This article makes a good point

Fox News recently asked if we should cancel Food Stamps because of fraud within the system.  The author highlighted that the $70 million in fraud was about 0.09% of the total spending of $70.7 billion in Food Stamps spending.  Removing a program that offers food assistance to 13.7% of the American population over the past year because of a tiny amount of fraud is ridiculous.

This is more evidence that Fox News has an agenda and that agenda is not intended to benefit a large number of Americans.

(All statistics are from the article.)

Okay...

Obviously, anything to do with luxury fashion is already dramatically removed from reality, but this is hard to believe.  A Versace outlet store in Pleasanton, California uses a code for any time "a black person entered the store".  Clearly, racism is dead.

Shaking the world

Serena Williams is her own person.  That's a good model for anyone.  Is this a cultural post or an emotional post?  Yes.

Gerrymandering should be outlawed

This is the current state of the United States of America.

Our President-elect

He strongly considers how his potential cabinet appointees look during the vetting process. "That's the language he speaks," said a source familiar with the Trump transition team's internal deliberations. "He's very aesthetic. You can come with somebody who is very much qualified for the job, but if they don't look the part, they're not going anywhere."  Did I really just read that?

How long until Kim Kardashian is Secretary of State?

Do liberals ever say things like this?

If they do, they need to be called out, because this shit is sick.  Really disgusting.

This officer should be stripped of his badge

Time to find a new line of work, one where your behavior won't impact people's lives.

Update:  Unfortunately, I'm not surprised by this outcome.

Bravo President Obama!

Every single thing that slows down our next President is a good thing.  Here's a good example that's also doing something really important for a select portion of our population.

Get your boots on!

It's just about time to riot in the streets.

Ken Burns

Ken Burns, celebrated documentary filmmaker, dispensing wisdom.

If we aren't careful, it could happen here

Our President-elect, Donald Trump has said that Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is going about his war on drugs, "the right way".

Duterte is now saying, about the city he was mayor of for nearly twenty years, "In Davao I used to do it personally.  Just to show to the guys (police) that if I can do it why can't you".  "And I'd go around in Davao with a motorcycle, with a big bike around, and I would just patrol the streets, looking for trouble also.  I was really looking for a confrontation so I could kill."

No word as of yet from President-elect Trump as to whether he supports these tactics or not.  Maybe he just hasn't gotten around to tweeting his abhorrence of extrajudicial killings.

More bad judgement

The CIA recently stated that Russia tried to influence the election and President-elect Trump's representative calls it "laughable and ridiculous".  All they have to do is say, "Wow, they like me!  They really like me!" and it's done.  Instead, he goes against the judgement of his intelligence community.  Is this how he'll make decisions as President?  "Oh, I think Papua New Guinea has developed nuclear weapons.  The CIA says no, but I think they have, so I'll just push this little red button right here.  Boom!"

Even Republican Senators are calling for an investigation, releasing a statement that says these reports "should alarm every American".  But no, it's "ridiculous".

Good-bye planet

Climate change denier selected to head Environmental Protection Agency.

An article from The Onion, right?

I couldn't force myself to read the whole thing.  Please tell me it's really from The Onion, so I don't have to face this reality.

Good riddance

to bad rubbish.

President-elect Trump supports Rodrigo Duterte

This isn't comforting.

Special K, not KKK

Right wing nationalists continue their onslaught of reality. "If you serve Kellogg’s products to your family, you are serving up bigotry at your breakfast table."  They are trying to say that it is bigotry to stand up to bigotry.  They believe that if they just keep twisting the meanings of words, we'll all eventually be too confused to stop them from committing their dastardly deeds.  DON'T BE CONFUSED!  Bigotry is bigotry.  Standing up to bigotry is ANTI-bigotry.  Be an anti-bigot.

A world without hate...

...would be wonderful, indeed.

Compassion

This guy comes off as a little bit crazy, but I like what he's doing.

