart store in Hallandale Beach, Florida, presumably mistaking it for a real firearm — his photo featured Red Ryder Carbine and Powerline Model 880 BB guns from Daisy, as well as a Crosman 760 Pumpmaster BB gun.

“Hi from America. Where Walmart doesn’t have a plug adapter for my UK laptop. But on the other hand, I can buy a rifle and ammunition,” Belton tweeted.

The great irony here is that Walmart does sell firearms and ammunition in about half of its 4,700 U.S. locations, particularly in more rural areas where hunting is popular. In 2015, Walmart did announce that it had stopped selling modern sporting rifles, including the AR-15.

“We also do not sell handguns, except in Alaska where we feel we should continue to offer them to our customers,” the company aid in a statement at the time.

The best response to Belton’s tweet, perhaps, stated: “My brother in Christ it’s no wonder you guys lost the war.”

https://americanwirenews.com/bbc-journo-lit-up-after-he-called-walmart-bb-gun-a-rifle-in-smug-post-no-wonder-you-guys-lost-the-war/

[tellomon]

.

[tellomon]

1517800 Views

                                                                                   

[tellomon]

'Find the Humor': 14 Betty White Quotes on Life
January 11, 2022

A mischievous smile, a bawdy joke, and a cheerful outlook — actress and comedian Betty White navigated a near 80-year career with these simple elements.

Famous for her portrayal of widow Rose Nylund on the 1980s sitcom Golden Girls, White was an industry pioneer long before that role. In 1951, when the Emmy Awards first recognized women, White was among the first group of nominees for Best Actress. She also both produced and starred in the 1950s sitcom Life With Elizabeth, a rarity for women at the time.

These early leaps set the stage for her eventual six Emmy Awards, Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award, star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and well-earned nickname, the “First Lady of Television.”

But White’s legacy isn’t limited to her achievements. In recent decades, she built on her early chops as a comedian, becoming the oldest host of Saturday Night Live, and she was also a passionate advocate for animal rights.

All the while, her firecracker personality made her beloved in the public eye. She spoke frankly and often about everything from desire (she famously harbored a crush on Robert Redford) to aging gracefully (“I’m still hot!” she insists in a 2012 music video for the Lifeline Program). Gratitude and lightheartedness were at the core of her life outlook, right up until her passing on December 31, 2021, three weeks shy of her 100th birthday. In her final interview, she said she was “born a cockeyed optimist,” and “that never changed." Below, you’ll find some of White’s best advice on staying curious, persevering, and always remembering to laugh.


ON AGING
You don't fall off the planet once you pass a given age. You don't lose any of your sense of humor. You don't lose any of your zest for life.

Don’t try to be young. Just open your mind. Stay interested in stuff.

Kindness and consideration of somebody besides yourself: I think that keeps you feeling young.

You know people who are already saying, “I’m going to be 30 — oh, what am I going to do?” Well, use that decade! Use them all!

ON SUCCESS
Mind your own business, take care of your affairs, and don’t worry about other people so much.

I think everybody needs a passion. Whether it’s one passion or a hundred, that’s what keeps life interesting.

You don't luck into integrity. You work at it.

Buckle down and work positively as much as you can. Just think, “All right, there’s nothing I can do about that right now. But I can do my best in my little circle.” So if you do that, maybe you’ll do your best.

ON FRIENDSHIP
Friendship takes time and energy if it’s going to work. You can luck into something great, but it doesn’t last if you don’t give it proper appreciation. Friendship can be so comfortable, but nurture it — don’t take it for granted.

I just make it my business to get along with people so I can have fun. It's that simple.

ON POSITIVITY
Laughter keeps everyone feeling wonderful.

It’s your outlook on life that counts. If you… don’t take yourself too seriously, pretty soon you can find the humor in our everyday lives. And sometimes it can be a lifesaver.

We do have a tendency to complain rather than celebrating who we are… It's better to appreciate what's happening.

There’s no formula. Keep busy with your work and your life. Replay the good times. Be grateful for the years you had.

https://www.inspiringquotes.com/find-the-humor-14-betty-white-quotes-on-life/Yd28-Lc7wQAHWniG?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1498108163

[tellomon]

Musk Has Big Changes in Store for Twitter

April 27, 2022

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s agreement to buy Twitter that was announced on Monday means some substantial changes will be coming soon for the social media giant. From unblocking previously censored accounts, including possibly President Donald Trump, and significant technical improvements, the platform is certain to look and work differently than ever before.

