First, let me start by saying this is NOT a political post. Having said that, a year ago who ever heard the term "fake news" or "alternative facts"? Today, we know these terms all too well. Just in case you've been on the moon for the past 6 months, "fake news" is an article that grossly exaggerates, and in some cases, presents false information. "Alternative facts" are actually defined by a particular event (look it up on Wikipedia), but generally are statements presented as facts, without evidence (and maybe evidence to the contrary) to support them.
I am soooo over fake news and alternative facts. So what do you do to avoid this stuff? Facebook is working on a filter which is good because most of this stuff is on social media. If you need relief before that, here are my rules:
1. If the title leaves you hanging ("...and You Won't Believe What Happened Next!"), it's probably a ploy to get you to click a link to a story that has very little or no content.
2. If there is a sensational photo attached to the title, especially if the title suggests something that seems implausible, it's fake news. You may end up looking at stock photos with lots of ads.
3. Look at the name of the website associated with the link. If you've never heard of it before, it's probably not a reliable source of news.
4. Finally, if no mainstream news sources are reporting a fact, it's probably "alternative." You can also use Google and confirm that if you don't see similar information from reliable sources.
We are living in some strange times, and there is enough craziness out there without dealing with fake news and alternative facts. Just say no to the clicks and keep your blood pressure down!
cindy
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Saturday, June 22, 2013
All About Arizona - State Capitol
State capitols are largely overlooked when visiting a new state. That's too bad because most state capitols have some amazing history. Of course I'm a history nerd so I love that stuff. Before school ended Mackenzie's class visited the Arizona State Capitol, the Arizona House and the Arizona Senate in Phoenix.
The original Capitol was built in 1901 when it was the territorial capitol. It proved to be too small for a new state, so additions were built in the back of the building in 1919 and 1938. Behind that is the tall modern executive tower that was built in 1974. If you enter the Capitol from the oldest end and walk straight through to the Executive Tower, it's funny because the hallway width and flooring changes as you walk though into each addition.
On the top of the Capitol is a copper dome with the beautiful white Winged Victory:
She is a weather vane, turning with the wind. The story is that when the cowboys would come riding in, they would shoot Winged Victory to see her spin.
The original Capitol was built in 1901 when it was the territorial capitol. It proved to be too small for a new state, so additions were built in the back of the building in 1919 and 1938. Behind that is the tall modern executive tower that was built in 1974. If you enter the Capitol from the oldest end and walk straight through to the Executive Tower, it's funny because the hallway width and flooring changes as you walk though into each addition.
On the top of the Capitol is a copper dome with the beautiful white Winged Victory:
She is a weather vane, turning with the wind. The story is that when the cowboys would come riding in, they would shoot Winged Victory to see her spin.
One of the advantages of living in such a young state (Arizona just celebrated its centennial), is that things don't change much:
Then . . .
And now . . .
The kids especially liked their access to the Senate floor (which only happened because one of her classmates is the child of a senator). Here's the state seal with the 5 Cs of Arizona - cattle, climate, citrus, cotton and copper. Tourism doesn't begin with a C.
Maybe I'll get my own senator someday:
cindy
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Election Day
Today is Election Day. I hope you have or will vote. THIS POST IS NOT PARTISAN. Undoubtedly you are sick and tired of political ads. You may have a strong interest in particular candidates or issues. Unfortunately, after today many people will lose interest in what is happening in Congress or their state legislatures. I include myself in that group.
In all my sparring with friends, family and strangers on Facebook and in person during this election cycle, there is one thing in which we all agree. The people we have or will elect to Congress or the White House are not getting much done. I don't mean taking positions on their favorite issues. I mean voting on legislation. Isn't that their job, anyway?
Why isn't the business we sent them there to do not getting done? The answer is something we have all known since Kindergarten. If we don't work together, things don't get done. No matter what political party you support, I have found that this issue produces universal agreement. The difficult part is that after we vote, we aren't interested or have no way to keep an eye on our representatives, senators, governor and president.
One way is to watch the news. The problem with this is there is no unbiased media outlet. If you are trusting the talking heads (on either end of the political spectrum), you are watching entertainment, not news. I have been researching and looking for a place to find information without spin. It's not easy. You can look at the government websites, but it is very difficult to sift through the bills, figure out what they are about and see what was attached to them at the last minute. (This is coming from an attorney who has been doing legislative research for 20 years.)
I recently did find a website I like - Vote Smart (www.votesmart.org). You can find information about your representatives in Congress (even if you don't know their names). You can find information about bills that address your favorite (or not) issues. You can find out how your representatives voted (or not) on particular bills and what those bills are about. Vote Smart is a not for profit and it is non-partisan. They will solicit you for a donation, but it's not required. Even if you don't visit the website, you can ask it to track particular issues, events, representatives and many more things and it will send you an email. In a time when it is very difficult to keep up with what your representative at the State House or in Congress is doing, it's a welcome wealth of information.
