Author Archives: Danzig

Instagram Displayed Negative Related Hashtags For Biden, But Hid Them For Trump – BuzzFeed News

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A technical error caused a number of hashtags to not show related hashtags. We've disabled this feature while we investigate.

Posted on August 5, 2020, at 12:17 p.m. ET

For at least the last two months, a key Instagram feature, which algorithmically pushes users toward supposedly related content, has been treating hashtags associated with President Donald Trump and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in very different ways. Searches for Biden also return a variety of pro-Trump messages, while searches for Trump-related topics only returned the specific hashtags, like #MAGA or #Trump which means searches for Biden-related hashtags also return counter-messaging, while those for Trump do not.

Earlier this week, a search on Instagram for #JoeBiden would have surfaced nearly 390,000 posts tagged with the former vice presidents name along with related hashtags selected by the platforms algorithm. Users searching Instagram for #JoeBiden might also see results for #joebiden2020, as well as pro-Trump hashtags like #trump2020landslide and #democratsdestroyamerica.

A similar search for #DonaldTrump on the platform, however, provided a totally different experience. Besides showing 7 million posts tagged with the presidents name, Instagram did not present any related hashtags that would have pushed users toward different content or promoted alternative viewpoints.

The difference between these two results, which an Instagram spokesperson told BuzzFeed News was a bug, prevented hashtags including #Trump and #MAGA from being associated with potentially negative content. Meanwhile, Instagram hashtags associated with the Democratic presidential candidate #JoeBiden and #Biden, for example were presented alongside content that included overtly pro-Trump content and attacks on the former vice president.

The difference in how the presidential candidates are treated by the platform raises more questions about how prepared Instagram and its parent company Facebook are for a pivotal US presidential election this November. After acknowledging it hadnt done enough to prevent election interference during the 2016 presidential race, Facebook has invested heavily in security and get-out-the-vote initiatives for 2020, an election that CEO Mark Zuckerberg said will be unlike any other.

The Instagram bug, which was first noticed by the Tech Transparency Project, a nonpartisan tech watchdog group, suggests that hashtags associated with the two main presidential candidates have been treated differently since at least June. In most cases, algorithmically derived related hashtags are displayed to people who search for or click on a given hashtag, pointing them to more content that Instagram believes they might be interested in.

What weve seen with the related hashtags with Biden is that there is so much vitriol, that it appears to be benefitting President Trump, said Katie Paul, a director with the Tech Transparency Project. The fact that related hashtags didnt surface for many Trump-related phrases also removes any possibility that negative hashtags could be associated with his name or campaign slogans, she added.

Instagram spokesperson Raki Wane described the issue as a bug on Tuesday. She pointed out that thousands of hashtags including #artofdrinks and #menshair had also been prevented from populating with related hashtags. She did not explain why the issue affected Trump hashtags and not those associated with Biden, or how long the problem had persisted.

A technical error caused a number of hashtags to not show related hashtags, Wane said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. We've disabled this feature while we investigate.

Hashtags, which are used regularly on Instagram posts, allow users to group posts into easily searchable categories that can also be followed as one would an account on the platform.

Instagram removed its "Related Hashtags" feature after it said a bug caused related hashtags to appear on some content but not others. These photos show what the feature looked like before and after it was removed.

An examination by BuzzFeed News found that Instagram prevented related hashtags from populating for #Trump, which had been used on 14.6 million posts; #Trump2020, which had 2.5 million posts; and #MAGA, which had 5.6 million posts. Meanwhile, the hashtag #JoeBiden, which has been used on 390,000 posts, appeared alongside negative hashtags including #creepyjoebiden and #neverbiden, as well as seemingly pro-Biden content like #joebidenforpresident.

A spokesperson for the Biden campaign declined to comment.

While Instagram shielded many Trump-focused hashtags from surfacing related content, some lesser-used hashtags, including #MAGA2020, which has been placed on 373,000 posts, did bring up related hashtags, among them #trumpderangementsyndrome. Some Democrat-related hashtags, including #democrats and #pelosi, were also prevented from showing related hashtags, although #NancyPelosi did have related hashtags including #clintonbodycount and #qdrops, two taglines associated with known conspiracy theories.

Reached for comment, a Trump campaign spokesperson used the bug as an opportunity to lambaste social media platforms for alleged anti-conservative bias.

Social media companies biases consistently make the strongest arguments for the Presidents Executive Order on Section 230 reform, said Ken Farnaso, a Trump 2020 deputy national press secretary, referring to the presidents push to end a law that gives internet companies legal immunity for what users post to their platforms. Its preposterous that Silicon Valley, the bastion of diversity and liberalism, is terrified of intellectual diversity and conservative voices.

It can lead to a tipping of scales in terms of equitable discourse.

Nina Jankowicz, a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars who studies disinformation, said Instagrams admission of a bug shows the company understands its suggestion algorithm impacts the content people consume. Related hashtags have also been used to spread conspiracy theories on the platform, and has been gamed by bad actors and foreign trolls.

This feature doesnt just benignly increase engagement, she said of related hashtags. It can lead to a tipping of scales in terms of equitable discourse.

Instagram is believed to have been the target of foreign influence campaigns in the past. In 2018, third-party researchers compiled two reports for the Senate outlining the yearslong campaigns used by Russias Internet Research Agency to spread disinformation and sow discord.

Instagram was perhaps the most effective platform for the Internet Research Agency, one of the reports explained, and is likely to be a key battleground on an ongoing basis.

While Facebook and Instagram have ramped up investment to protect against election interference and check for disinformation, researchers like Jankowicz believe theres still more to be done. She advocated for more human review, particularly around political hashtags.

In times of crisis or volatile times ahead of an election, this stuff should be going under constant human review, she said. It shouldnt be left up to a computer code to direct peoples consumption during a time like this.

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Instagram Displayed Negative Related Hashtags For Biden, But Hid Them For Trump - BuzzFeed News

Celtic begin 10-in-a-row quest with immortality and beating Rangers to the punch on their mind – iNews

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Glasgow Celtic embark on the new campaign with eyes on a gargantuan prize immortality.

Neil Lennons men will go all out for an unprecedented 10th league title in a row. Such a feat has never been achieved in Scotland. Lennon was in his first residency as manager at Parkhead when he delivered the 2011-12 title and the Celts have been top of the tree ever since. Come kick-off against Hamilton on Sunday, the Hoops will have reigned supreme in Scotland for more than 3300 days.

Celtic have basked in the shine of nine once before. Jock Stein reached nine-in-a-row in a halcyon period between 1966 and 1974. Back then dominance domestically was eclipsed by efforts aboard. In 1967 Steins brand of pure, beautiful, inventive football saw Celtic become the first British club to win the European Cup defeating Inter Milan in the heat of Lisbon. By winning Europes top prize the Lisbon Lions gained god-like status. And many supporters believe the current crop of players are on the verge of similar veneration.

Against a backdrop of a world gripped in a health and economic crisis, more than 50,000 season tickets have been snapped up. The season ticket waiting list has swelled to 17,000 names. Such fervour is striking considering the season starts behind closed doors. And no refunds will be offered for games with the crowd excluded.

So while the fans of yesteryear watched Billy McNeill and Jimmy Johnstone from terraces, this generation will initially watch from tablets. Season ticket holders must make do with a digital pass to Paradise. Laura Dewar is one supporter who had no hesitation renewing her season ticket despite not knowing when shell be allowed to walk up London Road and into her seat.

I was always going to renew, she says. No questions. Celtic is a club founded on charity and continues to support the local community. So I am always willing to support them.

We are watching history in the making. Winning 10-in-a-row is up there with winning the European Cup. It will be the most significant achievement by Celtic in my lifetime.

The Green Brigade, Celtics most ardent support, were singing about 10-in-a-row as early as 2016. Then the sequence of success stood at five titles. Is the quest for consecutive championships an obsession?

Obsession is the wrong word, says Dewar. Its about being the first in history to achieve the 10. To me its more of a challenge, players are put on the park to win the game and ultimately the season. Winning becomes the obsession.

City rivals Rangers won nine-in-a-row between 1989 and 1997 only to be stopped by a Celtic side inspired by Henrik Larsson. Dewar remembers that era well: Celtic where awful for too long during my high school days. I was at a predominantly Rangers supporting school, so it was sweet when we stopped them winning the 10.

Fellow supporter Jez Stewart, 53, shudders at that period of Rangers dominance as the Ibrox men walked away with the top prize each May: I remember Celtic didnt win a trophy of any kind for five or six years. During this era the only satisfaction we got was when Rangers failed. There was a song we used to sing: You think youre great, youve only done eight, youll never do nine-in-a-row.

