Monthly Archives: August 2022

With approximately 39,000 miles of public roadways in the state, New Jersey is home to both the best and the worst drivers in the country. (And yes, we can probably lump most of those NY/PA license plates on our roads into the latter category.)

Unfortunately, so many Jersey commuters view their daily drive as a competitive sport. Prioritizing speed over safety.

Unfortunately, so many Jersey commuters view their daily drive as a competitive sport.

In reality, driving is 100% a collaborative activity. When you're on the road alongside hundreds or thousands of people, your goal is exactly the same as everyone else's: Arrive to your destination safely and efficiently. Oh, if only we could replace all the hostility and road rage with synergy and courtesy.

I know, it's a pipe dream. But allow me to channel Drivers Ed class for a moment, and present what should be viewed as the golden rule of the road.

Be predictable.

Predictability is the very heart and reason for our system of traffic laws. If other drivers can anticipate what you're going to do and more importantly, what stupid tricks you're not going to try everyone stays safer. And happier.

And yes, that includes using turn signals.

Left turn signal on car dash

But it goes way beyond blinkers. Let me give you a few examples of how being predictable makes New Jersey's highways and byways safer for everyone.

Be predictable.

UNPREDICTABLE: Weave in and out of highway traffic lanes, just to arrive at your destination a few seconds earlier. With no turn signal, of course.

PREDICTABLE: Change lanes with purpose, either to pass on the left, to move right again after overtaking a vehicle, to let someone merge, to avoid a hazard, etc. And use your darn turn signal.

UNPREDICTABLE: Drive as fast as you can. Or excessively slow for that matter.

PREDICTABLE: Keep up with the flow of traffic, using the posted speed limit as a guideline.

UNPREDICTABLE: Use the shoulder or exit lane to pass a line of slower or passing traffic. It is courting disaster if someone doesn't see your erratic maneuver and merges into your speeding car.

PREDICTABLE: Stay on the road. Don't be a jerk. And except for extreme circumstances, pass on the left.

UNPREDICTABLE: Make a rolling stop through a red light or stop sign, cutting off moving vehicles who have the clear right-of-way.

PREDICTABLE: Turn right on red only when legal and safe to do so. Full and complete stop, people.

UNPREDICTABLE: Slam merge, cutting across lanes of traffic and/or cutting off an entire line of traffic just before an exit.

PREDICTABLE: Plan ahead. Modern GPS systems even show you which lane to be in for a given exit. And stay alert.

UNPREDICTABLE: Be overly courteous, waving a driver to turn on/off a road while holding up traffic and/or impeding someone else's right-of-way.

PREDICTABLE: Drive defensively, and be friendly and considerate. But not if it involves breaking traffic laws or negatively affects other drivers.

Road Rage Driver

Can we all make a pledge to give this idea a try?

No?

Well, it was worth a shot.

Dan Zarrow is Chief Meteorologist for Townsquare Media New Jersey. His 40-mile commute through Union, Middlesex, and Mercer counties ranges from peaceful to maddening, depending on the day. Follow Dan on Facebook or Twitter for your latest weather forecast updates.

Can You Pass This Simple New Jersey Driver's Test?

April is Distracted Driver Awareness Month in New Jersey, part of the National Highway Transportation Safety Board's 'UDrive. UText. UPay.' campaign. But being 'distracted' is so much more than just texting while driving.

Unless there's a sign telling you otherwise, turning right on red in NJ is perfectly legal. But why are some hesitant to do so? Let's take a look at a few plausible reasons.

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More NJ drivers need to adopt this golden rule (Opinion) - New Jersey 101.5 FM

The six right-wingers on the court smile for the camera. Like Trump who appointed 1/2 of them, they are drunk with power.

Im trying to remember which Democrat, some years ago, made a point of always saying that its when theyre most drunk with power that they will dramatically overestimate their invulnerabilityand shoot themselves squarely in the foot.

Texas Hold-Em Politics

This version of the Republicans went all in, Texas holdem style, on Trumpism and totalitarianism fascism if youprefer to call it. And started to believe they can say or do anything without consequences. Truth be told, the relative passivityof the some of the Democratic leadership didnt help. So, the Republicans under Trump stepped in and appointed 3 more religious fanatics who became willing pawns in their plans. Lunatics they could control to be elevated to the nations highest court, never thinking it would eventually catch up to them.

