kimi's blog

2017 June 72017 June 7

Free Press community empowerment event in Hackensack Wed June 7 – all welcome!

What: Our Voices, Our Future: What Residents and Civic Leaders Want in Local Media
When: Wed., June 7th, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.)
Where: Johnson Public Library, 274 Main St, Hackensack NJ

Here’s what you can expect at the event: Free Press members, residents, journalists, and community leaders will be gathering to share ideas on how local media can better serve the public. You’ll get a chance to meet others like you, take action to address New Jersey’s local news crisis, and brainstorm about the steps we can take together to improve coverage in your community. read more

2017 June 72017 June 7

Jemez Principles for democratic organizing: a guide

On December 6-8, 1996, forty people of color and European-American representatives met in Jemez, New Mexico, for the “Working Group Meeting on Globalization and Trade.” The Jemez meeting was hosted by the Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice with the intention of hammering out common understandings between participants from different cultures, politics and organizations. The following “Jemez Principles” for democratic organizing were adopted by the participants.

2017 May 112017 May 11

Gerrymandering helped the GOP win big – so they seek to expand their advantage by sabotaging 2020 Census

Bill Moyers points out, “the Census is key to the work (of) researchers and journalists,” so hobbling the Census’ data collection process will hobble the ability of independent analysts to examine the realities of American life and to tell accurate and authoritative stories about it. Furthermore, funding to serve Americans is allocated according to the composition of neighborhoods and households – and these characteristics are established through the Census.

And by the way, did you know that the U.S. Census is required in our Constitution? read more

2017 May 3

Spend 2 minutes to learn why net neutrality is more important than you think

Website throttling — Your favorite website will be in the “Everyone Else” lane if Net Neutrality is lost Source: Iowa State Daily

Washington Post gives a neat synopsis of what The People stand to lose if Trump appointed Republican FCC Chairman Ajit Pai gets his wish and finds a way to reverse the Obama era protections establishing net neutrality, which WaPo defines as, “the regulations that forbid Internet providers from blocking or slowing Internet traffic.”

The rules, approved by the FCC during the Obama administration, classified Internet providers as “common carriers” — a move that allowed the agency to regulate those companies more strictly than before. In addition to banning the blocking or slowing of Internet traffic, the regulations also gave the FCC the ability to investigate business practices among Internet providers that it deemed potentially anticompetitive. read more

2017 May 32017 May 3

That disgusting hand sign #45 likes to make – is the sign for White Power

#45's White Power Hand Sign — #45’s White Power Hand Sign Source: independent.co.uk

What is our degenerate non-leader doing in this picture? Right, you guessed it – something disgusting. His hand sign consists of forming the letter W with three fingers and P with the circle of his thumb and index finger and the line that is formed by the base of his thumb.

This is a symbol for White Power. And the president of the United States makes it openly. God help us.

2017 May 2

The Jordan Journal content – Teachings Of Ramon Jimenez – are free for his memorial anniversary

NY Times photo of Ramon Jimenez — Foto Source: @NYTimes article: Activist Is Celebrated at the College He Helped Save

On May 10th, 2016 at the age of 67 activist Ramon Jimenez passed away of prostate cancer. The Harvard-trained lawyer, litigator, activist, writer, former administrative law judge, and journalist was a permanent fixture in the movement for social justice and a champion of progressive struggles. He led the fight to save Hostos Community College in the South Bronx, organized rallies against police brutality, took on South Bronx corrupt politicians and spearheaded a campaign that led to the removal of a corrupt National Puerto Rican Day Parade board to one with a more reform-oriented bent. On the electoral front this fiercely proud and apologetically Black Puerto Rican disenchanted with the Republican and Democratic duopoly was the Attorney General candidate for the Freedom Party and the Green Party read more

2017 April 102017 April 10

The Masuo women in China are their community’s leaders

mosuo woman — Source: http://stuckenschmidt-aw.de.tl

In China’s Himalayan region is a tribe run by women, where all of the major rules and transactions are handled by women. Children are cared for communally and may not know their true fathers. They are raised in homes with grandmothers, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Jump to The Guardian’s article The kingdom of women: the society where a man is never the boss.