Although Trump told Fox News on Monday that he does not plan to return to Twitter after the Musk purchase, it remains to be seen what might happen if his account is unblocked. Musk has said nothing so far about specific plans involving Trump, but he has definitively said that the existing moderation and censorship policies at the company are not acceptable.

Musk wrote a week ago that a social media platform has good moderation if the “most extreme 10%” on each end of the political spectrum are “equally unhappy.”

Musk has said that as a “free speech absolutist,” he believes Twitter should not regulate posted content outside of the legal requirements of the countries the platform operates inside.

One technical improvement Musk has said will be a priority is eliminating “spam bots,” accounts driven by simple robotic algorithms to pollute the timelines of many users. By verifying that all users are “real humans,” the platform could cut down or eliminate hated spam.

Musk has also hinted that he is considering developing an “edit” feature, allowing users to edit posts for a short time after posting. Posts would “zero out” retweets and favorites when edited. Musk posted a poll on his account asking his followers if they wanted an edit feature and around 74% of 4.4 million respondents said they were in favor.

In his statement accompanying the purchase announcement, Musk reiterated earlier pledges to make the platform’s algorithms “open source,” meaning censorship or account suspensions would come with transparency.

There has been no reporting yet about the possibility of Musk moving Twitter’s operations out of California to Texas as he has done previously with his electric vehicle giant Tesla. Musk has previously said that Twitter headquarters in San Francisco could be better used as a homeless shelter, since hardly any workers come into the office anymore.

https://thecongressionalinsider.com/musk-has-big-changes-in-store-for-twitter/

[tellomon]

How to Survive Waterboarding

Waterboarding is also known as “water torture.” Ensure you know how to survive waterboarding if you find yourself in this situation. Check out our waterboarding survival tips.

https://survivallife.com/how-to-survive-waterboarding/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SL20220427

[tellomon]

Dear Reader,

One of the most baffling things that I have found in all of the excitement and interest around Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter has been the skepticism around whether or not Musk has the wherewithal to get the deal done.

I’m not referring to the sheer fortitude required to get the deal done or to turn the company around. I’m not talking about whether or not Musk has the time to devote to the deal and to provide leadership and oversight to implement his vision for Twitter.

The “wherewithal” I’m referring to is about the money… the dollars… the greenbacks.

Incredibly, much of the mainstream financial media, business journalists, and market commentators have echoed a stream of trite doubt. This is despite the fact that Musk is worth roughly a quarter of a trillion dollars on any given day.

It seems quite obvious to me that someone with that amount of assets would have no problem paying for the acquisition. As I wrote previously, a personal balance sheet like Musk’s will have no problem raising capital to affect the deal.

Most of the doubters tend to get hung up on things like “his assets aren’t liquid” or “he’d be forced to sell too much of Tesla, which would tank the stock.” I’m just paraphrasing, but that’s the gist of the negativity.

Which is why this is a great case study in how financing gets done in a deal like this. Now that a couple of days have passed, we have a better understanding of how Musk put together the cash necessary to buy out Twitter lock, stock, and barrel.

Musk’s Money

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Aside from Musk’s own $21 billion cash contribution, more than half of the deal is financed from other sources. He was able to corral $13 billion of loans from major banks like Morgan Stanley, Barclays, Bank of America, and Japan-based Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG).

The other $12.5 billion contribution also comes from a string of major banks willing to loan on margin against Musk’s Tesla stock. He is able to use one of his assets – Tesla stock – as collateral against the loan.

And that’s how Musk got it done. $44 billion for Twitter, plus an additional $2.5 billion for transaction fees.

We might be surprised to see so many lenders involved in the deal, but it actually makes a lot of sense. These banks were most likely willing to lend even more than they did.

Musk was able to spread around the access to his deal. All of the banks were lining up to support Musk.

Why? The answer is pretty simple.

If they help out Musk with the acquisition of Twitter, they have a better shot at gaining access to the next round of financing at SpaceX, The Boring Company, Neuralink, future financing for Tesla, or Musk’s next revolutionary tech venture.