But Rangers did reach nine and I just remember the nerves and fear around them going for the 10. But when we stopped them it was such a relief and a great joy. This time its Celtic going for the 10. But its not really about the number. Its about doing something that our rivals havent.

Derek Kirwan, 51, has been a season ticket holder at Celtic for 33 years: Ten-in-a-row is the holy grail. But its purely about rivalry between Celtic and Rangers. If Celtic make it, Neil Lennon will be held almost in as high esteem as Jock Stein.

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Celtic begin 10-in-a-row quest with immortality and beating Rangers to the punch on their mind - iNews

Darth Vader and Hitman coming to PlayStation VR – Metro.co.uk

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Last nights State of Play confirmed a PSVR release for the episodic Vader Immortal series and a VR mode for Hitman 3.

Despite Sony advertising its latest State of Play as being PlayStation 4 and PlayStation VR focused, there was surprisingly very little of the latter, with much more on upcoming PlayStation 5 games than was expected.

What VR news we did get, though, is still interesting. Firstly, the once Oculus exclusive Vader Immortal series will be making the jump to PlayStation very soon.

Set in the Star Wars universe, Vader Immortal puts you in control of a smuggler who is unlucky enough to be captured by Darth Vader, who seeks to use you to retrieve an artefact that will grant him immortality.

We reviewed the first episode in the series when it released last year and were very impressed with its production values and lightsaber combat. All three episodes will now be available on PlayStation VR from 25 August.

The other announcement was related to Hitman, revealing that not only will the upcoming Hitman 3 have a VR mode but that the option will be added to both the previous games as well.

A snippet of first person gameplay was shown, where Agent 47 follows a target into a toilet before pulling out some wire to choke them.

The games are known for providing players with many options for dealing with targets, avoiding guards, and escaping, but according to developer Io Interactive everything in all three games will be playable in VR.

As for the PlayStation 5 news, we got our first look at Bugsnax gameplay, an in-depth demonstration of Godfall, and some completely new announcements, like multiplayer game Hood: Outlaws & Legends.

Its rumoured that another PlayStation event is planned for this month and could finally reveal the PS5s price and release date.

Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, and follow us on Twitter.

MORE: Hitman 3 is more serious, lets you import previous games content

MORE: PS5 backwards compatibility works for all PS4 games claims source

MORE: More black PS5 DualSense controller images surface but are they fake?

Follow Metro Gaming on Twitter and email us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk

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Darth Vader and Hitman coming to PlayStation VR - Metro.co.uk

Koepka unbothered by pressure of making history at PGA – Comcast SportsNet Bay Area

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The weight of history would be a burden to most. A roadblock on the path to immortality.

For Brooks Koepka, though, it's nothing more than the wind at his back.

I don't view it as either one, Koepka said at TPC Harding Park when asked if the topic about his quest for three straight PGA Championships was a help or hindrance. I've already dealt with it at the U.S. Open going into Pebble. I feel like I know how to handle it and I played pretty well there.

"I just got beat.

Sure enough, Koepka arrived at Pebble Beach last June looking to become the first player to win three straight U.S. Opens since Willie Anderson did so from 1903-05. He entered the final round four shots back of Gary Woodland, but Koepka was unfazed by the enormity of the moment. He birdied four of his first five holes that Sunday and looked like he would indeed become just the fourth golfer since 1882 to win the same major three consecutive years in a row.

But Koepka couldn't get the putts to drop on the back nine, and eventually finished three shots behind Woodland, his quest for U.S. Open history sinking to the bottom of Stillwater Cove.

It's a familiar feeling for Koepka this week, who arrives at TPC Harding Park again with a chance to join that club. After tearing about Bellerive Country Club in 2018 and surviving a back-nine stumble at Bethpage Black last year, the four-time major champion has the opportunity to become the first golfer to win three straight PGA Championships since Walter Hagen won four in a row from 1924-27.

Koepka's game has been a work in progress all year. He's battled a left knee issue that required a stem cell treatment in the fall, and has struggled to find the consistent excellence he enjoyed the past two seasons. But after leading the field in stroke gained, tee to green two weeks ago at the 3M Championship, and leading the field in strokes gained, approach last week at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, Koepka appears to be rounding into form just in time for another assault on the history books.

My game feels like it's in really, really good shape right now, Koepka said. I like the way I'm hitting it, and feels -- putting it really, really well. Every day is a lot more comfortable. I'm excited. This is a big-boy golf course. Got to hit it straight and put it in the fairway. It's going to be quite long.

"I think it kind of plays into my hands.

The list of golfers who have tried and failed to win a third consecutive major title is a who's who of Hall of Famers that includes Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan and Nick Faldo.

Woods won consecutive PGA Championships in 1999 and 2000, and did so again in 2006 and 2007. He won the British Open in 2005 and 2006, and triumphed in back-to-back Masters in 2001 and 2002. Woods missed the cut in three of his four tries at a three-peat and didn't play in the 2008 PGA due to a knee injury.

Hagen Anderson and Peter Thomson are the only three golfers to successfully win three consecutive majors since 1882,alist Koepka hopes to join with an impressive showing at Glory's Last First Chance.

[RELATED: What does Tiger's Harding Park history say about PGA hopes?],

Koepka, like Woods and Nicklaus, saves his best for the game's biggest stages. Four of his seven career wins have been major titles, and he said prior to the 2019 PGA Championship that he feels winning majors is easier because he really only has to play better than a handful of his competitors.

When most people would wilt, Koepka thrives, dominating the best in the world without appearing to break much a sweat. Winning majors is difficult. It's a test only the best are born to pass.

One Koepka thoroughly relishes acing.

It's fun, he said about the setup at the PGA Championship. I love it. I love the fact that it's probably the toughest test of golf you're going to play all year with -- setup-wise and then mentally it's exhausting. I enjoy when it gets tough. I enjoy when things get complicated. You can really -- there's always disaster lurking, I think it is something I enjoy, where every shot really means something.

Every shot will have the added weight of history on it this week for Koepka. That weight would bother most, but to Brooks Koepka it's nothing major.

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Will this be the summer of Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi? | ESPNcricinfo.com – ESPNcricinfo

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A decade ago, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir lit up an overcast English summer, heirs apparent to some of the most exhilarating fast-bowling pairings you could think of. They bowled Australia out for 88, beating for the first time in 15 years an opponent they didn't know how to beat, before turning their focus to England, against whom Amir was Player of the Series despite Pakistan losing it 3-1, and despite - well, you know what. They combined for 53 wickets across six Tests over that delirious English summer. They were 27 and 18, and they were the future.

Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah will have watched those two run riot, either at the time or in the years since. They were ten and seven at the time, watching their heroes flourish in the country Pakistan's bowlers have found to be the most fertile breeding ground for their skills. A place where, among other things, a mixture of colonial grievance, stylistic conflict and simmering mutual resentment have combined to birth some of the most celebrated moments in Pakistan's history.

Blue-eyed Fazal Mahmood on a crackling transistor radio would begin it all with a 12-wicket haul at The Oval in 1954, setting benchmarks for Pakistan's quicks. Many failed to live up to that standard, but it wasn't a coincidence that plenty who went on to earn immortality could trace it back to an England tour. Open-chested Imran Khan, who tormented David Gower on English pitches and Ian Botham in English courthouses, learned the basics of his trade entirely in the English university and county system. A bit of guidance from Sarfraz Nawaz didn't hurt, and it was Nawaz's discovery of reverse swing that took cricket from the back pages to being a matter for the English courts in the first place. Wasim Akram enjoyed the privilege of having both Khan's ear and his backing on his first English tour in 1987, where he would finish below only his mentor on the wickets chart as Pakistan won a series there for the first time.

Five years on, Akram had accumulated half a decade of English county experience and he teamed up with Waqar Younis to clean up again, the pair combining for 43 England wickets in another series victory. They would go on to become a byword for the ideal fast-bowling partnership, and after several false dawns, years of Umar Gul hopefulness and Mohammad Sami hopelessness, it appeared Amir and Asif were finally the next logical step in that cycle. Their performance in 2010 would be an inspiration, and then, crushingly, provide a cautionary tale. In other words, it would be a welcome to Pakistan cricket.