Hat tip to Leen De-Weerd Mosley for the fun share.

2017 March 272017 March 26

Online privacy advice via The New York Times, Wired and Forbes

Someone is Listening — Source: Participant Media

From Participant Media: “Several media outlets are rounding up privacy advice. Here’s how you can protect your phones, computers, TVs and more via The New York Times, Wired and Forbes.”

@NYTimes: Protect against on-line surveillance by updating your devices often

@Wired (video): How to Protect Your Privacy

@Forbes: Here’s How The CIA Allegedly Hacked Samsung Smart TVs – And How To Protect Yourself

2017 March 262017 March 26

Protected: Brewing Jun, a fermented green tea drink

2017 March 20

NJ Sen. Loretta Weinberg hailed as champion of a free press and gov’t transparency

Press freedom via freepress.net — Press Freedom source: freepress.net

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg received the National Newspaper Association Open Government Award for her legislative advocacy to promote government transparency and accountability. The award was presented to the senator Thursday by NNA President Matt Paxton during the 2017 Community Newspaper Leadership Summit at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

“Whether at the state or national level, an attack on the media is an attack on our democracy. Particularly during these uncertain times, we have to stand in support of a free and independent press. I am committed to continuing the fight for government transparency and accountability and am honored to receive this award from the National Newspaper Association,” said Senator Weinberg (D-Bergen). “I am also dedicated to continuing the work that I’ve done over the last several years to reform the state’s open government laws to make government more accessible to the public. A strong press and transparent government are the best safeguards for truth in our state and our country.” read more

2017 February 7

Update from a Standing Rock volunteer after #45 orders attack on the camp

Protect the Sacred at Standing Rock — Source: hpr1.com

“Injustice Anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere.” ~ Dr. King

This is an update from a Standing Rock volunteer. It’s not pleasant.

Friends,

I have returned from Standing Rock with my mind blown, my heart broken and my spirit troubled with foreboding of a deepening tragedy. Volunteering as a legal observer with the Water Protector Legal Collective I witnessed several confrontations between Water Protectors (WP) and law enforcement: national guard, sheriffs and private security (LE). read more

2017 January 252017 January 25

Trump shut down NPS for climate change tweets but can’t block new unofficial Twitter account

Over at the Palmer Report, Bill Palmer tells us the way National Park employees found to stand up to Trump, who is blocking federal employees from commenting on climate change to the extent that he has issued a gag order to prevent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from mentioning it and has deleted tweets made by the National Park Service (NPS) and even suspended the Twitter account of one park account that tweeted about climate change. An anonymous group of individuals has created an unofficial Twitter account for park and climate change news that Trump can’t touch. read more

2017 January 252017 January 25

We are still not equal. That’s why Women March.

Sleep.Eat.Write responds on Medium to a women who doesn’t believe in women’s rights or the Women’s March entitled, “You Are Not Equal. I’m Sorry.” Here’s an excerpt:

You are not equal. Even if you feel like you are. You still make less than a man for doing the same work. You make less as a CEO, as an athlete, as an actress, as a doctor. You make less in government, in the tech industry, in healthcare.

You still don’t have full rights over your own body. Men are still debating over your uterus. Over your prenatal care. Over your choices. read more

2017 January 242017 January 24

One brave Republican stands up to madman Trump’s false claims of voter fraud

Trump sociopath
Sean Spicer, White House news spokesman, would not confirm his boss Trump’s false claims of voter fraud in the election. Obviously he can’t deny that Trump’s claims are true, either, because he would lose his job if he did. So Spicer jumped into the position of saying that Trump believes his own conspiracy theory claims to be true, and hung out with that. Other Republicans wouldn’t dispute Trump’s claims either, until Sen. Lindsey Graham (R SC) spoke up.