If they lend now, at least they have an established relationship, an “in,” for consideration for the next hotly contested financing. If you’re not on the above list, good luck.

And this is beside the fact that Twitter, with the right changes, is worth more than $100 billion. If Musk decides to sell two or three years down the road, he’ll most likely make two or three times his money.

The banks are supporting a deal that is taking place at such an undervalued level that there is, in reality, very little risk. They’ll make a great return through interest payments on their loans and get their original capital back.

And Musk will make $50–$100 billion on a turnaround. While the investment return probably won’t put a smile on his face, what he will have done for society most certainly will.

[tellomon]

'Incredibly Inappropriate': Musk Blasts Twitter's 2020 Censorship of the Hunter Biden Laptop Bombshell
APRIL 27, 2022

Just a day after Twitter accepted Elon Musk's offer to buy the company for $44 billion, the Tesla CEO slammed the social media platform’s 2020 censorship of the bombshell Hunter Biden laptop story as “incredibly inappropriate.”

Musk, who has promised to open Twitter back up to free speech,” blasted Twitter’s earlier decision to suspend the account of the New York Post for publishing a story alleging that information taken off a laptop belonging to the president’s son showed evidence of potentially illegal business dealings between Hunter Biden and China – connections that also implicated President Biden, who was running for the office at the time the story broke.

https://www.mrctv.org/blog/incredibly-inappropriate-musk-blasts-twitters-2020-censorship-hunter-biden-laptop-bombshell

[tellomon]

LC Action Chairman Mat Staver

Taxes double for "unvaccinated" . . .

Mat Staver, LC Action Chairman <no-reply@lcaction.org>
To:
Ron Culley

Wed, Apr 27 at 12:46 PM

Rhode Island Democrats are pushing a radical bill that will strip personal freedom from every person living or working in their state. It fines every person who doesn't have proof of the COVID shots. Then it doubles their state income tax burden. But that's not all. I'll share more below.

This is not a privately run company. This is the state government considering a MASSIVE launch of mandatory Vaccine Passports for citizens, state employees and even for children!

Although the punishment is severe under this RI bill, 25 states and the District of Columbia have or are considering a Vaccine Passport. Add to this number at least 87 countries. The threat to freedom is serious.

Now, the choice is ours. Demand that state and federal governments stop Vaccine Passports and mandates. — Mat


Ron,

Rhode Island Senate Bill 2552 will punish people who chose not to get the COVID shots. Individuals will be fined 50 dollars, their personal income tax will be doubled, and employers will be fined 5,000 dollars each month for each "unvaccinated" employee.

The bill makes no allowance for religious exemptions, or natural immunity, which even Pfizer admits is highly effective. The medical exemption is nearly impossible to get.

A request for medical exemption must include notarized signatures of THREE "licensed physicians stating that the person is not a fit subject for immunization against COVID-19 for medical reasons."

Children who are "at least 10" must have their signatures notarized. I've never heard of such a requirement of a 10-year-old who has no legal capacity.

Medical exemption requests must be submitted to the state's Department of Health, which has the "power to investigate" the request. And all of this must happen within 40 days of a person becoming eligible for the dose.

This bill applies to anyone "who is eligible for immunization against COVID-19 and who resides in the State of Rhode Island, works in the State of Rhode Island, or pays personal income taxes to the State of Rhode Island," and even if the parents have the shot but their child under 16 does not, they still have to pay twice their state taxes.

No government has the right to infringe on our God-given, constitutionally guaranteed freedom. Make your voice heard to stop digital Vaccine Passports and tracking and tracing.

Every business in Rhode Island that continues to employ even one person without this shot will be fined 5,000 dollars per month for each violation. This is 60,000 dollars in fines per year for just one uninjected person. This could crush businesses with fines.

Businesses will have little choice but to fire every employee who doesn't provide proof of these shots.

The threat to double the income tax on people who are uninjected might be a moot point—because all of them will have been fired already.

In addition, this double layer makes this law apply even to people who just work or live inside the state. Anyone who lives outside the state and works inside, or vice versa, would still be caught by this bill.