It might have been hard to believe then, but those depressing days of the spot-fixing scandal would eventually lead to where Naseem and Afridi stand now. Afridi is yet to hit 21, and will lead an attack once spearheaded by the names above it who it still feels sacrilegious to compare him to. Seventeen-year-old Naseem likely lies in wait as first-change. They might not have got their opportunities quite so soon, especially if Amir had not retired from Test cricket so prematurely, or even if Asif, lost to the game forever, had gone on to fulfil the promise their talent foreshadowed.

England, make no mistake, is where these young men's destinies lie, where their careers, should Pakistan's history be any guide, will be forged. For all the acrimony, for all the accusations, both true and libellous, that Pakistan have felt aggrieved by, England has been perhaps the most generously rewarding place in the world for its most prized skill: fast bowling. It has turned anonymous chancers into household names, extended exposure to players who might otherwise have been severely underrated, and since the late 1960s, offered lucrative county contracts to players who financial pragmatism might have otherwise forced out of the game. It may have been a bully, but it has also been benefactor.

Even with cricket's freshly aligned priorities, the shifts of power from the English and Australian antipodes to the subcontinent, the value of excelling in England is higher for Pakistan than it has arguably ever been. Deprived of cricket's most reliable cash cow - bilateral cricket against India - and locked out of the IPL, proving oneself in England remains a Pakistani cricketer's one big chance to be heard beyond their echo chamber, and a chance at earning a fraction of the income contemporaries around the world have the luxury of taking for granted.

Pakistan's fast bowling has struggled on tours of Australia, and to a lesser extent, South Africa, and that does little for their value in the eyes of those who might hand them a lucrative T20 contract. The country's fast bowlers average just over 40 in Australia, almost five runs worse than anywhere else they have played. That number is an indifferent 34 in South Africa. In England, it stands at 30.28, which means they have been more successful there than in any other country away, except Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and New Zealand.

The divide between performances in England and in Australia has widened into a chasm in the past decade, with Pakistan's quicks managing a wicket every 27.89 runs in England, the best of anywhere they have played more than five Test matches. In eight Tests down under, meanwhile, the price of each wicket has been 47.05 runs, over 11 more than second worst. (Their third-worst record is in South Africa, with a wicket every 34.18 runs.)

As the wickets have come, county contracts have followed. Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Abbas and Faheem Ashraf have all had the chance to hone their skills in the County Championship, and those are just the fast bowlers. Azhar Ali and Babar Azam were drafted in for Somerset, and several others have played in the T20 Blast.

Selective historical and statistical precedent may suggest fate holds something special in store for Naseem and Afridi. Their selection in the side and the elevated responsibility they look set to be given despite their youth isn't a gimmick, it is a reflection of the status in which Pakistan cricket holds them. You could almost see Afridi transition from boy to man on a brutally unforgiving tour of Australia last year, where, forced into being the team's leader, he ended up being the only one to maintain the standards Pakistan had hoped of their fast bowling contingent, finishing with five wickets at 36.80 even as Australia amassed record-breaking totals.

Naseem, who would play just the first of those two Tests, would experience the worst either cricket or life had to offer, making his debut the day after the death of his mother 11,000 km away, and dismissing David Warner for his first Test wicket, only for it to be called a no-ball (he would not be deprived, however, making Warner his first Test wicket later). He would follow that up with a blitz of a home summer, becoming the youngest fast bowler to take a Test five-for, against Sri Lanka in Karachi, and the youngest to take a hat-trick, against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi a few months later.

So, should they excel in England, let no one who only pays attention to cricket when it's played in a handful of nations tell you they were a bolt from the blue. With the coronavirus pandemic and the crowd-free venues in which the series will be played, the setting is such as never quite seen before in England. But if Afridi and Naseem manage to summon up the spirit of legends gone by, there will be many in Pakistan rejoicing at the return of something they have always recognised. "We've seen this happen before," they might wistfully whisper to ten- and seven-year old kids who finally realise those tales were true after all.

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Will this be the summer of Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi? | ESPNcricinfo.com - ESPNcricinfo

Joleon Lescott has it completely wrong about Wolves – and Nuno proved it – Birmingham Live

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After 378 days, 29 games and 15 wins, Wolverhampton Wanderers' Molineux season is over.

Their mammoth home campaign ended in exactly the same fashion as it started back in July 2019. A home win in the Europa League, with Rui Patricio keeping a clean sheet.

Aside from that, the nights could have scarcely been more different. Exchange Irish minnows Crusaders, for the Greek champions Olympiakos. Instead of a first-leg lead in the second round of qualifying, Wolves booked their place in the final eight of a major European competition. And that is forgetting the 30,000 fans that were forced to watch from behind their furniture, rather than bathed in sunlight on the terraces.

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Following the win, Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, ensured his entire squad gave their home stadium a proper send off, before they depart to Germany for the final-leg of their marathon.

The Portuguese demanded his entire playing and coaching staff returned to the centre circle, where he impressed upon his players, that they were not to waste this opportunity.

The images were captured live by BT Sport, as Wolves moved one step closer to history.

However, as fans watched Nuno hold court, former Wolves defender and pundit Joleon Lescott, attempted to put a negative on proceedings.

Its the most important signing they can make this summer, he said about the head coach's imminent contract negotations.

He probably needs a lot of players to stay, I hate to say that and think about that. This could potentially be some of their top players final game at Molineux in a Wolves shirt.

In recent weeks, Raul Jimenez has been extensively linked with Manchester United, while Adama Traore is reportedly a target for champions Liverpool.

But a simple look at the images told a completely different story. Whether it was 17-year-old Christian Marques, in his first senior squad, Rui Patricio and Joao Moutinho, with 208 Portugal caps between them or Barcelona graduate Traore - every player, was hanging off every word.

This doesn't look like a team, or a squad, that is ready to give up on this club or the manager, that has taken them to the precipice of immortality in Wolverhampton.

There may be outgoings, but in Nuno, Wolves have a man that has built a family of players that have been willing to fight for the badge, in a season longer than any other.

In three games, it may be even more historical.

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Joleon Lescott has it completely wrong about Wolves - and Nuno proved it - Birmingham Live

Between Paul and Marx: The Good Life and a Pandemic – Atlantic Highlands Herald

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I was recently ministering to a friend in his 80s. He was upset about being in his apartment for months on end because of his susceptibility to COVID-19. He was also concerned about the high number of people who have died in this country from the virus. We talked about life, death, pandemics, and the future.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article for this column about the almost invincible Angel of Death. I thought that if Karl Marx had read my article, he would say, I am right! When those Christians go through crises, they always revert to pie in the sky. Heaven, as I said, is the opium of the working class.

But people have always wondered what will happen after they draw their final breath. Poets have often written about the concept of eternity, and placed it in the hearts and minds of the people. I thought of the Apostle Paul, who wrote that if only for this life we have placed our hope in Jesus, we are to be pitied more than anyone else. In my mind, I participated in a discussion between St. Paul, a Jewish rabbi, and Karl Marx, who knew the Torah well because both of his grandfathers were rabbis. I thought that Paul would argue that the good life happens here and in the next life when we are faithful to the God who has granted us both, while Marx would counter that there is no such thing as eternity and the good life can only happen on this earth.

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament talk frequently about the good life. God promised to bless the people who honor him with long life here on earth, and the blessings of God will be in the fields and in the homes. Abraham, the father of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, was a pilgrim here on this earth. While he wandered, he was seeking a country beyond this world whose foundation was laid by God.

COVID 19 has taken over 100,000 lives and that is a tragic number. Among the dead, there were beloved grandmothers and grandfathers, beloved mothers and fathers, beloved brothers and sisters, beloved sons and daughters, and beloved friends and neighbors. That horrific number must be seen in contrast with the number of people who prevailed against the pandemic and recovered. It made me think that I graduated from the 8th grade in 1965 with 32 classmates and 27 of us are still alive today. That is the good life. My mother, her brother, and her sister had 10 children altogether, and 7 of those cousins are still alive and doing well. That is the good life. In fact, even the statistic that the group most susceptible to COVID-19 is people over 60 is intriguing. Living into your 60s, 70s, and even 80s is a relatively new situation for Americans. It was only during the middle of the 20th century that the average life expectancy jumped about 20 years and living that long became expected. That is the good life.

In talking with friends and colleagues, one hears various phraseswe are susceptible, we are invincible, we are seeking immortality. My octogenarian friendis very aware that he is susceptible because his primary care doctor refuses to see him in person and the specialists who will see him only allow him in the office after multiple preliminary checks. The young people who are partying with few precautions on the beaches, in bars, and at private parties think that they are invincible. They believe that this virus that has taken so many lives will surely not touch them.

