Stop, Rest, Reflect, Energize and Engage

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.

Update: McQuade, Barbara, "Attack From Within," 2024. New York Times best seller.

Many of us will reflect on November 5, 2024 in the same way that Franklin Delano Roosevelt reflected on December 7, 1941 namely as “A Day That Will Live in Infamy.” Indeed, love did not win the week as I had hoped, but it will ultimately win. You can rest assured of that. We will all need to coax that love out. But, love WILL win.

This is the thirteenth day post election and I’ve gone through the stop, rest and reflect elements in my post Election plan. I’m still energizing and actively seeking out ways to get directly involved in politics at the local level.

My daily energy comes from my singing activities (Peninsula Harmony Chorus, my church choir (Alegria Singers) and the South Bay Threshold Choir), a daily exercise routine, daily puzzles, my church (First Unitarian of San Jose) and from reading news, science journals, The Atlantic Magazine, The Washington Post (yes, despite Jeff Bezos not offering an endorsement in the presidential race) and conversations with friends and acquaintances and hopping on my bike every now and then for a pedal around town and into the nearby hills.

This is where moving forward starts. Engage in the things that nourish you and make you feel vital and of service. Before you can do things outside of yourself, you must take care of yourself.

Two days after the election, my wife and I left the country for a week on a trip to Italy in support of a local theater company. We were provided with six days of exquisite treatment. Fine hotels, superb food, privileged access to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, dinner at a Palace with one of the largest private collections of art in Europe, a guided tour of the Santa Croce church in Florence as interpreted by the former curator of the church. Santa Croce houses the crypts and recogntions of some of Italy’s greatest gifts to the world including Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Galileo and Rossini.

This was the rest part of the recovery formula. For the most part, I tuned out news of the election and the rest of the world in general. I took time to breathe in the antiquities of Rome and Florence and see the world through a 2000+ year old lens. That view is helping me face the daunting task of how to respond to a national right wing nationalist movement bent on creating a government that meets their needs and screws everybody else.

Walking around the ruins of the ancient Roman Empire, thinking about all the emperors and rulers that occupied this space somehow gave me a sense of peace and opened the doors to a belief that indeed “this too shall pass.” The timing of being in the heart of the ancient Roman Empire was ideal for this moment in time.

Isn’t it nice to be in a position of financial privilege to rest in this way? Answer: Yes. More people should be able to do it this way as well.

My Reflection began on election night as the early returns were not going well for my favored candidate and party. What had gone wrong? How could reasonable people choose an incoherent, pathological lying, rapist, cheater and misogynist over an intelligent, experienced and highly competent person where the choice was crystal f-ing clear. Sorry, I almost lost it there. Even though it is true. To say that this person was freely chosen by the American people is a total joke. Notice that the candidate had no criticism of the 2024 Election.

This election was won by the Political Right’s mastery of propaganda, misinformation and disinformation.

But, in my defense, it was the beginning of my reflection. As my reflection continued, I did not appreciate the pundit post mortem responses trying to explain the democratic debacle that had just occurred. Taking the working class for granted, blaming the economic woes of middle America on globalization, blaming the incumbent party for a poor economy that was far from poor…

A reasonable and well informed population would never, and I repeat NEVER, make the “choice” that The United States of America just made. Give the Republican strategists credit where credit is due. Susie Wiles (co-campaign manager) Chris LaCivita (co-campaign manager) Steven Cheung (communications director) Brian Jack (senior advisor) Eric Branstad (strategist) Jason Miller (senior advisor) Corey Lewandowski (senior advisor) did what they set out to do. It’s a pitty that they did their work for a traitor.

They won the (dis)information war. In this day and age it seems that the winner is the one who knows how to manipulate and program people the best. The Republicans know how to do it well. Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels is quoted as saying:

"If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it and you will even come to believe it yourself."

And that is exactly what Trump’s Campaign Team did.

