Editorial Opinion: Communication technology moves society backwards

Image by danny moore from Pixabay 

Communication technology moves society backwards

Communities are users of Social Media formats and it appears that some of the worst in neighbors and neighborhoods is in our face. The sharing of ideas, different points of views, role playing with a "bait and switch" motive that replaces the use of sarcasm has created a realm of chaos. All of this chaos is now, transferred by design to the World on 

the World-Wide-Web.

Then there is the posting of  misinformation that is not corrected. Mistakes happen in writing, typing, quotes, etc. but, these authors were known to have copy-editors to correct those mistakes either before printing or even noted as a correction after publishing.

There is a trendy new term titled disinformation that is just a replacement word for the old term propaganda. Society appears to be vulnerable. Economics, Poverty, Climate Change, War, Natural Disasters are topics / events that are at battle on acceptance of perspectives. 

Then we have individuals and organizations that set the stereotypes, which has brought-out prejudice that again is transferred by design to the World on the World-Wide-Web.

Years were spent telling the public that the news was fake and this drove more and more people to the social media formats. Carrying smartphones around became a constant connect to drumming stereotypes of hate, bias, and prejudice that again is transferred by design to the World on the World-Wide-Web. 

Society utilized a communication tool that was meant to enhance the ability to communicate with each other and join conversations but, it has failed. 

What has happened is a false power unleashed in the hands of the general public continuing the drumming of targeted stereotypes of hate, bias, and prejudice that again is transferred by design to the World on the World-Wide-Web.

 

Blog Post: Next ...

Next ...

Today, I am just trying to not miss posting during the month of May.

I woke at 4 a.m. for no apparent reason. 
Fifteen minutes later, I understood why?
The the lightning began, the thunder clapped so strong that the house shook and the windows rattled.
This went on for nearly an hour. 
I see no indication that it actually rained but, those jet streams that many meteorologists now include in their weather reports, were definitely hitting head-on at my home. 
Later today, I will check the stormchasers that I follow on Twitter in addition to news stations with meteorologists on their staff.

So, why talk about this? I can not see a section anywhere in the United States that is not effected with changing weather patterns. One should no longer say, It was a fluke. The climate has changed and "WE" are in the new normal.

Here it is May and tornadoes, floods, snow and ice, droughts, dust storms and wildfires have been a part of the news cycle and here comes hurricane season. 

Climate Change is a National issue and if you dare to get outside one's bubble, it is a Global issue, too.

Update editing March 9, 2023

 

Blog Post: Finding Connections

Finding Connections

In my effort to focus on the Climate and Environmental Issues a connect happened way closer than I could have plotted. Dan Bacher wrote the linked article inserted below just over six-years-ago. 

We follow each other on Twitter which, is the reason this article came into view for me.

 Bacher is currently covering the salmon reports and the Delta waters of California.

Merle Haggard and the Politics of Salmon

April 11, 2016 by Dan Bacher, environmental journalist 

What struck me about Bacher's article was the name MAXXAM and the Pacific Lumber Company buyout. I knew that name. Charles Hurwitz, one of those corporate raiders from Texas during the 1980s. He bought out the little development called Holiday Island located in Arkansas, where I live.

Editorial Opinion: Upside Down

Upside Down

I've been using this phrase for years now. It seems to be catching on. I just hope that people using it truly understand the impact of utilizing this phrase.

It has come to my attention that I missed having, at the very least, a single entry for March.

So, today's task is to start setting a pattern for entering words and thoughts for this storytelling journey that I have put myself on.

Don't know about you but, if you live in a neighborhood or city that markets using any of these phrases:

• It is so, beautiful here. You'll love it.
• The wildlife is abundant, here.
• It is so, cheap to live here.
• Welcome! Glad you made it. What's your address so, we can bring you a welcome basket.
• Lots of things to do. Volunteers needed!

Where is it not beautiful? On the edge of an industrial road?

Where is there no wildlife? Birds have no boundaries.

Cheap? Who is that audience you are trying to pull-in?

Welcome? Who would say anything other than welcome?

Volunteers needed? We'll take your money and your time, too.