Ecclesiastes says, He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. The fact that we strive for eternity is not wrong, but in meantime we should fully enjoy the blessings that the Lord has given to us here on this earth when everything is well and when we are going through crises such as this pandemic.

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Freedom and justice for ALL | Other Opinions – Aitkin Independent Age

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A quote from Heather Mac Donald, Capital is accumulated effort and innovation, the sum of human achievement and imagination. Its creationist the aim of civilization. But civilization is everywhere and at all times vulnerable to the darkest human impulses. Government exists to rein in those impulses so that the individual initiative can flourish. Americas founders understood the fragility of civil peace and the danger of the lustful, vengeful mob. (Reprinted by permission from Imprimis, a publication of Hillsdale College. May/June 2020)

The darkest human impulses are in need of the rule of law combined with a fair hearing and a determination of justice. Countries where this does not exist are places of anarchy, or places of dictatorship. Those seem to be two extremes. For an individual to flourish there needs to be freedom to pursue desires and dreams within boundaries of the rule of law. Without boundaries of decency and respect for the rights of one another and respect for people and the law no one will be free to be creative and develop individual initiative.

There are many countries that have a thumb on freedom. Some for religious reasons, some for political reasons, some for selfish reasons, and some for a variety of other reasons. When freedom to be a creative individual is held up as a good thing, usually people will surprise us with their creativity innovate, build and pursue a goal. In developing nations (we used to call them third world countries) infrastructure and economic systems are very primitive or nonexistent. Yet, when people are given freedom within the boundaries of laws that respect others and the property of others, they are amazingly entrepreneurial in working toward a better world for all.

The atmosphere or environment for society as a whole to be civil and for individuals to thrive is one that must include laws and moral boundaries that protect people and property and yet leave room for freedom and liberty. As Heather Mac Donald talks about the darkest human impulses, I am reminded of why we need laws and law enforcement.

Murder, stealing, rape, vandalism, disrespect of differing beliefs, of country, of other human beings, of private property, of the list could be long. Without confronting and reforming or removing from society those who would harm others, destroy private property and break laws, a society will be crippled and anarchy or authoritarianism (dictators) will reign to the detriment of freedom, liberty and justice for all.

In the United States we believe that all people are created equal. How true, it reflects what the Bible says about how we people are not inferior to one another or superior to one another. We also believe that all people are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

These truths must be protected from the darkest human impulses with laws and law enforcement and justice for all.

The environment in a nation determines if people will have the opportunity to flourish. Injustices need to be addressed and corrected within the boundaries of a due process of justice, respect for all people as equals, respect for private property and respect for all.

The ebb and flow of this process is what will make a nation great. Without it, a free and just society cannot exist.

Dallas Kurt Smith is a pastor (semi-retired) in Aitkin and Baxter.

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Freedom and justice for ALL | Other Opinions - Aitkin Independent Age

Girl Hides Audition From Dad, Finds Her ‘Freedom In Singing’ Watch What Happens Next – Talent Recap

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Imen Siar performed on this years season of Britains Got Talent, taking the next big step in what she hopes will be a lifelong singing career. The 21-year-old singer spoke on how she hopes the platform will help her prove her talent to her dad.

This years season of Britains Got Talent brought out the best of our emotions, with countless stories that touched our hearts. One contestant that we fell in love with from the minute she began to sing was 21-year-old singer, Imen Siar.

Siar spoke on her passion to inspire girls within the Muslim community as well as, as many young girls as possible headscarf or no head scarf. The singer also spoke on keeping her hidden talent a secret from her deeply religious father, in case hed disapprove.

RELATED: ROMANCE AND SHOCK: WATCH SAME-SEX FILIPINO DANCING ACT RIP EACH OTHERS DRESS MID PERFORMANCE

Thankfully, Imen stunned the judges with her rendition of Alessia Caras Scars To Your Beautiful on the show and in particular, Simon Cowell.

Dad thought I was at work but I couldnt lie. As soon as the audition was over, I called to explain. Thankfully, he was happy and said he trusted me to make the right decisions. He cant wait to see me on the show, Imen said according to The Mirror, after her performance on the show.

RELATED: 77-YEAR-OLD ROCKSTAR DRUMMER LEAVES SIMON COWELL SPEECHLESS ON BRITAINS GOT TALENT

Fans took to Twitter quickly after her audition aired, flooding the platform with heartfelt messages.

Wow she sung that so beautifully, I love that song so much, wrote one user.

Imen Siar is such an amazing singer, so soft and smooth but powerful. I want to download her song on Spotify as it inspires me 4 yeses made me so happy! tweeted another.

RELATED: SIMON COWELL DOUBTS INDIAN BOLLYWOOD DANCERS BUT WATCH THEM SHUT HIM UP

Whilst were not certain who will be taking to the stage at the semi-finals later this year on the show, Siar has a good chance of performing once again for that all-important winners title.

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Girl Hides Audition From Dad, Finds Her 'Freedom In Singing' Watch What Happens Next - Talent Recap

Masks to freedom: Wearing masks will bring back freedom – The Milpitas Beat

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Few things bother Americans more than infringements on their Freedom.Freedom is the God-given right of Americans: go spend a day at the beach, go shopping, go to the movie theater, go to work, or go visit ones family.But all these have changed with the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

First, people are told that they have to stay at home or Shelter-in-Place. Then they are told that they have to wear masks.Shelter-in-Place means you are not allowed to leave the house and do those things that you are supposed to be free to do.This restriction absolutely infringes upon your freedom of movement and freedom of assembly.

Masking is even more personal you have to wear this cloth or filter material that covers half your face.Its definitely uncomfortable.This makes it much harder to breathe, especially in hot weather, when walking or exercising.Some argue that you would breathe in the bad carbon dioxide that you exhale, which is unhealthy.If you wear glasses, it fogs up the lens in seconds.In addition, masks are getting expensive, as the prices have risen and most stores have a hard time stocking enough of them.And on top of that, how could a democratic government tell Americans what to wear?What kind of country has this become?

President Trump has called COVID many names its from China, its just a flu, its a hoax by liberals or Democrats to help Biden.For months, he has steadfastly refused to wear a mask.So why did he finally put on a mask himself when visiting the Walter Reed Hospital?

The truth of the matter is that the COVID virus is very different and extremely contagious: it can be transmitted by people carrying the virus without any symptoms.It is airborne, meaning that it can transmit invisibly in midair.Weve all heard of washing our hands for 30 seconds, or maintaining 6-feet social distancing.But it turns out the most important thing everyone can do to stop the transmission of this dangerous and often deadly virus is wearing a mask.

In places like Hong Kong, where the population density is very high with 7.5 million people living in skyscrapers similar to the ones in Manhattan most people use public transportation daily, and social distancing basically is difficult.Many people probably do wash their hands, but certainly not everyone.And yet, since February, there have been only 6 confirmed deaths linked to COVID in Hong Kong.That literally is less than one in a million.Compare this to the latest hot spots far less dense or populous in America: Hot Springs, Arkansass rate is over 21,500 deaths per million; while many small Texas towns such as Scurry, Crockett, Anderson, and Val Verde have an equivalent rate of over 15,000 deaths per million.

How is that possible?

The biggest difference is that 99% of Hong Kong residents wear masks.They wear masks outdoors, while riding buses and subway trains, and they wear masks indoors, at malls and at work.Aside from themask-wearing, life has actually been quite normal in Hong Kong throughout this time without the government ordering Shelter-in-Place.

Goldman Sachs recently released a study showing that mandatory mask-wearing by every American can save the United States GDP by 5%, because if everyone wears a mask, less Shelter-in-Place restrictions would be necessary, allowing the American economy to be reopened.1Meanwhile, another fascinating story has emerged: at a Missouri hair salon, where two stylists, unbeknownst to themselves, contracted the COVID virus, neither their coworkers nor their 139 clients were infected, simply because everyone was wearing masks despite their close proximity.2

Based on what we have learned in the last few months, not wearing masks is not about freedom; its really inconsiderate, reckless, and deadly.Wearing masks is the fastest path to reopening our economy and bringing our freedoms back. While different politicians are still dithering over whether or not to mandate mask-wearing, its time to put factually-based statistics and science above politics.

Just wear masks and let us get back to our daily freedoms.