Please tell me that Americans on the whole have not become so inhumane that they can no longer engage in civil discourse or treat people with respect and dignity. We just elected an ideology that reflects this narrative. I believe Americans are not who elected this hideous ideology of fear and hatred. They were filled with these idea by people whose agendas go way beyond anything that the average voter thought they were getting with their vote. I equate what happened to them with the example of the paper wasp.

That gets me beyond the reflection about what happened and opened the doors to getting energized once again to stare down this threat to our country and the world and how best can I contribute to the loyal opposition. I touched on this earlier in talking about how I energize myself on a daily basis.

In addition to energizing for everyday life, I will need more energy to use on the fight for, as historian John Meacham described in his book by the same title, “The Soul of America.”

The last part of the formula is to “Engage.” I’m not sure how I’m going to do that yet. I am sure that it is going to be shoulder-to-shoulder with like-minded local people like myself who want to keep Democracy alive and make it well again.

Take good care of yourself and let’s get our heads up, shoulders back and take on the challenge

Election Day in two Words

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.

Update: McQuade, Barbara, "Attack From Within," 2024. New York Times best seller.

I hope it wins this week.

God, It’s Me , Bruce

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.

Update: McQuade, Barbara, "Attack From Within," 2024. New York Times best seller.

Bruce:

Hi God, it’s me , Bruce.

God:

I know who you are…

B:

Of course. My bad. So, how are you today?

G:

I’m pretty busy, especially these days with all the election crap going on, what’s on your mind?

B:

Woh, a bad word. A little stressed are you?

G:

When I sent Jesus down to you people, I thought that I made it real clear how you all are supposed to conduct yourselves with each other. I even wrote it down in 10 easy steps.

But no, you all either can’t read or you (at least some of you) are making shit up in my name. I don’t appreciate that. So , yes, I’m a little cranky

When I said no graven images, I meant it. When I had Jesus upend the merchants tables on the Temple steps, I thought you’d get the message that business and religion don’t mix capich?

B:

Yes sir or mam or your holiness or your honor…

G:

I don’t give a rip what you call ne, just do as I say or there will be consequences. Relay that message in your Blog.

B:

Yes si…Sure thing.

G:

While we’re on the subject of what I expect from ya’ll, let me get this off my chest.

B:

What’s that si…….

G:

Your a little slow, but you’re starting to catch on. When I generate disasters like say Covid, catastrophic wildfires, massive floods, frequent hurricanes or Fascist wannabes, I do it to give you idiots yet another chance to get IT right. Just read the f…ing Bible, Koran, Torah, Upanishads or Sports pages and do what they say. It’s not rocket science. What is it with you people?

B:

Well, S…, I’m just one lone grain of sand on your metaphorical beach, so I can only speak for myself and maybe a few others, but I do have a few thoughts. Promise that you’re not going to smote me for anything that I might say?

G:

Bruce, I’m not the vindictive type, especially considering that you came to me before I had to come to you. Well then?

B:

Umm, how do I say this. Oh never mind, you already know what I’m thinking so I’ll just tell you what I think.

G:

Thatta boy. Let it out.

B:

Well, some of your loyal servants, who may be well intentioned, have decided to rewrite the Christian Bible in their own words. The New Testament is nowhere to be found in many churches that claim to be acting in your name. The word “Love” is not spoken and the Gospels seem to have been rewritten into the “Hostiles.” They are all about fear, loathing, intimidation and disinforming your children. You are supposed to be the Father, but they have invented a false god to take your place, one that fits their image of themselves. They call him “Daddy.”

This really pisses me off. Because a persons’ religious beliefs are so deep seated and frought with emotion, they can be easily misled into believing whatever worldview that is preached to them in the name of God. Not you, but the false one. They are taught that anyone that doesn’t follow these beliefs are “the enemy within.”

This false profit “Daddy is trying to condition us to hate each other. I’m not afraid to say that this is scary, very scary. You sent us a similar person about 90 years ago and the result was a world war that brought about great death and destruction.