Which of the issues discussed

in this article are most frightening?  It's hard to choose, but I'll go with the report that President-elect Trump is refusing daily briefings from national security officials because, according to his spokeswoman, he's getting his information from "other sources". If this doesn't concern you, you may want to hold your breath, because your head is definitely in the sand.

It's okay for the KKK to have rallies

because that's protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution, but it's not okay for people to burn flags, so we'll amend the Constitution to prevent it?

We will see the country his way

or we'll go to jail?

Our President-elect

says things that are not based in fact.  At some point, this is going to have a big impact on our nation.

First against the wall...

This is one of the most frightening things I've seen so far.  Sean Hannity, of Fox News, has called for a ban on access to the White House for his rival news outlets. This is the path to fascism.  This is how a president becomes a dictator.  For the time being, I'll continue to hope that Trump doesn't actually take any of these steps down this path.  But it's becoming more and more clear that the political far right in this country does actually want to pull this country into fascism.

On this Thanksgiving day, I am thankful first for my family and friends and second for the fact that President-elect Donald Trump has not taken any concrete steps toward fascism.

An important read

Times like these lead me to morbid thoughts.  If you have not already done so, I urge you to read Art Spiegelman's Maus.  It's a graphic novel about his father's experiences, including the Holocaust.  With January 20 coming up on us quickly, it is best to know what we may be facing.

Never again, right?

She lived a long life.  May she rest in peace.

I hope you are paying attention.

This is how it begins.  They float ideas out there that they intend to make happen later.  That way, it's not a surprise to the populace and the people don't fight back. Please recognize, a person who represents our President-elect just said, “There is precedent for it” in relation to internment camps.  Not "internment camps are a crime against humanity and stand in stark contrast to every principle this country was founded on".  Not "the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II is among the worst decisions ever made by the American government".  Just “There is precedent for it”.  How long will it be before, instead of us saying, "No, he'd never create internment camps" we are saying, "No, he'd never run death camps"?  Are you willing to be judged by history, as the German people are, for letting Hitler do what he did?  This is the question we are faced with, and he's not even President yet.

It is time to start thinking about how you will react when the worst starts happening.  "They are coming.  They are coming."

If the fist was in a different face...

While watching this video, I couldn't help thinking that the white people who are hollering and screaming in the background about a woman who was clearly resisting arrest would be just fine if that very same police officer was shown shooting an African American male for no reason.  I hope that's not the case.  And if it is, I hope that this incident will help them to see that police brutality is not acceptable, no matter the color of the victim's skin.

"We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness."  -Thich Nhat Hanh

Charges filed!

Officer Jeronimo Yanez, the man who fatally shot Philando Castile last summer, is being charged with second-degree manslaughter.  This needed to happen.

Hooray for the humans!

Good job, team.  This really inspires me.  These young men make me proud of humanity again.

Very interesting...

There's lots of interesting information about our country here.

"Certain things in our country should disqualify you" -Stan Van Gundy

"What bible are you reading?"  Some reactions from NBA players and coaches.

Messed up times

When you turn to comedians to hear the truth that your politicians can't even understand.

Remember, "this is not normal"

John Oliver is really good.

Positive words from the Michigan Department of Education

Encouraging.

Less than a week after the election

Fox and Friends host, Pete Hegseth said, when speaking of the anti-Trump protesters, "They're not pro-American liberals who are frustrated with conservatism.  They're anti-American and they want to foment chaos across our country." Those are not just throw-away words. He is saying that the people who are protesting against Donald Trump are "anti-American". He also called them "Communists", "anarchists", and "anti-Semitic".  This is an attempt to discredit American Liberalism, to take away our ability to criticize the President.  This might be a good time for a refresher from Dictionary.com:

"fascism: a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism."

Are we there?  No, we're not.  And hopefully, we never will be.  But if you can't see a possible beginning in actions such as these, then I suggest you look a little closer.

A terrible loss

for anyone who values integrity.