These types of statements kept me away from writing. Attempting to let-go and clear my head, obviously. 

Watched a viral video on upside down lightning. Have you seen it? 
This science moment opens up a huge discussion for meteorologists.

Have you talked with you friends? 

I have one that is South of me and she has snow when I don't. 
I do watch those jet streams that are shown more now than ever: The Wind.

Maybe it is trash service and haulers. I'm older and the children brought home from school nearly 40-years-ago the need to recycle. Now, what one participated in "doing the right thing" has diminished. It isn't talked about much in the moment. People were too involved in so much stuff that they missed the moment China said they would not take the USA recyclables or waste. That did happen during the Trump administration. Some entrepreneurs began companies that utilized some of the glass or plastics, which is a very good thing but, no one picked up on this point. Small business can only help in a more local way. Now, I sit in a local community that just says, only taking "this" and the rest; will go to the landfill. A return to upside down.

Just going to save the rest of today's frustration and save it for another April post.

Update editing March 9, 2023

Blog Post: Hope

Hope

It does not appear to be an easy task to start a new journey, when one is older and single.

When money is important and the world one knew seems upside down and in distress. 
I've been looking online at all types of information to get a sense for areas including even the one where I actually live.

Today, I discovered that the many towns and communities that I would be interested in starting a new journey, seem to have an enormous amount of overnight listings for homes and condos. Even where I live people are buying up or renting out homes and condos on one type of lodging service or another.

 
Is this the trend now? 

Families are bunking up in one home to make ends meet or just to have a roof over their head. Big homes for large extended families in the year 2022, which leaves small families, couples and singles without housing options.

Couples buying homes and then renting out the extra room or rooms on Airb&b for enough nights to pay the taxes and other expenses.

 
Can't even wrap my head around the whole process, especially during a pandemic. And if that is one's process to make ends meet, how about the family neighbors, whose neighbor is now is just an agency booking tourists.

I found a different direction. Been watching it for many years now. The mobile home venture started by TenFold of the UK really caught my attention. If you like the Transformers then this housing adventure is exciting. Of course, for me, this is "across the pond" but along comes Boxabl in the USA.

 
I find them interesting and pursuing learning more about this young company. 
This is a game changer for housing on many levels. Still gathering information and all the possibilities. 

Update editing March 9, 2023

Word for The Day: Cyber-bullying

Word for The Day: Cyber-bullying

It has been some time since I have addressed the word; cyber-bullying.

In 2006 and 2008, teenagers were the victims of cyber-bullying in Missouri. Those incidents brought attention to the lack of laws to punish the criminals having damaging effects on the lives of others. 

Today, there are about 45 states that have laws in their State's to legally address this crime. Before the cyber-bullying laws were put into place, teenagers got the word out among their peers to stop being cruel.

So, here it is 2021, and cyber-bullying is widespread among adults especially when politics has a voice in this abuse utilizing tech instruments and social media platforms. 

Arkansas is one of the states that has a cyber-bullying law (Ark. Code Ann. § 5-41-108.) Is it time for adults to wake-up and realize that it is not just young people that utilize their devices (internet, social media, phones, letters and gaming) that causes harm to others?

Even First Lady Melania Trump attempted to have bullying her personal project but, it got lost in the news cycles. So, what is cyber-bullying?

Definition? Cyber-bullying or cyber-harassment is a form of bullying or harassment using electronic means. Cyber-bullying and cyber-harassment are also known as online bullying. It has become increasingly common, especially among teenagers, as the digital sphere has expanded and technology has advanced. Wikipedia https://g.co/kgs/GkaQs4

What are the causes and effect of cyber-bullying? Like all forms of bullying, cyber-bullying causes psychological, emotional and physical stress. Each person's response to being bullied is unique, but research has shown some general tendencies. StopBullying.gov reports that youth who are bullied have a higher risk of depression and anxiety.

What is the purpose of cyber-bullying? Cyber-bullying is the use of digital-communication tools (like the Internet and cell phones) to make another person feel angry, sad, or scared. Online bullying is like in-person bullying in two key ways. It's done on purpose, and it tends to happen more than once.. understood.org

My message to seniors and young adults; cyber-bullying is not just about oppression of teenagers and their silly, impulsive manners. There are adults that utilize all of the new telecommunication platforms. These tech platforms are harboring cyber-bullying offences as well as breaking open meeting laws, which were created  to insure that citizens were informed, able to participate and elected officials followed government procedures.