I know I’m preaching to the choir here, but you asked.

We are gullible, short sighted, lacking in curiosity and just plain ignorant. It is very frustrating.

Fortunately, we that don’t follow the false god have finally awakened. It might be too late to prevent the country and the world from slipping into another global mess like the one we dealt with in the 1930’s and ’40’s, but we are working hard to overcome a movement that has had a several decade head start.

I think that it’s the big oil people that are behind the false god. The Saudis, the Russians and the Texans. I know that I don’t need to ask you forgiveness in making this accusation, but I’m doing it anyway. After all, you are so big and I am so small.

Why else is climate change denial a major part of the new religion?

Why were so many people allowed to needlessly die from a virus that could have been mitigated by medical science. Why do some politicians wantonly promote guns and gun violence? Why foment racial hatred and encourage the denial that people are more alike than they are different. Why purposefully lie to people about newcomers to our country and spread disinformation about the strength of our economy. I know I’m drifting a little, but hear me out (even though you already know what I’m going to say). I find it disgusting, pathetic and patently inhumane. I have actively been trying to expose it in this Blog for the past four years.

Things aren’t looking good for those that believe as you do. But, I think that you will have the last say. Does the arc of the universe really bend to the good? I hope so.

The false god also believes that women don’t deserve the same health care that men get. He promotes a view shared by the radical religious right that the unborn fetus has more value than the the mother carrying it. I won’t try to speak for you, but I don’t think that you support this position.

And then there is the issue of crime. The head Fascist claims that the United States is being overrun by crime brought by immigrants. This is simply not true. This is another example of an authoritarian ruler coming in to save the country from the bad state that it is in. Even if it isn’t really in a bad state. The authoritarian needs something to fix and when there isn’t anything that needs fixing, they try to create problems for themselves to come in and fix. Crime is one of them, immigration is another and the economy is another.

I briefly mentioned climate change and gun violence. This is where the false god is making real problems worse through disinformation and inaction. Not good and very frustrating.

I’m almost done.

There has been legislative inaction, judicial over action and executive misguided action from the false god’s political backers. The global oilagarchs must be very happy with what they see. After-all, the false god serves them at the end of the day.

Ok, I’m done.

G:

I’ll get back to you, but in the meantime, let me just say this. There is good reason for hope.

“It’s the People, Stupid!” or is it “It’s the Stupid People?”

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.

Update: McQuade, Barbara, "Attack From Within," 2024. New York Times best seller.

I stand by my “It’s the people, stupid” play on Bill Clinton’s “It’s the economy, stupid” words in reference to why people vote their pocket books in presidential elections.

And I also, mostly, stand by my position to keep it positive as we go through this stressful election season. But after watching Journalist Rachel Maddow’s documentary From Russia with Lev,” I feel the need to modify my position just slightly.

You might remember that Ukrainian Lev Parnas, a self proclaimed hustler, got himself involved with Donald Trump’s effort to extort the then new Ukrainian president, Vlodymyr Zelensky into creating an investigation into Hunter Biden and his father Joe by withholding foreign aid to Ukraine’s military in it’s war with Russia.

For those that still believe that this is just another election between pro business Republicans and big government Democrats I urge you to watch this film and think again.

I cringe a little at referring to people as “stupid.” I prefer ignorant over stupid because ignorance infers that someone is lacking in the information that they need to make an informed decision. It is not a comment about their mental acuity. But I make an exception here to help me make my point.

If you watch “From Russia with Lev” and still believe that this is just another election maybe I can interest you in a piece of coastal Florida real estate.

This is not a pro business/anti Communist Republican Party v. pro labor /Big Government Democrat Party. It is one political party being run by Americans and one political party being run by Russia with freedom on the ballot..

There is nothing free and fair about the upcoming election. This one has been, is and will be influenced heavily by foreign governments, most notably Russia and specifically, Vladimir Putin. Putin’s incursions into the American political process are painfully exposed in Maddow’s documentary.