Yes, it has already begun

Donald Trump has appointed Stephen Bannon as his chief strategist.  I've been told repeatedly that I need to wait and see what happens.  "He may be the best president this country's ever had" I believe were the most recent words.  I urge you to read that article in the link.

The NBA is filled up with strong, good voices right now.

Gregg Popovich.

It ain't much,

but it's something.  I'll be wearing one, despite its trendiness.  You never know, it might mean something to someone who needs it.

This is what you chose, America.

Sickening.

Make America Kind Again

This woman is going in the right direction.  It's superficial, it's a slogan, but it's focused on the right thing.  I may need to get me one.

Steve Kerr for Vice President!

You may click here.

Stan Van Gundy for President in 2020!

Speaks honestly.  Has decency.  What more do we need?  It's a good time to be a Pistons' fan.  That's something, at least.

What's wrong with you?

If even this guy get's it, what's taking you so long?

No matter what happens tonight,

our lives and our responsibilities will be different forever.

If Trump wins, he'll show us our responsibility.  It will be our job to react appropriately to and oppose whatever type of hate he brings into the world.  If we elect him, it will be our job to limit the damage he can cause.

If Clinton wins, we'll be in just the opposite situation.  It will be our job to remind her that she is only president because she ran against the worst candidate in American history and that she wouldn't be president if the Republicans had fielded a viable candidate.  She will have no mandate.  Her job will be to do as little damage as possible until we can manage to get a better candidate elected.  Our job will be to remind her of that as frequently as possible.

When you listen to the victory speech...

...think of this:  

"frothing at the mouth about the scapegoats that they've chosen for us. With every racist pointed finger I can hear the goose-steps getting closer. They no longer represent us so is it not our obligation to confront this tyranny?"

No matter what happens tomorrow...

This man is a problem:

The rule of law and the value of human life mean nothing to him.  He's someone to keep a close eye on.

Let it be right!

The breakdown of society continues

Donald Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway admitted to MSNBC’s Brian Williams Thursday night that the Republican presidential candidate’s recent campaign-trail proclamation — that Hillary Clinton faces a “likely indictment” by the FBI — is based on inaccurate reporting. Still, she said, factual or not, “the damage is done to Hillary Clinton.”

She is flat out saying that she doesn't care about facts, that the only consideration that is important to the Trump campaign is damaging the enemy.  This won't change if he becomes president.  This is how he'll do things.  It's obvious.  Don't claim to be surprised later.  Make the right decision now.

"A great project"

Another of my internet friends, Robert Zieger, is doing something great in the world. He lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He's come into contact with an orphanage outside of Kinshasa. In his own words, he and a colleague are "spearheading the A Bed for Each Child Project, through which we are raising funds to double the living and sleeping space (and toilet capacities) for these 70-80 kids (and the next generation)." It's clearly a worthy goal. If you have the time to read about it and maybe even donate to the cause, it will be greatly appreciated.

If you are considering donating, it might aid your decision to know that from his many posts on DBB, Robert is easily recognized as an honest, kind-hearted person. On top of that, the project is "being sponsored by Lantern Projects, a well-established organization through which donations are handled. Given Lantern's long history, this gives our project a certain credibility. More importantly, Lantern is a 501(c)(3) org, meaning that all donations are US tax deductible."

There are so many bad things happening in our world.  This is a simple way to make a positive difference for another person.  I encourage you to do so.

If he'd quit saying important things, I'd quit posting them

John Oliver says more intelligent and important things in this video than our current presidential candidates have said in their combined lives.

Someone's finally acting like a presidential candidate

No, it's not Hillary.  Since there's no chance it's Trump, I'll get right to it.  It's Bill Weld, the Libertarian Vice-Presidential candidate, running with Gary Johnson.  Since everything is so confused lately, I'll be really clear.  What makes this "presidential" is that he's putting the needs of the country before his own needs.  Not something I see Hillary doing very much and not something Trump is even capable of doing.  Despite that, in agreement with Mr. Weld, I'll say, "Go Hillary".