I must confess, I was worried they would never stopgetting away with all sortsof incredible nonsense. SoIm not suggesting that we let our guard down after the Kansas referendum victories as the Republicans finally went a bridge too far.Rather, now we should go for the political jugular. And continue to drop our own political bombs on them. Politics is incredibly fickle, so between now and the mid-terms nothing should be taken for granted.

The vote to keep abortion rights, in Kansas of all places, home of Dorothy and Toto, was a real seismicshocker for them. Lastmonths pollsmade them look like narrow winners.The Republicans had every advantage possible in a solidly Republican state. And did this to themselves in their supreme arrogance!! Brought on by Trumpism itself. They were happy to control the anti-choice vote for years without actually seeing a ban on abortion come to passand still suck up valuable votes. And they assumed that personal opposition to abortion always translated in voting support for them. But their increasingly extremist positions blinded them to the actual consequences of their platform. Same with their promoting race war in the hope of winning more votes than they lose.

The national corporate media seems like it finally realized that the Republicans under Trumpism were actually going to ruin the country and the economy. And that of course would be very bad for corporate America, and much worse than the Democrats presently in power could ever be. At least thats my read-on changes in the corporate media coverage lately.

The Republicans havent just goneall-in, they are halfway to the center of the Earth. As Trumpself-destructs right before our very eyes,De Santis, the latest Republican fuehrer,apparently thinks that an exact clone of Trump will easily take his place in 2024. Hes smarter than Trump and would be a lot more dangerous as president.Trump himself appears to being dropped by the Republicans as far as 2024 candidate is concerned and is likely to turnon themlike a woundedanimal if and when they do.

Trumpisms Golden Rule

The golden rule of Trump-styled Republicanism is toalways double down, no matter how badly you get busted for your misdeeds,and NEVER admit a mistake or concedethat you were wrong. The second, third and fourth rulesare to lie, lie, and swear youre not lying.

The golden rule for Democrats should beto offer votersprogressive, energetic and fighting leadership and make sure that leadership is committed to reigning in out-of-control corporate influence in policy and politics. While disguised to many voters, politics can oftenbecome a form of class war. Meaning every issue is viewed differently depending on the class interests and loyalties of the representatives. Politics can also involve fiercepower struggles, even when the parties involved have similar class interests. Corporate influence also carries weight in both parties and their lobbyists have helped killmuch worthwhilelegislation over the years. There may be a record number of issues on the plate in this years mid-terms.

Regarding the poll below, all choices may to some degree be important for most sane and progressive voters.I left out reproductive rights only because it transcends the two-party system more than any other, especially after the Kansas referendum vote, and would easily win any poll like this.

So Im looking for what youthink is the next best voting issue for us, vote wise. Remember that the most important motivators may not be the most important issues to your way of thinking, just the ones you think will turn out the most Democratic Party voters.

1 - Voting rights and protections

4- Preservation of law and democratic government.

5 - Prescription drug prices and health care costs.

6 - The threat of Republican extremism.

Read more:

The Republican Court went all in on Trumpism and then . . . - Daily Kos

When I realized it was my turn to write the column, I panicked a little. I couldnt think of anything introspective or enlightening or particularly interesting to say.

So, I googled things to write about, hoping to find a prompt that would set the mental cogwheels in motion. I found myself sifting through a lot of really stupid ideas, but I was able to ferret out a few gems. Heres a sample of what I found and my reactions:

Whats the most irritating sound in the world?

Thats easy: people chewing loudly. For crying out loud, put the chip in your mouth, close your mouth and chew. Ive had to walk out of more than one Mexican restaurant because of the cacophony of crunching chips. Same goes for slurping coffee, soup and noodles. Its basic table manners.

Ive recently learned that Im not the only one who cant stand the sound of people eating and its actually a disorder called misophonia or selective sound sensitivity syndrome. Ive also learned that giving strangers the look for chewing loudly is often met with steely defiance and attempts to chew even more loudly.

What is something most people dont know about you?

For one, my eyes are super sensitive to light. Thats why Im always wearing my sunglasses, in case you were wondering. Its a condition I inherited from my dad, and both of my sons inherited from me. Apparently, this is also a disorder. Its called photophobia.

Another little-known fact about me: feet creep me out. Go ahead, laugh. Its odd. Even more odd is that this is why I never liked Mr. Rogers Neighborhood when I was a kid (ironically, a kid who ran around barefoot most of the time). Every episode opened with Mr. Rogers changing his shoes. I was always terrified that one day he was going to take off his socks and Id see his feet.