The role of Fox News, Sinclair Broadcast Group, One America Network, newsmax and undoubtedly others in promoting fear and division in the United States is one of spreading white nationalist propaganda generated by Putin and his minions.

Let’s be crystal clear. A vote for Trump and the Republican Party at this point is a vote for Putin. Putin will basically be running the White House from Moscow.

Remember the movie “Red Dawn” that first came out in 1984? The Competitive Enterprise Institute ( I love the way the Right Wing names it’s front organizations) has an interesting take on the movie. It might have some new interpretations 40 years later.

Keep paying attention, remain vigilant and active and most importantly vote, support the vote, encourage your family and friends to vote and address misinformation and disinformation when you see it in regards to the vote. Click on the underlined links for more information.

Running Against God Aint’ Easy

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.

Keep it Positive

I’m trying to deliver uplifting messages during this stressful Election 2024 season. I have some things that I’d like to say, but I think it’s better to do a little personal deep breathing before sharing any of my thoughts that are anything but uplifting. With that in mind, I’ll allow you to ponder the title of this post. Enough said on the subject.

In the meantime, stay busy and keep doing what you’ve been doing to create the world that you would like your children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and beyond to live in. It’ll help to keep your spirits up and lift up hopeful thoughts.

Another "It's the People, Stupid" Moment

My wife’s reunion group from their Freshman dorm days at Whittier College and their tag-a-long spouses got together for what has been pretty much an annual event since they graduated. This past week, 14 of us gathered in Templeton, California for a few days of catching up, relaxing, swimming eating, playing golf and just having an all around good time.

This event was another reminder of how valuable our relationships are for all of us. They are life changing and potentially world changing in scope. A very cool moment for the Whittier grads was a chance meeting with the local Bureau of Land Management head person at the Piedras Blancas Light house on California’s central coast.

Some light conversation yielded the fact that his mother had graduated a couple of years before they did. So Ryan got out his phone and called his Mom. A delightful speakerphone conversation ensued and it was an “all is right with the world” moment.

Here’s to your next Casablanca moment.

It’s the People Stupid

"Of All The Gin Joints In All The Towns In All The World, She Walks Into Mine."

"Here's lookin' at you kid."

Humphrey Bogart in "Casablanca"

I went home to Visalia, California this past weekend for a Reunion party with some of my classmates from the Mt. Whitney High School class of 1974. Of course, I will have something to say about it. And, I have been on hiatus from blogging for the past couple of months.

By the time you get to be 68 years old, you’ve had a few experiences and a significant amount of learnings. Births and deaths, marriages and divorces, illness and health, sadness and happiness, lousy golf games and less lousy golf games.

I had a revelation on Saturday night, September 28. 2024 at the Whitney Wild Oak Ranch in Exeter, California. Some of you, maybe most of you, figured this out long ago. Its not about the things that we’ve done, the places that we’ve gone or the events we have experienced. It’s not what we believe or don’t believe or how we vote

No, its none of those things.

It’s us.

I talked with George, Karen, Debbie and Debbie, Michelle, Cliff, Chuck, Warren, Tony, Gordon, Steve, Jim, Sue, Mary, Dave, Dwayne, Charlie, Art, Don, and others that will come to me as I revise this. I talked to people that I hung out with and knew really well and I talked to people that I barely ever knew. What really matters?

It’s the acquaintances and friendships that we’ve had, rekindled and maintained over the past 50 years (and counting). It’s keeping in touch with each other and strengthening the bonds that we were born into.

As kids, we really didn’t get to choose anything. Who we were born to, what schools we went to or what kind of an upbringing we had were decisions that were made by someone else and not in our control. Eventually, we grew into, let’s just say, adulthood, and we got to make decisions for ourselves about what the rest of our lives would look like.

I’ve never been good about keeping in touch with you all. I’ve at times been aloof, busy or just plain clueless about what ya’ll have been doing, living, experiencing, suffering through, celebrating through.