This post is for the vast number of conservative Christians who read this blog

Ignoring the fact that if you tried to define behavior that is the polar opposite of how Jesus Christ supposedly acted, you would come up with Trump, there's still this:  Trump doesn't even know the Bible that he professes to love.

If you are a conservative Christian, your thinking about life is so radically different than mine that it causes me difficulty in knowing how to even talk to you.  But this here, this seems pretty clear cut.  If all you care about are other white, conservative Christians, this should still bother you.  He's lying.  He doesn't know anything about your religion.  He's using you to accomplish his own goals.  HE DOESN'T EVEN REPRESENT YOUR SICK, TWISTED, LITTLE WORLD.  Donald Trump lives for Donald Trump.  That's it.  When it's convenient for him to dump you, he'll do that.  And then where will you be?  Where will we all be?

I feel like I should be saying more against Donald Trump's presidential bid

But, in reality, why?  If at this point in time you are still undecided about this election, then nothing I can say will sway you.  I understand not being enthused about Hillary Clinton, but that's just not relevant.  Donald Trump is in no way fit to be President of the United States.  If the idea of casting a vote for him is not abhorrent to you, then you have an issue that talking about politics won't solve.

Not shocking

"We totally disavow hateful rhetoric online or otherwise," Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks wrote in an emailed statement.  While, at the same time, encouraging the people who spew those words.  Have you people never seen/read 1984?  V for Vendetta?  Pay attention, people.

Emmett Till's historical marker

This sickens me.  If you don't know who Emmett Till is, you should.  Do some research.  Here.  I got you started.

Say something!

Baseball reporter Amy Donaldson said, “When men stand up to other men, sexual harassment ends. When women stand up to men, the behavior gets rationalized and we get criticized.”  This is true of racism and other forms of discrimination.  If you're a member of the group who is committing the offense, you have the power to stop it.  Remember that the next time you're in that kind of situation.

I always hated Michael Jordan during his career.

After he retired, I was able to see him for what he was:  The GOAT.  I'm not waiting this time.  I see Gregg Popovich for what he is now, while he's still coaching.  Here's a recent example.  I hope it helps you to see him honestly too.

Excited, but skeptical

Whole Foods has opened a store on the South Side of Chicago, in the low-income neighborhood of Englewood.  I have my doubts about Whole Foods' ability to provide products that the people of that neighborhood will find valuable, but that's not really relevant.  They'll succeed or they'll fail and that's on them.  What is relevant and interesting is that they are trying at all.  The South Side is a vast food desert and where there are grocery stores, their food quality is usually quite poor.  It doesn't seem like the kind of place that Whole Foods would be interested in.  If they can manage to make it work, it might be the beginning of the end of food deserts in the United States.  And a serious step forward on the road to ending inequality.  A round of applause to Whole Foods for the attempt.  I hope it succeeds.

A person of honor takes a step backward

Supreme Court justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, long known for her ability to speak honestly and intelligently about a whole range of legal and cultural issues in our country, said in a recent interview,

When asked by Couric how she feels about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, and others athletes, refusing to stand for the anthem, Ginsburg replied, “I think it’s really dumb of them.”
“Would I arrest them for doing it? No,” Ginsburg elaborated. “I think it’s dumb and disrespectful. I would have the same answer if you asked me about flag burning. I think it’s a terrible thing to do, but I wouldn’t lock a person up for doing it. I would point out how ridiculous it seems to me to do such an act.”
Couric then asked, “But when it comes to these football players, you may find their actions offensive, but what you’re saying is, it’s within their rights to exercise those actions?”
“Yes,” said Ginsburg. “If they want to be stupid, there’s no law that should be preventive. If they want to be arrogant, there’s no law that prevents them from that. What I would do is strongly take issue with the point of view that they are expressing when they do that.”