At this point in my hunt for a good writing prompt, I started to become hyper aware that I am really flawed, and I started to dislike the people who make lists of writing prompts.

Then I found this:

Write a letter to your 5-year-old self.

Ok, then.

Dear 5-year-old Nia: Remember that time in Sunday school when you learned about the Golden Rule? That was only half of the story. Never stop being kind and helpful but be aware that not everyone lives by that same rule. There are a lot of people who see niceness as weakness. Its OK to stick up for yourself. Its OK to be rude if the situation warrants it.

Its also OK to be really flawed. Everyone has flaws, and the ones with the most flaws are usually the ones who will point out yours.

Never give up on your dreams.

Dont just march to the beat of your own drummer, turn up the volume and dance to it.

One day in the future, youre going to google things to write about. Dont sweat it.

Lania Rocha is a staff writer for the Genesee County View. Contact her at lrocha@mihomepaper.com.

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The result of ideas to get the creative juices flowing - Davison Index - Davisonindex

I have mentioned in columns before the people who have made the biggest impact on my life outside of my family, was by far my educators at the School District of Amery. I suppose that makes them like a second family. It makes me sad that recently I lost a member of that second family, my Kindergarten teacher-Lois Kresl.

A popular read entitled All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten is a book of short essays by American minister and author Robert Fulghum. It was first published in 1986.

The title of the book is taken from the first essay in the volume, in which Fulghum lists lessons normally learned in American kindergarten classrooms and explains how the world would be improved if adults adhered to the same basic rules as children, i.e. sharing, being kind to one another, cleaning up after themselves.

The essay based on Kindergarten takes me back to my early days in Mrs. Kresls class. Robert Fulghum was absolutely correct on his points about Kindergarten. While the points are important, what was even bigger to me was the person who instilled these values into her students.

Back in my day, there was no such thing as Pre-K. In fact, we only went to Kindergarten for a half day. Harvey Monson would drive me there in the mornings on Bus 14 and Martha Heiden would drive me home on Bus 6 at Noon.

I had never been to preschool. I was an only child who spent a majority of her time with adults, so school was a whole new world to me. Kindergarten was the roots of my learning experience and I believe it set me up for my love of school. Mrs. Kresl was the reason for all of this. She will always hold a special place in my heart.

In honor of the teacher who taught me the most important basics of life, here is an excerpt from All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sandpile at Sunday School. These are the things I learned:

Put things back where you found them.

Dont take things that arent yours.

Say youre sorry when you hurt somebody.

Wash your hands before you eat.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

Live a balanced lifelearn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.

Take a nap every afternoon.

When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.

Wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.

Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cupthey all die. So do we.

And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learnedthe biggest word of allLOOK.

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.

Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or your government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we allthe whole worldhad cookies and milk about three oclock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.

And it is still true, no matter how old you arewhen you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

Thank you, Mrs. Kresl and all of the other educators and school staff who make a daily difference on childrens lives.

I enjoy sharing my thoughts with you and look forward to readers sharing their thoughts in return.

Feel free to email me at editor@theameryfreepress.com, write me at P.O. Box 424, Amery WI. 54001 or I can be reached by phone at 715-268-8101.

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All I really need to know I learned from Mrs. Kresl - Amery Free Press

The sixth annual Interfaith Awareness Week from Sunday to Aug. 13 is slated to bring together thousands of people from different faith traditions, including those who do not belong to a faith community, to hear from each other and learn about each others faith and beliefs.

For seven days, interfaith discussions will be led virtually all day, led by leaders of various faith groups from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, England, Israel, Pakistan and Australia. The event starts Sunday with an opening program broadcast via Zoom from Poway throughout the world.

Interfaith Awareness Week began in August 2017 as a five-day interfaith conference, known as the North American Interfaith Networks conference at the University of California San Diego. The event drew more than 250 people representing 20 faiths. The event was organized by the Poway Interfaith Team, which was formed by group of local faith leaders in 2006 to foster interfaith conversations.

It started here in San Diego County but has grown into a seven-day celebration that has gone global, said the Rev. Stephen Albert, co-founder of the Poway Interfaith Team and founder of the World Interfaith Network, which connects interfaith groups around the world.

The network has nearly 300 members and is recognized in 107 countries, according to Albert. This years Interfaith Awareness Week is organized by the World Interfaith Network.