Vaccine Passports and mandates pose a serious threat to freedom. Make your voice heard to stop digital testing, Vaccine Passports and constant surveillance on law-abiding Americans.

These vaccine companies already know what Rhode Island politicians won't admit. A recording of AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot reveals they were discussing how millions of people should NOT be injected, and in fact, he said they "can't be vaccinated."

On a December 2020 company-wide Zoom call, Soriot discusses complications of the COVID shots. He states, "Like if you have an immune disease, lupus, or some other immune condition, you cannot - or multiple sclerosis, you can't be vaccinated. So, there are millions of people in the world that will need a protection that cannot be coming from a vaccine."

We also know that Pfizer hid nearly all the 1,291 adverse side effects found in its clinical trials, and the FDA was complicit. No one should be forced to get these shots. Fax governors and legislators demanding the freedom to make our own decisions.

The fight is overwhelming. A video I created to help people obtain religious accommodations has nearly 1.1 million views. We are helping tens of thousands of people. We provide some of the best research available for millions of people and for critical legal cases. For many, our help and resources are a matter of life and death.

https://lcaction.org/LCAemail/elca2102faxnmv?t=ELCA2102-FaxNMV&c=ELCA2102-FaxNMV

[tellomon]

Satanist Will Soon Teach Elementary Kids About Their Religion

April 27, 2022

The Satanic Temple has filed a lawsuit against a Pennsylvania elementary school after the institution rejected their offer to indoctrinate kids in an after-school club.

The Satanic Temple is demanding that it be given free reign to consume the souls of children. They are bringing a lawsuit against the York, Penn Northern Elementary School, arguing that their 1st Amendment rights have been violated.

“I’m hoping that with us being here people will see that good people may have different views on the same mythology, even if they’re not intending to do any harm,” stated Lucien Greaves, who works as a spokesperson for the Satanic Temple.

“If they refuse to let us use a public facility that we have a right to, we’ll have to go into litigation, which will be very costly for the community,” he continued. Admitting their plan to utilize lawfare as part of their strategy in getting children to worship demons.

We’ve reported on the Satanic Temple’s legal challenge to Texas’ abortion ban, alleging that killing infants in the womb is a religious ritual for them.

“The Satanic Temple is attempting to overturn recently passed Texas abortion restrictions, arguing that their religious beliefs give them the right to lawfully terminate a developing fetus past a detected heartbeat.”

The Church of Scientology put a statement on its website in which it claims to stand “prepared to assist” any of its members who wish to break the law. The Temple has pushed for an exemption under its own religious freedom legislation, Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act (TRFRA).

Members of the Satanic Temple also lobbied the FDA on behalf of its Texas affiliates to provide them with abortion pills, arguing that as a faith-based organization, they would qualify for a religious exemption under the law.

The Temple, which promises to “generate attention and urge people to reexamine fears and preconceptions,” used the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which also allows certain American Indians to use specific drugs in religious ceremonies.

This goes to show that evil is always working overtime to come for America’s children. Even using our own legal system against us.

https://wethepeopledaily.com/2022/04/27/satanist-will-soon-teach-elementary-kids-about-their-religion/

[tellomon]

Tucker Carlson Returns To Twitter Thanks To Elon Musk
April 27, 2022

Following the news that Tesla CEO Elon Musk has struck a $44 billion deal to acquire Twitter, several well-known conservative figures have returned to the social media site.

Fox Business reports that following Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, Tucker Carlson, Mark Levin, and other conservative personalities have returned to the social network. Previously, Carlson was banned from Twitter for sharing the Babylon Bee’s satirical news items.

After the Babylon Bee published a satirical story naming Rachel Levine, who is transgender and was born Richard Levine, the “Man of the Year” for 2022, Twitter alleged that its material violated regulations against “hateful behavior.”

Seth Dillon, the CEO of the Babylon Bee, was told by Twitter on March 20th that his account was inaccessible due to a tweet that linked to the “Man of the Year” article.

Tucker Carlson of Fox News was banned from Twitter after he retweeted the Babylon Bee’s post and another from Charlie Kik in which he said that Levine had “gone through the last 54 years of his life as a man.”