1 https://www.marketwatch.com/story/wearing-a-mask-to-halt-the-spread-of-coronavirus-has-a-big-impact-on-us-economic-growthand-goldman-has-done-the-math-2020-06-30

2 https://www.marketwatch.com/story/wearing-a-mask-to-halt-the-spread-of-coronavirus-has-a-big-impact-on-us-economic-growthand-goldman-has-done-the-math-2020-06-30

Otto Lee

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Masks to freedom: Wearing masks will bring back freedom - The Milpitas Beat

Tamika Mallory Of Until Freedom Criticizes The California District Attorneys Association’s Request For The NFL To Pull Stephon Clark PSA – PRNewswire

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NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Until Freedom, a racial justice organization co-founded by leading activists Tamika Mallory, Linda Sarsour, hip-hop artist Mysonne Linen and civil rights attorney Angelo Pinto, today criticized the California District Attorneys Association's request for the NFL to pull its Stephon Clark PSA.

The league's Inspire Change platform initially released the educational PSA in late-July that shed light the 2018 murder of Sacramento's Stephon Clark in his grandmother's backyard. However, citing a "misrepresentation of facts," the California District Attorneys Association made the request on Aug. 4 to axe the Inspire Change public service announcement immediately.

Until Freedom is now pushing back on the CDAA's insensitive request.

"The CDAA has one set of facts, but our facts are clear Stephon Clark was unarmed, he was innocent and he was murdered in his grandmother's yard," said Mallory. "It's incredibly problematic and concerning for top law enforcers and officials to tell the NFL, Stephon's family and his community that police have the right to kill you for simply being suspected of a crime. The CDAA's statement is a perfect example of the huge conflict of interest when prosecuting cops and it lacks self-awareness. It is not the role of police officers to be the judge, jury and executioner."

Contact: Linda Sarsour: [emailprotected]

SOURCE Until Freedom

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Tamika Mallory Of Until Freedom Criticizes The California District Attorneys Association's Request For The NFL To Pull Stephon Clark PSA - PRNewswire

The never-ending struggle: blending freedom and justice, with a dash of compassion – MinnPost

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I overheard them as they left the store: Requiring a mask is an attack on my freedom. It was fairly early in the pandemic, and it was my first curbside pick-up at the lumberyard. They walked by my car as I negotiated this new way of shopping. I was wearing a mask.

Immediately, I thought of my partner. For nearly 20 years, she was the faculty adviser for a campus Amnesty International student group. Amnesty International (AI) is the human rights organization supporting prisoners of conscience: people imprisoned for exercising their fundamental human rights.

There are many ways to think about freedom, but an international human rights perspective grounds your thoughts in the realities of freedoms denied. Members of Amnesty engage in the rituals of human rights work with the humblest of weapons: pen, paper, and emails.

Over many decades, with many friends, we have written thousands of letters and emails to different governments requesting respect for basic human rights. So many people in so many nations are denied fundamental freedoms and access to justice.

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The Pledge of Allegiance has had its controversies in recent years, but freedom and justice for all is an important phrase to repeat to yourself. It should be the worlds mantra. But it is challenging to mix freedom and justice in a way that works for all citizens. That is a dilemma for democracy too much freedom eats away at justice, and too much justice eats away at freedom.

When Europe was divided by a wall, we saw incredible levels of freedom on one side of the wall and an eerie sense of justice on the other. It has not been easy for Europe since that wall came down, and there are now worrisome trends from England to Poland.

Democratic processes that endure are hard to create and maintain. Making them work requires constant work and involvement. Democracies do not tolerate idleness or short attention spans. The hard work of successfully blending freedom and justice greets a democracy every morning. That is why history provides so few examples. Historically, some of the cultures that developed and celebrated democratic principles were slave-based economies. Think Thomas Jefferson.

It appears this century provides a new context for exploring these problematic issues. What does it mean to be free? How do we pursue just resolutions in a messy world? What is democracy in the 21st century?

Democratic processes are dependent upon this elusive blend of freedom and justice. When democratic processes emerge, they fumble and swing from one extreme to another freedom impinging on justice, justice impinging on freedom. In a sense, every democracy carries the seeds of an ongoing civil war.

Separating a democracy into two camps is a formula for disaster. Imagine, for a moment, that you are making a quick, simple salad dressing. You pour a good measure of vinegar into a jar. Then you add a slightly larger amount of oil. Left alone, they separate into two distinct layers. To become a successful dressing for your salad, you must put a lid on the jar and shake vigorously to blend the two.

Democracy is the vigorous shaking that prevents these two principles from separating and following their separate paths. Democracy is the daily process of blending freedom and justice within our lives and the lives of those we encounter.

Put differently: Democracy is the constant work of keeping freedom and justice on the same path.

That is why my partner and I brought together interested students to discuss human rights issues for nearly 20 years. We were shaking the jar.

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For many young people, the simple fact that democratic processes are dependent upon such an elusive blend and balance of values and responsibilities is a revelation. Consumer societies tend to create people who sit and watch rather than people who stand and do. Consumerism creates a world of simple, well-defined transactions rather than a world of listening and then formulating well-reasoned responses and ongoing interactions.

Democracy is hard work.

But there is a necessary third ingredient. Everyone who makes salad dressing from scratch knows our vinegar and oil mix needs one more component. After pouring together the vinegar and oil, add a small amount of water. Then vigorously shake the jar. That little bit of water helps the vinegar and oil blend while slightly muting the vinegar.

Keith Luebke

Compassion is at the heart of Eastern religions and philosophies. As the rift between East and West widens, a conversation about the role compassion plays in creating the sort of democracies we envision might be useful: consider the Easts thoughts about compassion and the Wests focus on balancing freedom and justice. Then consider how often we fail to live up to our aspirations East and West.

The world is in desperate need of conversations that rise above those that came before. Every past conversation matters, but we need new ones.

Rather than getting angry with the people who wont wear masks, maybe we should talk to them. Try to engage with them, not necessarily about not wearing a mask. Ask them if they are stressed or angry. Find the source of their unwillingness to wear a mask. Put yourself in their shoes. Demonstrate compassion. Then ask them to please wear a mask.

Scolding will get us nowhere.

Their souls are simply leaning too far into a perception of freedom inconsistent with our perceptions of justice and community. Be gentle. At some point, they may need to remind some of us that we are leaning too far towards justice. Remember this delicate balancing act and remember the frailty inherent to democratic processes.

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If we start a conversation, there might be an opportunity to remind our mask-less friends of those who need and deserve fundamental freedoms. Those unjustly imprisoned, confined, and tortured should never be left to fend for themselves. Carry them into your thoughts, actions, and discussions. Their lives remind us that people can be picked up, thrown into a dark van, and tossed into a cell for no reason. Could that ever happen in your community?

The basis of our efforts should always start from this point: the never-ending struggle of communities to blend freedom and justice with a dash of compassion.

Keep shaking things up. Mix these vital conversations and thoughts into your daily life.

But in the short term: Please wear a mask, and converse with your fellow citizens while 6 feet apart.

KeithLuebkerecently retired from teaching nonprofit leadership courses and has several decades of experience directing nonprofit organizations.

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Freedom in THE SON! – Blogs – The Hutchinson News

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August 06, 2020: SOAP #3899: Habakkuk 1-3; John 8 Scripture: John (NIV) 8:33 They answered him, We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free? 34 Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now []

August 06, 2020: SOAP #3899: Habakkuk 1-3; John 8

Scripture: John (NIV) 8:33 They answered him, We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free? 34 Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if THE SON sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Observation: Sin is a severe task master. It draws a person into its web and turns them into a slave. And they sin again, and again, and again.

Oh, but the verses above tells us that there is a weakness. The slave has no permanent place in the family!!! That means there is a way for a slave to be broken away. Sin is powerful, but not all powerful! Being a slave does not have to be permanent! There is freedom in THE SON!!!

Application: There is not only freedom in THE SON, there is sustaining freedom.If anyone who sins is a slave, then a son is free from the slavery of sin. If the son has a permanent place in the family, then THE SON has the power to keep this son from sinning. I must walk with Him and talk with Him every day and all day long. His thoughts into my mind are not interruptions; they are welcomed input!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, Jesus has set me free from sin. Your presence helps me to daily live free from sin. Especially when I receive the communion elements, and at many other times, remind me of the terrible price Jesus paid for my freedom. May I hate sin for what it did to the Father. May I hate sin for what it did to Jesus. May I hate sin for what it does to your churchand to me. Amen

Pastor LeonMaking friends for time and eternity!

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Freedom in THE SON! - Blogs - The Hutchinson News

Pardon our noise, it’s the sound of freedom: Jaded Thunder returns – Salina Post

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Photo courtesy Salina Airport Authority

More than 800 military personnel are set to converge on Salina and the surrounding area for the next several weeks to participate in the joint-service exercise, Jaded Thunder.