You can also contact your representatives directly through email or by telephone - just google to find your rep or Vote Smart has that information too. Many representatives have their own websites. Don't be afraid to voice your concern or support for issues or upcoming votes. It really does make a difference and you are likely to get a personal response from the representative's office.
I realize it won't be easy to keep up with our elected officials, but if we don't try I fear we will end up with more of the same gridlock in D.C. (and maybe your state legislature) for years to come. I would also like to know more about representatives before I am asked to vote based on information provided in negative campaign ads we all hate but see throughout the election cycle.
We can all agree on that, right?
God bless America.
cindy
In all my sparring with friends, family and strangers on Facebook and in person during this election cycle, there is one thing in which we all agree. The people we have or will elect to Congress or the White House are not getting much done. I don't mean taking positions on their favorite issues. I mean voting on legislation. Isn't that their job, anyway?
Why isn't the business we sent them there to do not getting done? The answer is something we have all known since Kindergarten. If we don't work together, things don't get done. No matter what political party you support, I have found that this issue produces universal agreement. The difficult part is that after we vote, we aren't interested or have no way to keep an eye on our representatives, senators, governor and president.
One way is to watch the news. The problem with this is there is no unbiased media outlet. If you are trusting the talking heads (on either end of the political spectrum), you are watching entertainment, not news. I have been researching and looking for a place to find information without spin. It's not easy. You can look at the government websites, but it is very difficult to sift through the bills, figure out what they are about and see what was attached to them at the last minute. (This is coming from an attorney who has been doing legislative research for 20 years.)
I recently did find a website I like - Vote Smart (www.votesmart.org). You can find information about your representatives in Congress (even if you don't know their names). You can find information about bills that address your favorite (or not) issues. You can find out how your representatives voted (or not) on particular bills and what those bills are about. Vote Smart is a not for profit and it is non-partisan. They will solicit you for a donation, but it's not required. Even if you don't visit the website, you can ask it to track particular issues, events, representatives and many more things and it will send you an email. In a time when it is very difficult to keep up with what your representative at the State House or in Congress is doing, it's a welcome wealth of information.
You can also contact your representatives directly through email or by telephone - just google to find your rep or Vote Smart has that information too. Many representatives have their own websites. Don't be afraid to voice your concern or support for issues or upcoming votes. It really does make a difference and you are likely to get a personal response from the representative's office.
I realize it won't be easy to keep up with our elected officials, but if we don't try I fear we will end up with more of the same gridlock in D.C. (and maybe your state legislature) for years to come. I would also like to know more about representatives before I am asked to vote based on information provided in negative campaign ads we all hate but see throughout the election cycle.
We can all agree on that, right?
God bless America.
cindy
Thursday, August 16, 2012
The Jewel of the Desert
Last week I attended a legal conference on water law. The conference was fairly mundane, my third consecutive year of attending this conference. The one thing I look forward to every year is that the conference is at the Arizona Biltmore, the Jewel of the Desert.
If you have never visited or seen pictures of this world famous five star resort, it is an architectural dream. It opened in 1929, seven months before the Stock Market crash that began the Great Depression. It's unmatched character is the heavy influence of Frank Lloyd Wright both then and now. It is timeless.
Movie stars and politicians could be seen at the Biltmore pool; Marilyn Monroe called it her favorite pool. My claim to fame is that my niece and nephew have each worked poolside at the Biltmore, my niece fetching towels and my nephew regulating kids going down the slide :-)
Every President since Herbert Hoover (in office when the Biltmore opened) has stayed at the Arizona Biltmore (with the exception of the current President). There is a cool hallway off the lobby that has a picture of each President at the Biltmore, usually on the golf course.
So many people think Phoenix is a recent oasis that popped out the desert, but it truly does have a history. A living testament to that history is the Arizona Biltmore. If you visit Phoenix, or just live in the area and have never seen it, its a jewel in the desert you cannot miss.
A disclaimer - I did NOT receive any compensation, consideration or even recognition from the Arizona Biltmore for writing this post. (I did use historical pictures from its website, but the current pictures are mine.) I love history, this is Arizona history, and the opinions expressed here are my own.
cindy
If you have never visited or seen pictures of this world famous five star resort, it is an architectural dream. It opened in 1929, seven months before the Stock Market crash that began the Great Depression. It's unmatched character is the heavy influence of Frank Lloyd Wright both then and now. It is timeless.