I'm not interested in the legal aspects of what she said because there's no confusion about that.  I am interested to hear that a person who usually thinks so clearly can be so obviously wrong on such an important issue.  Dumb?  Disrespectful? Arrogant?  I think these kids just got a lesson in just how important these issues are and how much work still needs to be done.  There's nothing dumb or disrespectful about it.  Does Ruth Bader Ginsburg really believe that standing for a song is more important that calling attention to the need to do something about the serious racial problems we have in this country?  It's hard to imagine she actually said that.

If she were a regular person, I would look to her words, "I would point out how ridiculous it seems to me to do such an act" and "What I would do is strongly take issue with the point of view that they are expressing when they do that" and think to myself, "Is this an emotional issue?  Is she feeling attacked, much like Trump supporters, and responding by trying to shove African Americans back in their place?"  But she's Ruth Bader Ginsburg, so I just can't seem to believe that I need to ask myself those questions.  For now, I'll leave the deciphering of her motivations up to history, while I take a knee.

Update.

Why do political comedians say smarter things than politicians?

Watch.

"Family values"

If you're a conservative, you need to ask yourself if this is what you value.

Must accomplish...

I've had a tab up for several days, waiting to write a post about the United Nations report about how African Americans are treated in this country.  Life seems to be conspiring to prevent me from writing that post, but I cannot allow that report to go by without notice.  So, for now, here are some links to a couple of articles about the report.  I can't link directly to the report, but there's a link to it at the beginning of the first article I linked to.  I urge you to read it/about it.

A fantastic article

 In this article, written by Tamryn Spruill, it says:

"Kaepernick and his comrades have exposed the fact that some Americans fear equality because equality means losing advantage. Equality, however, does not mean disadvantage. So for people to oppose equality demonstrates their preference for supremacy, even to the point of having supreme power over who lives and who dies.
This will no longer be tolerated."

She says many other well-thought-out things.  You should read it.

 

ESPN is now censoring protests

From this article: "Last Saturday, 19 members of the ECU marching band channeled San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick by either taking a knee or refusing to play the national anthem during the game against Central Florida."

As a result, ESPN Fayetteville (North Carolina) will not air the team's next game. From the company Chairman, Jeff Andrulonis: "A dozen band members disgraced themselves on the football field this past weekend," he said in the statement. "I'm proud of our country and I'm proud of our soldiers...especially our soldiers from Fort Bragg...fighting for our country."  Is it any surprise that this man is chairman of a company called "Colonial" Media?

I sincerely hope that ESPN will realize that it's not acceptable for the media to be censoring a team's protest by not airing their games and will reverse this decision.

"Understanding makes tolerance unnecessary." -Dan Wilkins

Randall Stephenson is AT&T's CEO and he's white,

“Tolerance is for cowards,” he said. “Being tolerant requires nothing from you but to be quiet and to not make waves, holding tightly to your views and judgments without being challenged. Do not tolerate each other. Work hard, move into uncomfortable territory and understand each other."

How do I sign up for AT&T?  Forget that, Randall Stephenson for president!  Let's dump the two pathetic candidates we have and elect this guy.  Take a few minutes today and watch the video in the second link I gave above.  If you care about this issue, you'll find the time to be well spent.

Correct Action

They were sent home for this in 1968, but now they're being greeted by the President at the White House.

Can you imagine?

What a different and better country this would be if we did this.

RIP, Radio Raheem

Actor Bill Nunn has died at age 62.  He will always be known as the iconic Radio Raheem, from Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing.  That movie was released in 1989 and is more relevant today than it ever has been.  A must see for anyone interested in modern American culture.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture

To help you not be one of these:  "And too many white folks get angrier about a quarterback kneeling during the national anthem than they are about the outright execution of a black man who did nothing more than have his car break down on the way home from class", try reading this article:  Why white people need to see the searing new African American Museum right now.

I've never been to Washington, D.C., but I intend to go one day.  When I do, this will be the first thing on my list.