Well, I get it now. I no doubt missed out on some wonderful opportunities in life because I was too much into myself. I can’t get those opportunities back. But, I can learn from what I missed out on in the past. On September 28, 2024, I woke up to opportunities lost and relationships that could potentially prosper and grow with our reconnection on this evening.

In short, thanks to the people who have understood this simple truth for a long time that it is about the people in our lives. Special thanks to the Class of ’74 Reunion committee who made it possible for us to get together again and provide me with an opportunity to learn the most basic and fundamental lesson of all.

It’s the people, stupid! It’s the people.

Thanks to Michelle, Tony, Dwayne, Chuck, Charlie and forgive me if I have already forgotten the names of anyone else that served on the Reunion Committee. You folks on the committee, don’t hesitate to tell me who I missed. You guys are awesome. Thanks for the memories and thanks for giving me yet another chance to wake up and smell the roses.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Mt.+Whitney+High+School+fight+song

The Olympic Games

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.
In the spirit of how to debunk misinformation and disinformation, I encourage you to examine The Financial Services Forum, The American Accountability Foundation, The Epoch Times, Fox News, and One America Network(OAN), among others, using the media literacy skills taught by the News Literacy Project from #1 above under "How to Debunk."  Click on the News Literacy Project link to start your work.

I was unplugged on a backpacking trip during the first week of the Olympics. But, I made up for lost time over the last full week of the event.

It was a welcome blast of positivity and reality. In an imperfect world, our imperfections will always be on display. The American Republican Party, Right Wing, Fascist, Authoritarian , elitist billionaire movement going on right now has been working overtime to magnify those imperfections and convince people that they live in a hell hole instead of on a big, beautiful planet with big, beautiful people.

Seeing athletes compete at extraordinarily high levels and to hear the stories of how they got to this place was inspiring, refreshing and honest. I filled myself with these competitions and stories to build up a reserve of positivity to withstand the steady stream of America-bashing, fear-mongering and divisive rhetoric that we will no doubt continue to be exposed to through the coming elections.

It was the competitors that made me feel better, but it was also the outside-the-box creativity on display in every aspect of the televised Olympic coverage. The ceremonies, the events, the happiness and sadness, the successes and the failures were presented through a lens that saw the lives of these athletes for what it was. It was always imperfect and those imperfections were treated in such a way that the compassion, the love and the pure humanity showed brightly through the screen.

When all was said and done, the pomp and circumstance completed, the medals awarded and the athletes heading home, I am left with an intense sensation of hope that humanity will be ok. Those forces trying to create a world tht doesn’t exist for their own selfish desires and beliefs are the ones who should be afraid. Selfish and greedy powers will NOT get their way and regular, average good old humanity will rule the day.

Does Your Vote Matter?

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.
In the spirit of how to debunk misinformation and disinformation, I encourage you to examine The Financial Services Forum, The American Accountability Foundation, The Epoch Times, Fox News, and One America Network(OAN), among others, using the media literacy skills taught by the News Literacy Project from #1 above under "How to Debunk."  Click on the News Literacy Project link to start your work.

There are folks that don’t want you to vote. And if you do vote, they want to devise ways to make your vote not count. And if they can’t deny your vote, they will take the voting issues to the court system which they have bought and sold to the highest bidder. You know the names of the buyers: Harlan Crow, Elon Musk, Tim Dunn, Farris Wilks, Dan Wilks, David Sacks, Joe Lonsdale, Marc Andreeson of Andreeson-Horowitz, the Western States Petroleum Association.

This list of rich people and organizations willing to sacrifice our freedoms for their own wealth preservation and power is partial. Very partial. Money has always run this country. The difference now is that MAGA (Money Against Great Americans) has grown weary of what us common people think and want and have decided among themselves that now is the time to remove us from the political process by hook or by crook. Mostly by crook.