One of the accomplishments of the first conference, Albert said, was that it received proclamations from 14 of 18 mayors and city councils in San Diego County, stating that their cities would honor and respect all people from all faiths, cultures and backgrounds. In March 2018, the California State Assembly and the governor approved celebrating Interfaith Awareness Week as the second week in August each year.

Albert created the California Interfaith Association three years ago to bring together dozens of Interfaith organizations across the state and then expanded the network internationally in 2019.

The idea is to bring people together in conversations about faith and foster mutual respect and friendship.

Once you begin to dialogue with people who worship differently, wear different styles of clothing, have different skin colors or accents, we learn that they are people just like us who want a peaceful world where their children can grow up happy and healthy, Albert said.

The more than 40 interfaith groups will present what they are doing in their part of the world to help bring about a more peaceful world, Albert said.

Nearly 50 virtual presentations are planned. Topics range from The Golden Rule & Interfaith Dialogue, The Art of Interfaith Understanding and Interfaith in Business to Building Community through Interfaith Partnership, Conversation with Actors of Interreligious Dialogue in Mexico and Circles of Light Interfaith Around the World.

On the last day, Aug. 13, from 4 to 6 p.m., an intergenerational panel representing various faiths and ages will discuss The Future of Interfaith.

The weeks program is free to the public and the Zoom link for each presentation can be accessed at world-interfaith.com.

Here is the weeks schedule of virtual interfaith events:

Sunday

10 a.m. Interfaith Awareness Opening Why Interfaith? Poway Interfaith Team, San Diego.

Noon. Living In The Times of Prophecy Fulfillment & Forgiving The Unforgivable One Global Family Alliances & Unity and Diversity World Council Chief Daniel Ramos, LauraSa Pele Lafoia Ava.

2 p.m. Parliament of the Worlds Religions, The Beginning of Interfaith/video and dialogue.

4 p.m. Seeds of the Interfaith Movement Growing in the Sunflower State Global Faith in Action Wichita, Kan. Sam Muyskens, Rabbi Michael Davis.

6 p.m. Circles of Light Interfaith Around the World United Religions Initiative Tahil Sharma.

Monday

8 a.m. The Golden Rule & Interfaith Dialogue Toronto, Canada Paul McKenna, Kathy Murtha.

10 a.m. The Virtue of Listening North American Interfaith Network Shelton Saeed-Nally.

Noon. Global Talk Zone Interfaith Collaboration the Rev. Steve Albert.

1 p.m. Spiritual Diversity in Education Deborah Robin Mech.

2 p.m. Religions for Peace International and Religions for Peace USA Interreligious Peacebuilding Around the World Karen Hernandez.

4 p.m. Shasta Interfaith Redding the Rev. Lynn E. Fritz.

6 p.m. Evangelicals, Islam & Interfaith Imam Taha Hassane, Martin Brooks.

Tuesday

8 a.m. Learn, Fellowship, Serve, and Worship MultiFaith Council of Northwest Ohio Toledo, Ohio Judy Trautman, Joseph Zielinski.

10 a.m. The Art of Interfaith Understanding Philadelphia the Rev. John Hougen.

Noon. Global Talk Zone Interfaith Collaboration the Rev. Steve Albert.

1 p.m. Interfaith in Business Jeff Blanton

2 p.m. Teeming UP for Peace Week and the UP Convergence World Unity Week, Australia the Rev. Becky Suzik.

4 p.m. Interfaith Movement and Social Justice in Arizona Arizona Faith Network Phoenix Vasu Bandhu

6 p.m. Uncommon Friends: The Heart of Love, Justice and Liberation for All Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council Kansas City the Rev. Kelly Isola

Aug. 10

8 a.m. Taking action on climate chaos: An Interfaith dialogue from three traditional religious perspectives. Temple of Understanding New York, N.Y. Suzy Meszoly, the Rev. Susan Hendershot, Daniel Capper.

10 a.m. Big Questions Forum Rossmoor Interfaith Council, San Francisco Bay Area Sara Blackstock.

11 a.m. San Francisco Bay Area Interfaith Councils Working Together the Rev. Will McGarvey.

Noon. Global Talk Zone Interfaith Collaboration the Rev. Steve Albert.

1 p.m. Look What Happens When We Stand Side By Side! San Dieguito Interfaith Ministers Association, Encinitas Karen Koblentz.