This can't continue

I don't know how this all will end, but it needs to soon.  Please make some noise about this, for our country.  I saw this this morning.  He's right.

LecraeVerified account‏@lecrae

Take a knee...people riot. Take a bullet...people quiet.

• RETWEETS55,973
• LIKES60,451
• 

7:57 PM - 19 Sep 2016

55,973 retweets60,451 likes

Don't give up on me!

Soon!  Soon I'll be back to writing often.

Please don't make me say "I told you so"

I really don't want to be right about this.

Me:  "All Trump has to do is stick around and hope that Hillary Clinton implodes."

The linked article above:  "The downward spiral for Clinton that began with the release of her FBI questioning transcript and continued with her public medical episode and questionable explanations for it, is now spinning at full speed with these hacked Powell emails."

I am a serious non-fan of Hillary Clinton, but don't let her blow this.  The world is not ready for the consequences of a Trump presidency.  Do you think Canada will accept a stay-at-home dad and his family as new residents?

Going in the right direction. Congratulations, Michigan!

• 

  STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

  JOHN C. AUSTIN – PRESIDENT

  •

  CASANDRA E. ULBRICH – VICE PRESIDENT

  MICHELLE FECTEAU – SECRETARY

  •

  PAMELA PUGH – TREASURER

  LUPE RAMOS-MONTIGNY – NASBE DELEGATE

  •

  KATHLEEN N. STRAUS

  EILEEN LAPPIN WEISER

  •

  RICHARD ZEILE

  608 WEST ALLEGAN STREET

  •

  P.O. BOX 30008

  •

  LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909

  www.michigan.gov/mde

  •

  517-373-3324

  News Release

  Contact: John C. Austin, President, State Board of Education

  Phone: 734-474-3110

  STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVES NEW

  S

  CHOOL GUIDANCE PROTECTING LGBT STUDENTS

  September 14, 2016

  LANSING – The State Board of Education today approved new voluntary guidance to assist

  schools in creating school environments where LGBT students can live, learn and thrive.

  The 6-2 vote in favor of the revised guidelines follows a thorough public comment period in

  which nearly 13,000 comments were received and analyzed by the Michigan Department of

  Education, and two public meetings were held by the State Board to gather feedback.

  “Today’s vote sends a clear message about the kind of state Michigan is going to be,” said

  State Board of Education President John Austin. “The board members supporting this

  guidance showed that we’re serious about improving learning and life outcomes for all our

  school children, including LGBT children. We’re providing a roadmap for schools across

  Michigan to ensure that all our kids are safe in school and put in a position to succeed.”

  The State Board created draft guidelines in response to requests from educators across the

  state. A work group of educators, health and mental health professionals, social workers,

  parents and education stakeholders worked together to develop the school guidance. The

  draft guidelines were presented by the State Board for public comment in March and

  subsequently revised to reflect public feedback.

  The new guidelines provide schools many common-sense policies and practices that respect

  the rights, safety and privacy concerns of all students, including gay and transgender

  students. The revised guidelines also strengthen parental involvement in decision-making

  about their children while providing for schools to protect the health and safety of at-risk

  children.
• The guidance shares best practices already in place at many schools across Michigan as they

  work to address concerns of academic achievement and safety for the nearly nine percent of

  Michigan students who identify as LGBT. Twelve percent of these students did not go to

  school in the past year, because they felt unsafe – twice the rate of straight students. Forty-six

  percent had grades that consisted mostly of C’s, D’s and F’s, again nearly double the number

  of heterosexual students with similarly poor academic performance. And most disturbingly,

  29 percent of LGB students have attempted suicide in the last year, 4.5 times the rate for non-

  LGB students.

  Organizations including the Michigan PTA, Michigan Associations of School Social

  Workers, Counselors, Psychologists, Academy of Pediatricians; teachers’ unions, local

  school boards and chambers of commerce weighed in to support the guidance and the

  importance of Michigan sending a message of support, inclusion and tolerance for LGBT

  children.