The exercise will include joint corps integration by members of Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy and Army units, as well as representatives of the U.S. Special Operations Command, according to information from the Salina Airport Authority.

The training provided during Jaded Thunder is essential for national defense.

All participants will comply with detailed COVID-19 mitigation measures. Exercise participants will maximize social distancing and wear face masks. Facilities will be sanitized daily.

The Salina Regional Airport's close proximity to the Smoky Hill Weapons Range is key for this type of training.Operating from the Salina Airport, military units get realistic and efficient training.The less time pilots spend in the air getting to the training venue, the more time, and fuel, they can spend over the range training with personnel on the ground.The availability of the Smoky Hill Weapons Range, coupled with a supportive community, make the Salina Airport a preferred location for military training.

Salina residents shouldn't worry if they hear any loud noise coming from the weapons range. The military will be using training ordnance during the exercise. The airports FAA air traffic control tower will work with all military aircraft to maintain safe operations in the skies over Salina.

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Pardon our noise, it's the sound of freedom: Jaded Thunder returns - Salina Post

‘It’s the freedom of it’: Bikers rally in Stateline ahead of Sturgis, unconcerned about virus – The Spokesman-Review

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Justin Veo hasnt missed the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota in five years, and hes not planning to start now.

Veo, owner of Cruisers Bar and Grill in Stateline, Idaho, will head out for the 12-hour drive on Wednesday and camp at the event for a week to 10 days.

While he wont be deterred by the pandemic that has shut down large gatherings across the country, its not clear how many of his fellow motorcycle enthusiasts will join him.

Sturgis city planners had high hopes for this years music festival and motorcycle rally. For the festivals 80th anniversary , they aimed to draw more than the 490,000 people who attended in 2019. But those ambitions may be foiled as COVID-19 continues its spread .

On Saturday, Veo was hosting Cruisers annual Road to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, complete with games.

It was a quiet affair during the afternoon, but it was set to go until 11 p.m., with live music, and more people were expected.

The biker bar is a main attraction in Stateline, which had a population of 49 in 2018 and sits across the road from Post Falls. Business has been good since the bar was able to reopen after a statewide shutdowns, Veo said, though more people watch music from outside now.

Maybe bikers shared sense of freedom has prevented a business bust.

Andi Jones has been coming to Cruisers for 15 years, and she said biker culture is all about freedom and family. She and her husband Jonah Jones are about as regular as it gets, and they come in two to four times a week.

All of us are regulars down here, Jones said. Were all family. If you need help, all you gotta do is pick up the phone.

Official sound guy Eric Klages said people lovingly refer to the bar as a barn. A large garage with both ends open, Keo said people dont worry about wearing masks because everything is outdoors and open.

During Saturdays rally, the games were mostly played while riding. In one, participants rode through a painted track sandwiched between the stage and bar, Veo said. In another, known as the egg roll, riders drove tried to drop an egg in a tube while driving past . The slow ride is a backwards race to see who can drive through the garage the slowest without putting their feet on the ground.

Misconceptions about bikers would tell you theyre all rough and tumble, Veo said, but the culture has changed.

Jones described the community as open to everyone. In fact, he said, people dont need a bike to be welcomed at the bar. Though shes garnered a collection of tattoos that mostly connect to her Native heritage as a registered Pomo tribal member her first tattoo is 45 years old she said people dont need tattoos to be accepted either.

What wont work is being superficial, Jones said. People who come in with all new leathers dont know what its all about, she said. Its about noticing beauty other people overlook. Shes been on a million roadtrips, and the difference on a bike is how it feels, she said.

Veo agreed.

That freedom, that adventure, youre in the wind, Veo said. You can smell things, you can hear things, you can feel temperature differences. Its a lot bigger experience.

So coronavirus wont slow the group down. One of the nights planned activities will involve a lime green, alien-looking pinata that has an expletive scrawled in front of COVID in Sharpie. Veo said he appreciates Idahos different approach from Washington in not mandating masks.

With six feet of distance and hand sanitizer around the bar, he said precautions are enough that he isnt worried.

The thing to remember, he said, is that Cruisers is more than a bar. Its a community, and some ideas people have about bikers are was off base.

Jones said she wont be hitting Sturgis this year because its gotten too commercial for her taste and Ill be damned if I wait an hour and half for an $8 beer.

But she came to Cruisers on Saturday for the reason she always comes out: because she appreciates the brotherhood.

Its the freedom of it, Jones said. You get to see beautiful things people dont take time to see in a car.

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'It's the freedom of it': Bikers rally in Stateline ahead of Sturgis, unconcerned about virus - The Spokesman-Review

Introduction to the Freedom of Information Act | News, Sports, Jobs – Daily Mining Gazette

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Spend a little time reading in-depth news articles and sooner or later youll come across some mention of the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, and requests made through it. FOIA is the name of the federal law, and is used as a shorthand term for similar laws in each state, too. Its the way that journalists, citizens, and sometimes even government employees themselves get documents, data and other information released to the public. The idea is relatively new in history, and many freedom of information laws were only passed in the 20th century. They first started in 18th-century Sweden, with the enactment of their Freedom of the Press Act. It stated that information, including documents created or accepted by a government or public authority, must be available to the public and provided upon request. The United States first passed a freedom of information law in 1966, but it wasnt really enforceable or useful until after the Watergate scandal, when more provisions were added. Like Swedens law, the U.S. and each of its states have important exemptions to what can be requested by the public. Private information about an individual, for instance, is not to be released except to that individual. Military and intelligence information, as well as information relating to foreign relations, is also usually exempt from FOIA requests. A complete list of the nine major federal exemptions, as well as other information, is available on the internet at foia.gov/faq.html. Freedom of information was and is seen as an imperative to a society capable of self-governance, or any government responsible to its people. Democracy requires an informed voter base. FOIA laws are a complement to laws concerning court and legislative records, and the Open Meetings Act. These laws together guarantee an individuals access to government records and information. After all, we fund it through our taxes. However, while FOIA requests are powerful tools, there are also many shortcomings and difficulties for members of the public seeking information. The first thing to remember is that FOIA doesnt require a government to create a document or file that doesnt already exist. If you ask for information about how many rubber ducks are sold in the U.P., dont expect an answer, because the government doesnt track that. If you request old documents that havent been digitized or statistics not in a digital spreadsheet, prepare to receive a massive copied file, or unorganized PDF, and have your credit card handy(governments and agencies can, and often do, charge for the labor and copying necessary to fulfill a FOIA request). Further complicating FOIA requests is the inconsistent application of the laws across federal, state and local levels. Requests can be delayed, ignored or slow-walked to frustrate requestors. Some agencies employ creative exemptions to deny otherwise valid requests. Excessive fees can be requested in return for the information. There are ways to appeal these decisions in Michigan, but some states have confusing or non-binding appeals processes for denied FOIA requests, and others have no appeal process at all. Luckily, for those not lucky enough to have learned how to file a FOIA request in college, there are helpful tools. Over the next few installments of Journo Field Training, well look at the why and how of filing a FOIA request, either independently or with the help of the website MuckRock.com.

MuckRock, founded in 2010, has helped individuals file more than 80,000 requests in all 50 states and with the federal government. They have the experience and tools to help even the most novice of public records requesters get started with their freedom of information project. With their help, well review what information might be request-able, writing a request, and following through on getting the information. Making a FOIA request without a computer or the internet is still possible, but it is more difficult. Well be sure to cover non-digital options for filing a request as well.

Joshua Vissers holds a B.A. in multimedia journalism and is associate editor at the Daily Mining Gazette. Send questions to jvissers@mininggazette.com.

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Australia has a problem with freedom of speech – The Big Smoke Australia

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Current attitudes are evidence of Australias historically sour relationship with the right to freedom of speech. It is high time this relationship was mended.

As seems to be the case on a daily basis, contrarian views in Australian public debate receive such considerable outrage in response that claims to freedom of speech generate a collective roll-of-the-eyes, if not outright contempt. Views considered to be offensive are somehow beyond the right of free expression and are thus promptly struck down in the court of public consensus.

Sometimes, they are even struck down in real courts. The somewhat overused but nonetheless salient example of this was the Andrew Bolt case, pursued under Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act for a series of articles in which Bolt made claims about widespread indigenous opportunism in the seeking of positions of privilege. As bizarre and ill-conceived as the articles were, their contents should have been no matter for the state.