However, in a subsequent tweet simply stating: “We’re back,” Carlson posted screen captures of both tweets, implying that he was banned from the platform as a result. Carlson has since resumed posting to Twitter.

Fox News host and conservative speaker Mark Levin who voluntarily left the social network also announced his return to the site.

If everything goes as we hope on Twitter, the glory days of conservatives owning libs could return. This was the time when conservatives easily got hashtags to trend and caused many freak-out moments among the left.

Then again, the powers that be could find a way to control Twitter using a different approach.

There has been discussions in the past about limiting freedom of speech through use of a social credit score which would take into account a person’s social media posts. Because of this, we know the possibilities for censorship are actually much wider than just Twitter employees deleting anything that upsets them.

If conservatives really want to fight and win their free speech back, we must retake the White House in 2024.

https://wethepeopledaily.com/2022/04/27/tucker-carlson-returns-to-twitter-thanks-to-elon-musk/

[tellomon]

Bill in Arizona Set to Protect Firearms Industry from Discrimination
April 22, 2022

A new bill in Arizona is now set to begin protecting the state’s firearms industry from potential attacks from woke banks.

As The Daily Wire reports:

Under a new bill, HB2473, banks would be prohibited from receiving government contracts if they don’t pledge to avoid discriminating against those in the firearms industry. The legislation would not impact existing contracts.

“Businesses can do what they like, but these are the ones speaking are federally chartered banks. We have to make this right for the people,” State Rep. Frank Carroll told The Daily Wire. “[These banks] are saying they have a right to make political decisions about banking. What is that to the people that need banking services?”

During a committee hearing last month, Ruger Firearms VPO Tim Lowney said their decades-long relationship with Bank of America was cut abruptly cut short. The bank had informed Lowney they would no longer do business with his company because they’re in the firearms industry. Ruger has over 400 employees in Arizona.

Lowney said Ruger faced similar problems at other banks, and that firearms dealers are also suffering.

Pro-second amendment groups are now also looking to pass similar legislation in states like Oklahoma, Louisiana and Kansas.

https://americanactionnews.com/guns/2022/04/22/bill-in-arizona-set-to-protect-firearms-industry-from-discrimination/?wmg=1

[tellomon]

Liberals Are Having a Total Meltdown Over Elon Musk Buying Twitter
April 26, 2022

VIDEO

https://rumble.com/v12j5rv-liberals-are-having-a-total-meltdown-over-elon-musk-buying-twitter.html

[tellomon]

This this PROOF that the woke left is FINALLY CRUMBLING?

It’s simply ‘left-wing propaganda’ that Governor DeSantis’ crack down on Disney World privileges in Florida ultimately will hurt taxpayers, Bill O’Reilly tells Glenn. In fact, Disney gets what it deserves, he says. Because while company executives continue to proclaim woke and inclusive messages, the park’s insane price gauging prevents an average family of four from visiting.

The Disney brand may be destroyed forever, O’Reilly says, but there IS some good news: Disney’s new reality may be proof that the American people FINALLY are taking a ‘ferocious’ stand against the woke left.

VIDEO!

http://patriotpowerednews.com/this-this-proof-that-the-woke-left-is-finally-crumbling/

[tellomon]

Florida sheriff doubles down, says if homeowners fatally shoot intruders, 'the chances of them reoffending ... are zero — and we like those odds'
April 27, 2022 

Bob Johnson, sheriff of Santa Rosa County in Florida, doubled down Tuesday on his headline-grabbing declaration last week that homeowners under his watch are "more than welcome to shoot at" crooks who break into their houses — and added a little mustard.

"If somebody breaks in your house in Santa Rosa County, and you shoot and kill 'em, the chances of them reoffending after that are zero — and we like those odds," Johnson told "Fox & Friends" host Ainsley Earhardt.

What's the background?
Johnson briefed the media last week on the arrest of Brandon J. Harris — a "frequent flyer" crook with long rap sheet starting when he was just 13 years old. Harris broke into several homes in Pace, and one of the homeowners shot at Harris without hitting him.

Harris' last stand went down when he broke into yet another home and authorities cornered him in a bedroom, after which Harris jumped through a window's glass and got captured.