2 p.m. Interfaith Ministry as a Pathway to Being the Change Empowering your Vision and Voice in the World All Paths Divinity School Los Angeles & Global Interfaith Seminary Southern California Committee for a Parliament of the Worlds Religions (SCCPWR), Southern California Parliament of the Worlds Religions the Rev. Debrah Friedland-VanZyl.

3 p.m. Creating Sustainable Healthy Communities for Peace SCCPWR Los Angeles the Rev. Richard Rose.

4 p.m. Season for NonViolence Association for Global New Thought the Rev. Temple Hayes, Pari Patri, Barbara Fields.

6 p.m. Interfaith Successes, Issues and Hopes in Religiously Diverse Orange County Orange County Interfaith Network and Six Interfaith Councils Don Garrick.

Aug. 11

8 a.m. Building Bridges Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education & Action Edmonton Alberta, Canada Len Gierach.

10 a.m. Building Community through Interfaith Partnership Why Cornwall is Considered a Grassroots Movement. Cornwall Interfaith Partnership Cornwall, Canada John Towndrow.

Noon. Global Talk Zone Interfaith Collaboration the Rev. Steve Albert.

1 p.m. United Peace Federation.

2 p.m. Fostering Dialogue for Harmony & Peace Ruth Broyde Sharone.

3 p.m. Why Cant Science & Religion be Friends Ruth Broyde Sharone.

4 p.m. Taking Action on Climate Change: An Interfaith Conversation Faith & the Common Good Toronto, Canada Michelle Singh.

6 p.m. The Liminal Odyssey, Alchemizing The Spaces In-Between S.A.R.A.H. Sande Hart.

Aug. 12

8 a.m. Interfaith Connections Washington, D.C. Jacqueline Fuller.

10 a.m. Mandala Meditation & Art Creation Bahais of Clairemont Barbara Ruys.

Noon. Global Talk Zone Interfaith Collaboration the Rev. Steve Albert.

1 p.m. Women in Islam We Love Our Neighbors Sister Tehseen Usman Lazzouni.

2 p.m. Interfaith Youth Leadership Brazil Interfaith Marcelo da Costa Coelho.

4 p.m. Conversation with Actors of Interreligious Dialogue in Mexico CC Fraternidad Interespiritual of Mexico Dwynt Strega.

6 p.m. Interfaith Heritage of Islam Yusef Miller.

Aug. 13

8 a.m. Interfaith Service and Panel on Yoga and Faith LOTUS Center for All Faiths Yogaville, Buckingham, Va. Swami Jyotirmayananda and Integral Yoga Interfaith, New York the Rev. Shankar Bruce Fern.

10 a.m. Our Interfaith Journey: Hopes and Disappointments Oxford, England Mary and Marcus Braybrooke share memories of some remarkable people they have met.

Noon and 1 p.m. Interfaith Pakistan Naveed Hameed.

2 p.m. Peace is Possible The Abrahamic Reunion Interfaith Israel, Ghassan Manasra.

4 p.m. The Future of Interfaith Intergenerational Panel Vasu Bandhu, the Rev. Rob Hankinson, Vilma Rosaura Palax Tuy, Tarunjit Butalia, PK McCary.

6 p.m. A Showcase of Songs from Interfaith The Musical with Ruth Broyde Sharone and cast members a one-time showing.

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Interfaith week to bring together different faith groups for open dialogue - The San Diego Union-Tribune

American Jews have internalized the non-Jewish conception of religion, according to professor David Graizbord, associate director of Judaic Studies at University of Arizona.

Judaism is not Jewish, he stresses. American Jews have internalized that they are Christians without Jesus. What defines them is something called Judaism and that is a religion in the Christian sense of the term: A series of propositions that call for faith that those propositions are true and a host of religious rituals of worship that are performed in the confines of their private space.

Jewish civilization is none of that.

On the most recent episode of Wine with Adam with Adam Scott Bellos, the pair enjoy a conversation about the state of American Jewry and Zionism over a glass of 2018 Jezreel Argaman. Graizbord is the author of a new book, New Zionists: Young American Jews, Jewish National Identity, and Israel.

Graizbord explains that being a Zionist is increasingly unpopular in the United States, and that it carries for young Jews a tremendous stigma.

He explains how it has been easier for Jews to pass incognito in American society as white until recently; Jews are now being labeled as having white privilege and therefore evil.

For many Jews in the U.S., to be a Jew means to uphold the Golden Rule and embrace the BDS paradigm of Jewish identity: Bagels, davening and Seinfeld, he said.

The post American Jews think they are Christians without Jesus appeared first on JNS.org.