I can picture readily the vexation of many readers at the mere mention of his name. Other causes of such public irritation include the reverberations of the Hanson camp and remarks on immigration from TV host Sonia Kruger. (and, inevitably, Israel Folau Ed). Their right to speak is challenged on the grounds that their views are divisive or unacceptable and, well, because like your parents always made you remember: if you dont have anything nice to say, dont say anything at all.

Even if one does not agree with the views of commentators and public figures, one is nonetheless obliged to offer a throat-clearing before speaking at all. This is precisely because of the incredibly trigger-happy nature of the opposition to freedom of expression in Australia.

Over twenty years ago, across the Pacific but in a remarkably similar context, Christopher Hitchens defined this controlling attitude as the politics of the permissible. Out of this attitude comes the curious assertion that freedom of speech somehow does not exist in Australia because the state has not enshrined such a right into law. Ironically enough, this is from the same people who look to the International Declaration of Human Rights when laying claim over other topics about which they are so passionate.

But such astounding opposition to the free exchange of ideas in Australia has not always prevailed.

At the close of the 1950s, and for some time after, a group of students gathered nightly at the Royal George Hotel in Sydney with the intent of having rows for, well, their own sake. Known as the Sydney Push, the topics for exchange were broad but invariably political. The late Robert Hughes described the Push as a sceptical, anarchist, free-thinking, free-loving bunch of students with whom he often shared a stiff drink and stimulating cigarette. Its members were, among others, Germaine Greer, Clive James, Les Murray, Eva Cox, and Hughes himself.

The values espoused by these rabble-rousing students all those years ago still matter as much today as they ever have. Why? In short: in the margins of its history, Australia has a small but valuable tradition (popularised by those students and their beloved University of Sydney philosopher, John Anderson) that recognises the necessity of free speech in the checking-and-balancing of power and in elevating the quality of public discourse. Unfortunately, this tradition is seldom acknowledged and respected even less.

It would be nice to be optimistic about the state of this tradition, but the facts must be faced. Despite its emergence as a leading liberal democracy, Australia has not had a warm relationship with the notion of rights, and freedom of speech is no exception. The attempt to pass a United States-inspired Bill of Rights at the 1898 Constitutional Convention, just three years before our Federation, remains but a footnote in history. Indeed, every attempt to pass such a bill has failed, always emerging from the political margins with little support. Closer to our time, former Prime Minister John Howard repudiated any attempt to bring forth a referendum on a Bill of Rights for the Constitution and added further restrictions to speech by expanding sedition laws in 2005 (Inside Australias Anti-Terrorism Laws and TrialsAndrew LynchwithNicola McGarrity and George Williams, Sydney: Newsouth Publishing, 2015, p3).

Howards peculiarly illiberal approach to freedom of speech is no doubt an irony that divides his cherished party. Some have tried to advance policy in the other direction. With Attorney-General George Brandis alongside him, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott attempted to water-down the Racial Discrimination Act for the purpose of protecting free speech rights. As expected, their amendment was defeated very quickly in part, due to an effective no-rights-for-bigotry campaign by Bill Shorten.

But as divisive as they may be, even the most extreme opinions have a right to be expressed. This means that yes, bigoted opinions can be voiced; it is the humble task of the rest of us to counter such views in open debate. As German revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg wrote in 1917, freedom of speech is meaningless unless it means freedom for the one who thinks differently.

It is high time for freedom of expression to be given its rightful place in Australian public discourse. The consequences can indeed be offensive, but that is a necessary part of the democratic process. There is much to take from the tradition that supports this principle, and we would do well to apply its lessons.

As Hitchens remarked, It is not enough to have free speech. People must learn to speak freely.

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Politics at work: Even if you can, its a bad idea – Federal News Network

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The Federal District Court made the right decision in tossing a lawsuit by the American Federation of Government Employees. As our Nicole Ogrysko reported, the suit was against the Office of Special Counsel.

The AFGEs beef was over guidance OSC handed out two years ago, saying that in-the-office displays of #resist code for oppose President Trump categorically or in-the-office advocating for (or against) impeachment could be construed as a violation of the Hatch Act. AFGE and its suing partners contend this was a violation of their Constitutional free speech rights.

The court gave several reasons for dismissing the suit. In essence it said nothing had happened to merit a lawsuit OCSs advisory-only opinion didnt cause any federal employee to actually get muzzled at work. The court decided that the free-speech claim wasnt ripe for review.

In my interview earlier this week with Special Counsel Henry Kerner, he pointed out that the Hatch Act doesnt bar all political speech, but rather only applies to talking, button-wearing, sign-displaying and money-seeking activities aimed at the success or failure of a candidate for a political office.

Maybe AFGE thought Trump was not a candidate barely halfway through his term. Since Calvin Coolidge, what president hasnot sought a second term?

The OSC guidance stands but, as the court noted, its only guidance anyhow.

Theres a bigger issue, though. Even if ranting for or against impeachment does not violate the Hatch Act, why do people want to drag their politics into the office in the first place? What about good taste and a bit of reticence that keeps relations among colleagues cordial and businesslike?

Most businesses nowadays and many government agencies have rules about speech and behavior that can cause disharmony or insult others. Its easy enough for the most benignly intentioned person to run afoul of what constitutes offensive speech in a society where everyone, it seems, is looking for ways to be victimized by offense, real or imagined. Many organizations caution about even mundane things. Tell a woman she looks great in that dress, or a man in those trousers, and you could get hauled into HR.

References to third parties, such as people of another race or gender, if offensive to one of the people actually in the conversation, can get the offender in trouble. Many years ago I had a boss a highly competent executive in charge of a profitable division advise me: Be careful about hiring young women, Tommy. They get pregnant and leave. Even in 1986 I thought, Did he really say that? Can you imagine that today?

Nastiness in todays politics has a sort of grandeur. Its infecting every part of life, if we let it. It wasnt always that way. In 1968 my mother worked in a small manufacturers rep office. The other six or so employees favored Richard Nixon. My mother preferred Hubert Humphrey. The day after the election, I recall her remarking about how gracious they all were that her candidate had lost. No one gloated. Or promised to burn down the other side.

Today leaders from clergy to business executives have had to caution against the corrosive effects of shouting about politics in their settings. For a federal office, such speech may not violate the Hatch Act, but that doesnt make it a good idea. Yes, President Trump certainly engenders strong feelings. All the more reason for maintaining of the great unwritten rules for office and bar settings: No religion, sex or politics.

The simple fact is that employers, including federal agencies, have the right to regulate speech within their walls when people are on the clock. Federal employees are otherwise free to attend rallies or protests, do this or that (except fundraising) on behalf of a candidate or cause (but not in their official capacity), or ruin any cookout they want with beer-induced political ranting.

Kerner put it this way. Just because the Hatch Act isnt violated agencies have policies on political expression and other things. Federal workers are expected to work for all taxpayers, and to keep politics largely out of the workplace. Wherever we work, were expected to do what were paid to do and not, as Kerner put it, bicker over our political views.

ByDavid Thornton

People who suffer from boanthropy believe themselves to be a cow or an ox.

Source: Wikipedia

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Politics at work: Even if you can, its a bad idea - Federal News Network

Afraid to speak your mind? Maybe we’re not as ‘free’ as we think | TheHill – The Hill

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It is accepted wisdom that we live in a free country. Every kid in grade school learns that. We have a free, if flawed, press. Even with the virus, were pretty much free to assemble; peaceful protest is legal. We can worship if we want, or we dont have to if we dont want. And, of course, we have the right to vote.

So, why would anyone even seriously question whether we live in a free country?

Because, in reality, were not nearly as free as wed like to think.

Just because we still have free-speech rights doesnt mean we feel free to exercise those rights, to say whats on our minds. What if were afraid to voice our opinions? Are we still free then?

Which brings us to a new study by the Cato Institute.

Lets start with this about how a majority of Americans are so afraid of what could happen to them if they express an unpopular opinion. Nearly two out of every three Americans (62 percent) say the political climate these days prevents them from saying things they believe because theyre worried that others might find their opinions offensive.

Right from the moment we won the revolution and sent the British packing, weve liked to think of ourselves as a courageous, tough people. Fear was not part of who we were. Yet now, two out of three of us are afraid to say whats on our minds, not because a dictator might lock us up but because someones feelings might be hurt. Welcome to America 2020.

Cato says this fear crosses party lines: 52 percent of Democrats have opinions theyre afraid to share, 59 percent of independents feel that way, and so do a staggering 77 percent of Republicans. And what might happen, they fear, is that if they say the wrong thing, they might get fired and lose their livelihoods; Cato found that one in three Americans (32 percent) who work say theyre worried about missing out on career opportunities, or losing their jobs, if their political opinions became known.