Why do any of us continue to address the wrongs and continue the pursuit of Hope and being good mentors?

My answer to that question are the words spoken, to a group of journalists during a dark time of misinformation, by John Seigenthaler, "enduring values matter."

rls

Update editing March 8, 2023

Word for the Day: Oppression

Word for the Day: Oppression

"a situation in which people are governed in an unfair and cruel way and prevented from having opportunities and freedom"

Cambridge Dictionary

rls

Update editing March 8, 2023

Blog Post: Littlemouse's Vision Quest journey

Littlemouse's Vision Quest journey

1. Gathering together all the locations I have utilized over the past twenty-years.
2. Word for Day is in draft for the moment.
3. Sized a masthead to fit Creekside News Journal's RSS feed and published the first short article for a local news item hosted at the Creekside News Journal (CNj).
4. And the final assignment is to gather facts together after receiving replies to a long list of FOIAs in order to write short articles regarding local governments. One fact that is clear, government needs to be transparent and reporters need to write What is transparent. Well, let's see how long it takes to sort through a tangled mess of mis-information provided by Pandemic isolation and many, many ZOOM meetings. 

It has become difficult to compete with little social groups of people that pass a story around and then utilizes a social media location where more isolated individuals grab a hold of the misinformation and add more little stitches to the story and what one is left with is the worst Quilt ever. The grandmothers should be appalled at this sloppiness. Who knows; was this what developed the Crazy Quilt?

 

rls

Update editing March 8, 2023

Word for the Day: Social Media

Word for the Day: Social Media

Social media usage for advertising in the U.S.A. is overseen by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC.) 

Social media usage by government officials in the U.S.A. is overseen by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC.) 

Government Social Media Policies are recommended for elected officials as well as their staff. Elected officials need to comply with campaigning laws and open meeting laws. 

rls

Update editing March 8, 2023

Word for the Day: Gerrymander

Word for the Day: Gerrymander

In 1812, Eldridge Gerry was the Mayor of Boston and signed a bill that created a partisan voting district. Gerrymandering is the political term, named after the Mayor, and the term is considered to carry negative connotations including corruption of the democratic process.

The term will be used most often when voting districts are re-drawn utilizing the data collected and provided by the Bureau of the Census and when the new voting blocks result in greater advantage for some and unfair representation for others; Gerrymandering is the word of choice.

In 25 states, the state legislature has the primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan and in many of these states the state governor has the final approval.

"On June 27, 2019, the Supreme Court, by a 5 to 4 vote, ruled that claims of unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering are not subject to federal court review because they present non-justifiable political questions, removing the issue from the federal court's purview." 

Congressional Research Service 

https://crsreports.congress.gov

LSB10324

update 5/ 15/2021 

The community where I reside became an incorporated town and then a city all within less than a year; during the Covid outbreak. At a workshop meeting, procedures were discussed for the creation of Wards. The following information was being researched and here is an example that I found at MRSC in Washington state.

https://mrsc.org/Home/Explore-Topics/Governance/Offices-and-Officers/Council-Election-by-Wards-or-Districts.aspx

Election Procedures

" Council candidates must be a resident of the ward they wish to represent. Candidates are elected by the voters within the ward at the primary election to select the finalists who will appear on the general election ballot for election by all voters in the city." 

rls

Update editing March 8, 2023

Word for the Day: Special Meeting

Word for the Day: Special Meeting

In Arkansas; the government official calling a special meeting shall notify the newspapers, radio stations, television stations and anyone that has requested to be notified. Notification shall be made at least two (2) hours before the meeting takes place in order that the public shall have representatives at the meeting. The time and location for the meeting will be announced.

A special meeting is a topic meeting. 

The reason for the meeting is to be announced by the official calling for the meeting.

A quorum must be a known factor by the official calling the meeting.

No other topics are discussed and public comments remain on the specific topic.