Democracy has been loosely tolerated as long as the wealth and power stayed where it has been in control. They are rich and they are powerful and they will pull out all the stops to complete their coup against the United States. Donald Trump is merely the tip of their melting iceberg.

Be aware of what they are doing and do what you can to wear then down, to fight for our country, it’s Democracy and it’s freedoms. Keep up the struggle for this wonderful country.

And how about those Olympic athletes, their stories and their families. They make me proud and they remind me of what stock I am from. We live in a great country. Never forget that.

Never.

Do You Believe in Angels?

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.
In the spirit of how to debunk misinformation and disinformation, I encourage you to examine The Financial Services Forum, The American Accountability Foundation, The Epoch Times, Fox News, and One America Network(OAN), among others, using the media literacy skills taught by the News Literacy Project from #1 above under "How to Debunk."  Click on the News Literacy Project link to start your work.

I do. Maybe not the winged kind found in Christian iconography, but I do believe that whatever they are, they are real.

Their presence was felt on multiple occasions during a three day backpacking trip with a friend in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park recently.

The first angel made its appearance on a hike to Alta Peak out of Pear Lake. After a challenging bushwacking and boulder-hopping adventure, my friend and I found ourselves at the base of the Pass just below Alta Peak.

This last element of the climb was steep. But, it was not just steep, it was a thick layer of loose gravel or what is also called “scree.” My friend started up first. I started to follow but was having trouble getting a foothold into the loose rock material. As I scrambled to get a foothold, The two 1.5L SmartWater bottles that I was carrying fell out of my pack and went tumbling down towards a snow field below.

I really thought I was screwed at this point. My hydration source for the remainder of the trip was now gone a couple hundred feet down the slope. Also gone was my will to continue up to the Pass below the 11,000′ Alta Peak. I yelled up to my friend that was unable to continue.

He told me to wait where I was while he continued up to the Pass. At this point, I was pretty scared. Going up was no longer an option and going down the scree slope didn’t seem like an option. I was holding on to a small protruding rock anchored to bedrock and curled my leg under me to arrest a slide down the slope.

Actually, that rock was the first of my Angels. If it had not been in that precise spot, I may have joined my water bottles down near the ice field below. In fact, a second rock appeared within reach to help stabilize me while I waited. Enter Angel # 2.

It was an uneasy wait for my friend to come back down to help me get down to the base of the scree slope where I could find some solid granitic rock to stand on. I contemplated life, which at that time seemed to be on precarious ground. I thought about what if something happened to my friend before he got back to me. After a few minutes I yelled to see if I could get his attention. But, I was yelling downhill. He was uphill which made it unlikely that he would hear me.

I had a whistle around my neck, but I was afraid that removing my hand from one of the rocks would secure my fate so I didn’t try to blow it. Eventually, he yelled down to me and suggested that I try walking down the slope. This wasn’t going to happen as I had by now lost all confidence in my boots.

So, I ended up sliding down the slope on the seat of my pants (which miraculously were not torn along the way) and made it to where I felt confident that I could stand and walk once again. I guess that you could consider the people responsible for the durability of my pants as Angel #3.

I believe that angels can be both animate and inanimate objects. My animate angel was my friend who talked me down the slope while he went down to check on my water bottles. Miraculously, the two water bottles were still intact and came in very handy for the remainder of the long descent back to our campsite at Pear Lake.

So far, that’s four angels that helped me out on this hike.

There was one more. This one came in the form of my own mind engaging in self talk with me to negotiate my way along a narrow stretch of trail known as the Watchtower route named after a prominent slab of granite of the same name. This stretch of trail was particularly challenging for me as I have mild to moderate Vertigo.

I was reminded to breath, walk slowly and methodically, be aware of the rock face and how close my pack was to it, to not under any circumstances look down and to keep my eyes focused of my friend’s feet in front of me. The half mile stretch was harrowing for me, but with some help from my friends, I was able to make it to the Watchtower and once again resume taking in full breaths of that clean mountain air.