Don't miss out on content from Dave Rubin free of big tech censorship. Listen to The Rubin Report now.
"We don't know which homeowner shot at [Harris]. I guess they think that they did something wrong, which they did not,” Johnson said at the press conference. “If somebody is breaking into your house, you’re more than welcome to shoot at them in Santa Rosa County. We prefer that you do, actually.”

Johnson added, "Whoever that was, you're not in trouble. Come see us. We have a gun safety class we put on every other Saturday, and if you take that, you’ll shoot a lot better and hopefully save the taxpayers money.”

Doubling down
In his interview with Earhardt, Johnson said the "frequent flier" suspect had broken into "four houses in a row," but the homeowner who fired the gun "unfortunately did not hit him."

"If somebody breaks in your house in Santa Rosa County, and you shoot and kill 'em, the chances of them reoffending after that are zero — and we like those odds," Johnson added.

Earhardt asked the sheriff if his unapologetic attitude regarding guns garners support in the community, and he replied that he's a cop, not a politician.

"In Santa Rosa County, if you break into a house, you roll the dice," Johnson said, adding that "99% of the people here love law enforcement, and the other 1% are in my jail currently," which he humorously referred to as the "Milton Hilton."

Anything else?
As for Harris, at the time of his arrest he was wanted on two felony warrants and one misdemeanor warrant, the sheriff said. For this latest run-in with the law, Harris was charged with felony attempted burglary with assault, two counts of felony burglary to an occupied dwelling, felony burglary to an unoccupied dwelling, resisting arrest without violence, criminal mischief, and attempted larceny. His bond was set at $157, 500. He had previously been arrested 17 times and served a 6.5-year prison sentence for home invasion.

"We're hoping this will be his third strike, and he'll go to prison and not get out because we're tired of dealing with him, to be honest with you," Johnson told Earhardt.

https://www.theblaze.com/news/sheriff-homeowners-shoot-crooks?utm_source=theblaze-dailyPM&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily-Newsletter__PM%202022-04-27&utm_term=ACTIVE%20LIST%20-%20TheBlaze%20Daily%20PM

[tellomon]

1518218 Views

[tellomon]

Ron Tello <m86thecat@yahoo.com>
To:
wbrough@elkocountynv.net *

Wed, Apr 27 at 4:56 PM

Hello.
I want to talk with you, but first let me preface my
comments with this Op-Ed piece from the Elko Daily:

Being a Criminal in Elko County pays

Being a burglar in Elko county is a high paying job with little or no personal risk.
Ya, there might be a risk of having a landowner/homeowner shoot you, but being caught by law enforcement does not appear to be a risk at all.

Recently some of my family members had their shop broken into and during the burglary a vehicle was set on fire and a pistol was stolen along with a side by side, a 4-wheeler, and countless tools.

They called the Sheriff's department and requested an officer to come out and take a statement, begin an investigation, and follow up with attempting to catch the criminals. We were all assuming that meant getting fingerprints, doing an arson investigation, investigate possible suspects, and protect the victim. They collected a statement, nothing else.

The suspects are known to the officers/detectives, yet they have done nothing to interview, question or obtain search warrants for their residence. The way these type of cases work from the Sheriff's office point of view is "We will have to wait until we catch them redhanded". That is a scary proposition. What if next time they accomplish their goal and burn the entire house down with victims inside?

Crime is on the rise, drug activity is on the rise, victims are on the rise in large numbers across Elko County, and from where I sit, not much is being done to get these criminals off the street. All the while the victim sits alone and scarred waiting for something to happen. They have now armed themselves to protect their pursuit of life, liberty and happiness while the criminal walks free without fear of being held accountable.

I get up every day to go to work to earn a paycheck, medical benefits for me and my kids, and pay taxes for a sense of security and community. Maybe it's time to quit my job, get on government subsistence, get free health care and take what I want when I want it. Then maybe I will have the freedom that the criminals in this county get handed to them.
-Scott Stewart
[Published in the Opinion section of the Elko Daily Free Press 8/30/14]

Question: Where do you stand on Civil and Property Rights?

Let's keep this simple for now.

Tell me your thoughts, and Professional opinion, please.

I need this dialog to continue.

Thank you.

-Ron Tello
Montello, Nevada

*  https://www.wrec.coop/celebrating-freedom-and-public-service/