Blog Post: Survival thinking

Survival thinking 

I survived the polar vortex. Had the foresight to get really good firewood for the winter and used it. Wasn't easy to stoke that fire every four hours for five days. Actually took some planning just to prepare to light the fire. Found a couple of videos on YouTube that were just what I wanted for starting a fire with a very cold stove pipe, wind and minus degree temps outside. Worked like a charm and never let that fire go out.

Turned the electric Heat & Air completely off and covered up the top of the outside heat pump with plastic topped with left-over kitchen counter linoleum and weighted that down with small stepping stones and rocks. Kept the snow and ice out of the unit, completely. Kicked it back-on when I was ready and the result: I stayed off the wait list for Heat & Air service plus, not singing the electric company billing blues.

Will there be another polar vortex? That is possible. I found and used what was on hand: heavy guage plastic to cover windows, with no storm windows, on the inside with pushpins. For the glass doors, I found on-hand the foam that is used when laying down wood floors. Cut that to fit the in-and-out doors and secured with packing tape to the door frame itself. 

Did not have that old crafter snake for under the door draft but, I found some foam swimming noodles and cut them to fit and that kept out the door draft. Just taped the noodle to the bottom of the door and I could go in and out while all the items stayed in place. 

I feel rather good, knowing that I could do all this on my own. Darling husband finally admitted that he was a pack-rat and I went hunting for what I thought would work since I am all into upcycle.

Also not in denial regarding the changing climate. Been involved in that thinking since the 70s. 

As I empty out 38-years of stuff, "Day After Tomorrow" reminded me that books are burnable trees and don't let the fire go out!

rls

Update editing March 8, 2023

Blog Post: Change

Change

The simplest for today was to be painting a wall in the house that finally got patched but, NO been working for hours trying to match-up the correct color. Decided to continue my artistic license ☺and be creative. This is my bad since I used an analogous color scheme. This is when one says, "I can do this" and make it work.

Creating this post while I wait for the wrong color to dry and start over with the Kill2. Then of course there is the new creative position yet to complete. 

I caught bits and pieces of the Inaguration yesterday of President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris. 

(I was painting.) Grateful other networks and reporters captured all the moments so, I could put it all together. 

Now maybe, life can return to some level of normal on a Federal level. I'm with Stephen Colbert, survived the four year countdown and we survived for the moment.

There is the State level to reckon with and even the Local level.

Social Media and now COVID has really messed things up for professionals. I tuned into my new City's meeting, today by ZOOM while painting. When I write a news story, I'll come back and link it up here.

The short takeaway; I live in a place that now has two forms of government and the City one is going to be based on Google. No money, no lawyer, not even an office space. Like I said, hook it up later.

Creekside News Journal update

And then there is the return to the Paris Accord, WHO, stopping of the oil & gas permits, Climate Action and hopefully no more talk of some stupid wall. Never could figure that one out. 

Well time to return to my own wall. 

Peace and Joy to the World.

This is a global platform.

rls

Update editing March 8, 2023

Editorial Opinion: Consider the Options

Condider the Options

Filling a day with positive thoughts and achievements recquires effort these days. 

With a global pandemic, political unrest from the bottom (local) and all the way up (federal), plus holidays; simple is no longer simple.

So, what is the simple? For today, it began with coffee. 

A few necessary business moments, such as what bills to pay?

Remembered that I had another global account with LinkedIn.

Looked around, fixed a few items and then another Now What to consider.

Filled the birdfeeder with sunflower seeds. Opened the curtain so, I can watch the birds while typing.

Every now and then a newbie arrives and then I have something new to learn: Who are you?

The woodpecker population is increasing. The predators are soaring on the wind and keep the ground area under control. Even have two bald eagles that have appeared. 

Guess I need to get my cameras out of storage. 

Excitement here for yesterday. I heard something rustling in the leaves when walking out to the roadside mailbox. Staying focused on the sound and where was that sound? I saw it; An armadillo.

It had been at least twenty-years since an armadillo forged through here. 

Brought a smile to my face to see the young-one focused on its forging with no concern for my presence.

rls

Update editing March 8, 2023