The entire structure is made from pre-cast concrete block, made on site and known as "Biltmore Block." The strong geometric lines were designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. (Not many people know that Wright had a school of architecture - Taliesin West - in what is now Scottsdale. He was not a stranger to the desert.) Everything in the hotel follows these lines, from the mission furniture to the light fixtures down to the carpet. It's like a step back in time.
Movie stars and politicians could be seen at the Biltmore pool; Marilyn Monroe called it her favorite pool. My claim to fame is that my niece and nephew have each worked poolside at the Biltmore, my niece fetching towels and my nephew regulating kids going down the slide :-)
So many people think Phoenix is a recent oasis that popped out the desert, but it truly does have a history. A living testament to that history is the Arizona Biltmore. If you visit Phoenix, or just live in the area and have never seen it, its a jewel in the desert you cannot miss.
A disclaimer - I did NOT receive any compensation, consideration or even recognition from the Arizona Biltmore for writing this post. (I did use historical pictures from its website, but the current pictures are mine.) I love history, this is Arizona history, and the opinions expressed here are my own.
cindy
Friday, June 15, 2012
Chance Encounters
I've mentioned before that I ride a commuter bus every morning. I see the same people most days, but the bus is generally very quiet while everyone reads their Kindles, looks at newspapers or phones (or in my case crochets).
There is a young man who is there every day. I've never spoken to him, and I have never heard him talk to anyone else. I know his name (at least his last name) because it's printed on the hat he wears every day. In fact, he wears the same clothes, hat, boots and carries the same backpack every day. This would sound weird except his clothes are camouflage. He is a member of the U.S. Army.
I believe he's a recruiter, but when he gets on that bus with his close cropped head, full fatigues, army boots and camouflage backpack, I can't help but feel a sense of pride. He exudes dedication and dependability. It's all right there in his uniform. I have never spoken to this man, yet I admire him.
Funny thing about admiring soldiers. Somehow people believe that to admire a soldier means you admire the current military policies and actions. On the other hand, if you don't like the current military policies or actions, some people accuse you of failing to support the troops. I don't want to debate whether recent military actions are good or not. What I do want to say is that I admire that soldier on my bus. Period. Has nothing to do one way or another with whatever military action in which he may or may not participate.
I am offended at the suggestion that the litmus test for supporting military personnel is support of a military policy. This soldier I see everyday has put his life in the hands of his country and its leaders. It's not his job to make decisions about military policy or where he will live or what he will do. He may be a recruiter this week, but next month he could be halfway across the world under fire. All he knows for sure is that he has put his life in the hands of his country and has a job to do. Does his position on the politics behind a particular military action have anything to do with his valor? No. In fact, I think a soldier who doesn't agree with the military decisions/policies yet does his job may show even more valor. He made a commitment to do a job and he follows through. That's honor.
Tomorrow I'm going to look right at him and tell him thank you. Not "I thank you because I support the policies which might send you into battle," or "I don't like you because your job represents a war I don't like." Just "thank you for your service."
I think that's all he wants to hear anyway.
cindy
There is a young man who is there every day. I've never spoken to him, and I have never heard him talk to anyone else. I know his name (at least his last name) because it's printed on the hat he wears every day. In fact, he wears the same clothes, hat, boots and carries the same backpack every day. This would sound weird except his clothes are camouflage. He is a member of the U.S. Army.
I believe he's a recruiter, but when he gets on that bus with his close cropped head, full fatigues, army boots and camouflage backpack, I can't help but feel a sense of pride. He exudes dedication and dependability. It's all right there in his uniform. I have never spoken to this man, yet I admire him.
Funny thing about admiring soldiers. Somehow people believe that to admire a soldier means you admire the current military policies and actions. On the other hand, if you don't like the current military policies or actions, some people accuse you of failing to support the troops. I don't want to debate whether recent military actions are good or not. What I do want to say is that I admire that soldier on my bus. Period. Has nothing to do one way or another with whatever military action in which he may or may not participate.
I am offended at the suggestion that the litmus test for supporting military personnel is support of a military policy. This soldier I see everyday has put his life in the hands of his country and its leaders. It's not his job to make decisions about military policy or where he will live or what he will do. He may be a recruiter this week, but next month he could be halfway across the world under fire. All he knows for sure is that he has put his life in the hands of his country and has a job to do. Does his position on the politics behind a particular military action have anything to do with his valor? No. In fact, I think a soldier who doesn't agree with the military decisions/policies yet does his job may show even more valor. He made a commitment to do a job and he follows through. That's honor.
Tomorrow I'm going to look right at him and tell him thank you. Not "I thank you because I support the policies which might send you into battle," or "I don't like you because your job represents a war I don't like." Just "thank you for your service."
I think that's all he wants to hear anyway.
cindy
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