Given the political climate these days, Americans may have good reason to be afraid. But whatever this is, its not tough and its not courageous; its not who we like to think we are.

Here are some other numbers that should worry all of us:

Thirty-six percent of Americans who identify as strong conservatives think its okay to fire an executive for donating his or her own money to Joe BidenJoe BidenBiden says his faith is 'bedrock foundation of my life' after Trump claim Biden clarifies comments comparing African American and Latino communities Kanye West may have missed deadline to get on Wisconsin ballot by minutes: report MOREs presidential campaign. Self-described strong conservatives the very people railing against the cancel culture think its okay to fire an executive simply for donating personal money to Bidens campaign.

If you think thats bad and it is consider this: 50 percent of those who identify as strong liberals say its okay to fire executives who personally donate money to President TrumpDonald John TrumpBiden says his faith is 'bedrock foundation of my life' after Trump claim Coronavirus talks on life support as parties dig in, pass blame Ohio governor tests negative in second coronavirus test MOREs reelection campaign.

Taking these results together indicates that a significant majority of Americans with diverse political views and backgrounds self-censor their political opinions, according to Cato. This large number from across demographic groups suggests withheld opinions may not simply be radical or fringe perspectives in the process of being socially marginalized. Instead, many of these opinions may be shared by a large number of people. Opinions so widely shared are likely shaping how people think about salient policy issues and ultimately impacting how they vote. But if people feel they cannot discuss these important policy matters, such views will not have an opportunity to be scrutinized, understood, or reformed.

This is the America we live in.

As a correspondent for CBS News for many years, I traveled to many countries, including authoritarian countries such as China and the old Soviet Union. As a general rule, people in places like that arent likely to share their opinions. There are consequences for holding the wrong opinions; you can get into serious trouble if you have unacceptable ideas.

No, Im not suggesting that the United States is like China or the old Soviet Union, where having an unpopular opinion might get you a train ride to a re-education camp or a jail cell in the gulag. But I am suggesting the obvious: People in a free country shouldnt be afraid to say whats on their minds.

But it looks like a majority of us are.

The government hasnt taken steps to curtail free speech. Not yet, anyway. And there may not be a need to do so: A majority of Americans are censoring themselves.

Bernard Goldberg, an Emmy and an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University award-winning writer and journalist, is a correspondent with HBOs Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. He previously worked as a reporter for CBS News and as an analyst for Fox News. He is the author of five books and publishes exclusive weekly columns, audio commentaries and Q&As on his Patreon page. Follow him on Twitter @BernardGoldberg.

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Afraid to speak your mind? Maybe we're not as 'free' as we think | TheHill - The Hill

The rise of nationalism has led to increased oppression of minorities around the world but the Uighur and Kashmir are reported very differently – The…

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We live in an era of resurgent nationalism. From Scotland to Sri Lanka, from China to Brazil, governments rely on nationalism as a source of communal identity and a vehicle for common action.

In countries where religious identity appears to dominate, as with Islam in Turkey and Hinduism in India, religion has bonded with nationalism. In nominally Communist countries like China and Vietnam, it is likewise nationalism that adds to governments legitimacy and political muscle.

This nationalist upsurge the world over is bad news for ethnic and sectarian minorities. Everywhere they are facing greater oppression and less autonomy from national governments maximising their power. At best they face marginalisation and at worst elimination. This is true for the Uighur in Xinjiang province in China, the Muslims population of India-controlled Kashmir, the Shia majority in Sunni-ruled Bahrain and the long persecuted Kurdish minority in Turkey, to name but four.

Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

All these communities are coming under crushing pressure to surrender to the political and cultural control of the national state. The same brutal methods are used everywhere: mass incarceration, disappearances, torture, the elimination of political parties and independent media representing the persecuted community. Any opposition, however peaceful, is conflated with "terrorism" and suppressed with draconian punishments.

The degree of mistreatment of these embattled communities varies with the balance of power between them and the central government. There is little the Bahrain Shia, though a majority of the population, can do to defend themselves, but the 182 million Muslims in India cannot be dealt with so summarily.

Even so, they are in danger of progressively losing their civil rights and residency through the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens. The Turkish Kurds are well organised but their political leaders are in jail and Turkey leads the world in the number of journalists, many of them Kurds, whom it has imprisoned.

What makes these countries different is partly the political strength of the persecuted community, but above all the degree of international support they can attract. This in turn depends less on the cruelties they endure than on their ability to plug into the self-interested rivalries of the great powers. Related to this is the ability to attract the sustained attention and sympathy of the (usually Western) international media.

The Uighur deserve all the sympathy and attention they can get, but it would be nave to imagine that the sudden interest of the West in their fate over the last year has much to do with the undoubted justice of their cause. President Xi Jinping has been chosen as the new demon king in the eyes of the US and its allies, his every action fresh evidence of the fiendish evil of the Chinese state.

There is no reason to suppose that any of the films of Uighur prisoners manacled hand and foot are untrue or that a million Uighurs are not the targets of brainwashing in giant concentration camps. But the manipulation of public opinion has always relied less on mendacity, the manufacturing of false facts and more on selectivity, on broadcasting the crimes of ones opponents and keeping very quiet about similar acts of oppression by oneself and ones allies.

What is striking over the last year is the disparity between the international attention given to the fate of the eleven million Uighurs in the Autonomous Uighur Region in Xingjian and the thirteen million people in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The situations in Kashmir and Xinjiang are comparable in some ways. On 5 August last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis government stripped Kashmir - Indias only Muslim-majority state - of its special rights and split it into two federally administered territories. He claimed that the aim was the economic regeneration of Kashmir, but the prolonged curfews enforced by a heavily reinforced Indian military presence has ruined local economic life.

These lockdowns and the almost complete close down of the internet, is far more severe than anything resulting from the coronavirus epidemic, and have reduced Kashmiris to colonial servitude. This has been compounded, says Amnesty International, by a censored media, continuing detention of political leaders, arbitrary restrictions due to the pandemic with little to no redress.

The anniversary of the end to Kashmirs autonomy was marked this month by even tighter restrictions. Local political leaders were jailed or were forbidden to leave their houses. One year later the authorities are still too afraid to allow us to meet, much less carry out any normal political activity, said the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, on Twitter. But worse things than jail and house arrest happen at the hands of the Indian authorities. Since 1990 between 8,000 and 10,000 Kashmiris have disappeared according to the Association of the Parents of the Disappeared, a movement modelled on that of the Argentinian mothers whose children had vanished, mostly tortured to death or executed, by the military dictatorship.

Kashmir is only the apogee of the mounting persecution of almost 200 million Indian Muslims under Modis Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. The willingness of the government to double-down on humiliating the Muslims was exemplified this week when Modi laid the foundation stone for a Hindu temple to replace the sixteenth century mosque that was destroyed by right-wing Hindu mobs in 1992. Some 2,000 people were killed in the rioting that followed the mosques destruction.

Powerful governments tend to underestimate the amount of trouble that small minorities can cause them, despite an immense disparity in the balance of power between the central state and the minority in question. Look at the trouble a small ethnicity like the Uighurs have caused Beijing. Foreign powers may be exploiting their grievances for their own purposes, but those grievances are real. Look at the trouble a century ago that the Irish and the Boers caused the British Empire at the height of its power. Then as now, the very puniness of the opposition of small communities tempted seemingly all-powerful regimes to reject conciliation in the belief that they have no need to compromise. They do not understand why their overwhelming political and military power does not make them the easy winner.

Kashmir is a classic example of this syndrome. By ending the states autonomy, Modi said he would bring an end to the "Kashmir problem." In fact, he predictably made it worse and it is not going away.

The West has been prepared to back Modi unconditionally because it hopes India will be a counterbalance to China. They are the only states in the world with populations over one billion. But the states backing the BJP Hindu nationalist government have not taken on board what an extraordinarily dangerous game they and Modi are playing: seeking total victory over Kashmir though it is backed by neighbouring nuclear-armed Pakistan.

Attempting to marginalise Indian Muslims so numerous that. if they formed a separate country, it would be the eighth largest in the world is not possible without extreme violence.

The riots in Delhi in February were a taste of this. Ignoring this potential for disaster is like officials in Beirut who were blind to the danger of storing thousands of tons of explosives in the heart of the city.

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The rise of nationalism has led to increased oppression of minorities around the world but the Uighur and Kashmir are reported very differently - The...