So, do angels exist? I’ve answered that question for me. No one in this world is self made. No one does anything solely by themselves. Anyone who says they can do things without help simply don’t know what they are talking about. A natural lesson in humility is called for now-and-then.

It might sound to you like I had a miserable time on this trip. Quite the opposite is the truth. In another post, I can tell you about the people that we met along the way along with the natural history lessons that my sagely friend imparted on me along the over 14 miles and close to 4,000 feet of climbing that we did together.

But, that story will wait for another posting. This one is to thank my angels for giving me a chance to share this experience. For me, the purpose of a life of travel and adventure is to share it with others. After all, what is the experience if it stays only inside of me?

I believe in angels. Oh, I almost forgot one more angel..,

It’s Up to Us.

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.
In the spirit of how to debunk misinformation and disinformation, I encourage you to examine The Financial Services Forum, The American Accountability Foundation, The Epoch Times, Fox News, and One America Network(OAN), among others, using the media literacy skills taught by the News Literacy Project from #1 above under "How to Debunk."  Click on the News Literacy Project link to start your work.

I was recently reminded by a friend of mine who is Buddhist of the Buddhist concept of karma. Karma is important to me in dealing with the authoritarian threat facing us .

As my friend describes it, karma literally means “action.” Actions range from brushing your teeth to directing a missile strike on a children’s hospital, deciding as a batter whether to swing at a pitch or take it, should I drive through the amber signal light or stop, should I direct my armies to invade a sovereign country. These are actions.

Actions have consequences . Those consequences as I understand what my friend explained to me, are determined by whether or not the action is acceptable or unacceptable. Since violence is unacceptable under Buddhist beliefs, the violent deed would be followed by a consequence for the “doer.” The “doer” of the act would be viewed as ignorant, unskilled or hurtful under the tenets of Buddhism. The person or persons responsible would ultimately be held responsible for their deeds. There would be a karmic response, but that response would take place without prior knowledge of when or where or what that response will be.

The Dalai Lama, the titular head of Buddhism, draws a distinction between the deed and the doer. In Christianity this is called separating the sin from the sinner. It is the deed that is unacceptable while the doer is fully accepted and embraced in Love and forgiveness.

What prompted me to seek out my friend was my question: “How would the Dalai Lama respond to the missile attack on the Children’s Hospital in Kiev?” Before providing deeper understanding, I was reminded that the Dalai Lama views China as his friend even though it was the Chinese government that violently forced the Dalai Lama out of Tibet on March 13, 1959. Nevertheless, he treats his enemy (China) as a friend and says: “Hatred (violence) never ends through hatred, but through non-hatred alone does it end.”

I intellectually understand that there is a difference from the deed and the doer or the sin and the sinner. To me, karma should be swift and appropriate to fit the action and it should happen now. How 21st Century of me. I want it and I want it now.

The truth is that justice is patient and thorough and often very slow in coming. That is incredibly unsatisfying for me as a developing human being. I accept it in my heart, but not my head.

The forces that prompt me to unleash verbal tirades at talking heads on a screen come from a place of direct contrast to the teachings of Buddhism which is a belief system that I deeply respect. I am a flawed human being. I accept that and I forgive myself for my faults.

At some point I will learn to forgive Donald Trump, MAGA supporters, the Republican Party, Vladimir Putin, Viktor Orban and a long list of people imposing violence and hate on the world.

In the meantime, this flawed human being will turn to the Dalai Lama for guidance. I believe that the same wisdom can be found in the teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is unfortunate that many modern day Christians have chosen to ignore Christ, a figure that stands in solidarity with those being victimized by violence, hatred and fear. They have instead created a false God and have chosen to follow his words instead. I forgive the Christians that have been led astray. Beliefs can be easily manipulated by unscrupulous demigods. Karma is as karma does.

One form of karma is your vote. Be sure to use this karma. This karma is yours to create. The future of the world is up to us. Each and every one of us.