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'American Jews think they are Christians without Jesus' - Cleveland Jewish News

The back-to-school season can be a special time for families. As our younger children move from one grade to the next, we certainly want to encourage them in their God-given purpose, inspire them to be successful and comfort them during the transition to their next school year.

A fantastic way to celebrate the upcoming new school year is by reading faith-based childrens books together. Encouraging and fun books that can be read as a family can often ease the worry of the new school year for both students as well as parents.

Sometimes, it can be a challenge to find books that include a back-to-school theme while also addressing topics important to Christian families. Check out some of these back-to-school books that your family may find helpful to encourage faith-filled conversations with kids.

Be strong and Courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9.

Have a blessed school year.

Different Like MeBy Xochitl Dixon

Different Like Me is a perfect back-to-school book for this time of year where students will often make new friends. The rhyming text is fun to read and reminds kids about the connections of friendships while the illustrations show students working together to solve a problem. The book starts and ends with Bible verses and also includes conversation starters for families.

It Will Be OkayBy Lysa TerKeurst

At back-to-school time, this book is perfect for Christian families facing a transition. The book tells a parable about a seed being planted and growing into a tree, all under the care of a faithful gardener. The seed also has the support of a caring friend. Of course, the seed doesnt fully understand all the good that will come from being planted, just as we dont always know the blessings that can come through change and difficult times.

Do Unto OttersBy Laurie Keller

Part of the back-to-school experience involves learning effective, loving ways to relate to others. Although this book doesnt specifically mention the Bible, Christian families can use it to illustrate the love of God. Its a fun-filled play on words similar to the Bible verse referred to as the Golden Rule: Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31. This is a meaningful story about kindness and love.

Hand to HoldBy J.J. Heller

An important part of successfully sending kids off to school (or teaching them at home) is creating a loving environment for them to be encouraged and successful while also assuring them of your unconditional love as a parent. Hand to Hold is a love song from parent to child and is a beautiful way to inspire young children at the beginning of a new school year.

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Hooked On Books: Celebrating Going Back To School With Good Reads - Osprey Observer

Diane Warren; BeyoncPhoto: Frazer Harrison; Gareth Cattermole (Getty Images)

If there is one rule on the internet, its Dont poke the Beyhive (followed closely by Dont incite the Barbz). Unfortunately, Diane Warren wasnt aware of this golden ruleor perhaps, in her hubris, simply chose to disregard itand she certainly felt the full force of Beyonc stans displeasure after commenting on the amount of writers credited on Renaissance.

Warren, a prolific songwriter with 32 top-ten Billboard hits to her name, didnt call out Beyonc by name. However, fans justifiably assumed she was referencing the singer (and specifically, her new track Alien Superstar) when Warren tweeted on Monday, How can there be 24 writers on a song? Warren added a pointed eye roll to the end of her tweet, though she was quick to add, This isnt meant as shade, Im just curious.

After sorting through the immediate deluge of angry fans, Warren was able to sate her professional curiosity Ok, its prob samples that add up the ammount [sic] of writerrs [sic], she tweeted, begging the question: how does an industry veteran like Warren not understand sampling? but not before she was taken to task by frequent Beyonc collaborator and Renaissance contributor The Dream.

You mean hows does our (Black) culture have so many writers, well it started because we couldnt afford certain things starting out,so we started sampling and it became an Artform, a major part of the Black Culture (hip hop) in America.Had that era not happen who knows. U good? He responded in a tweet, adding in a second, Btw I know its not a one on one writing contest you looking for from no one over here you dont want that smoke And you know I love you, but come on. Stop acting like your records havent been sampled.

While The Dreams response certainly received some backlash of its own not everyone was sure about the accuracy of his history lesson his spiel certainly humbled Warren. She replied, I didnt mean that as an attack or as disrespect. I didnt know this, thank U for making me aware of it. No need to be mean about it.

She further posted, Ok, I meant no disrespect to @Beyonce, who Ive worked with and admire. Im sorry for the misunderstanding. Truthfully, it doesnt seem like there was much of a misunderstanding at allWarren never denied that her comments were about Beyonc (her collaboration with whom she recently deemed a favorite of her career). And that damning eye roll emoji suggests there was at least some degree of shade being thrown. In any case, Warren has probably learned her lesson about angering Beyonc stans.

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Diane Warren apologizes after questioning the amount of writers on on a Beyonc song - The A.V. Club