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Jack Mallory

A frequent theme in photo classes and articles is to "tell a story"  when you take a picture. This is not something I usually focus on, so to speak. I'm just looking for purdy pitchers. 

But this balloon must have a story to tell. 


 

And then there's a story in new ice forming on the river:

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Nori, if you think last night was mean spirited, buckle your seat belt...Trump will carve up everything and everyone who he perceives crosses him or is running against him and he will spare no one..His revenge knows not end. Even Colonol Vindman's brother was fired and Nori, what reason do you think? It was because he was Colonol Vindman's brother...revenge! .TEd Cruz's father afterall was involved in the assassination of Kennedy if you recall. You always have so much to say about the Democrats but nothing to say about your man Trump's behavior. Pardoning all your felony friends and not looking at other's who have the same sentences shows what Trump is all about. Do you really think now Nori that Trump cares about corruption when he is trying to tip the scale of justice to suit himself. And yes, the planet is at risk if Trump is in 4 more years...he is cutting all the regulations Obama put in to safeguard our air and water. He left the Paris Accords... He could care less about climate change Love, Joanie

Jack Mallory

Intelligence officials briefed Congress last week on current Russian efforts to get Trump re-elected. IMPOTUS is angered, not because a foreign power is meddling in our political process but because Congress was informed of the interference. His priority is not confronting Putin but in getting re-elected. 
 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/20/us/politics/russian-interference-trump-democrats.html?referringSource=articleShare

Glen Hirose

      Jack,

After seeing your photo of that curious red orb/balloon I could not help but recall the all-time-great classic horror movie starring Steve McQueen; “the Blob”. You recall the hapless local who pokes the glowing red orb only to end up as part of a creature that consumes patrons of the local movie theater. I think you were safe however because the blob like most of us is rendered inert by cold weather.

     Nori, Jay,

      will Blackwood become part of Hockey history tomorrow night ?                 In Naples if you are near by...   

Jack Mallory

Glen, red balloons are like snakes, snappers, porcupines, and eagles. A telephoto lens keeps you at a distance. 

But the red balloon's story continues:

*******

This is a great idea. I'd love to teach these classes!

"Research has shown that an inability to judge content leads to two equally unfortunate outcomes: People believe everything that suits their preconceived notions, or they cynically disbelieve everything. Either way leads to a polarized and disengaged citizenry."

"The aim of the Civic Online Reasoning curriculum is to get students to ask three basic questions when reading or watching online content: Who is behind that information? What is the evidence? What do other sources say?"

"Students are taught to know the “neighborhood” they’re reading in: is it journalism, entertainment, promotion, raw information or advertising? And an acronym, IMVAIN (click on this, folks) is used widely as a cue: Are sources independent, are there multiple sources, do they verify evidence, and are they authoritative, informed and named sources?"

It's not just high school students who need education in on-line literacy and critical thinking, as we often see here on the Forum. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/20/education/learning/news-literacy-2016-election.html?referringSource=articleShare

Nora Skinker (Morton)

With a full calendar, you'll be happy to know I'll offer only a brief couple of comments on the past few posts. Joanie & Jack, how do you know Trump's intentions? Could it be that the Vindman brothers were not fired but reassigned due to the fact that they could not be trusted by the WH to support the president's agenda? 
Joanie, I fully DO expect a bloodbath within & twixt the Dem factions of the party AND tween Trump & whomever becomes his ultimate contender. Chin strap buckled! 
Robert, what do you think of the jury foreperson's exposure of preprejudice in the Stone case? Crazy, huh? We just can't make this stuff up! 
Between the political horse races & the NHL horse races, fingernails are threatened & Orville Reddenbocker's poppin'! 
Keep checking in, kids! 

 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Nori, From all I have seen of Trump these years, his intentions are very clear...he gets rid of people who tell the truth if he doesn't like the truth getting out. Colonol Vindman was supoenaed. It wasn't like he was out to get Trump...he just told the truth. Just a few days ago, he got rid of the Director of National of Intelligence Nori, because he told the truth that Russia is interfering in our elections again and he is bringing in a Nunes friend who has no intelligence experience but will parrot the party line so to speak. Love, Joanie

Nora Skinker (Morton)

As a pastry chef, Joan, I suspect you might know all about these kinds of artistic cake creations. This one blows my mind! 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Its really tragic that Trump is politicizing intelligence...the Director of Intelligence he got rid of because he told Congress the truth about Russia continuing to attack our democracy, was over 17 intelligence agencies....now he replaced him with a man who has no intelligence experience and is a Trump loyalist...I guess Trump loyalists will find a way to support this but I for one am appalled and alarmed. Love, Joanie

Nora Skinker (Morton)

But the fact remains that there is no proof that his intentions are nothing other than practical reasons that (1) he believes he was not worthy of impeachment & (2) that after Vindman chose to testify AGAINST him, it was not realistic to pretend they could work alongside each other. Yes, a certain amount of revenge is probably in play but wouldn't you feel somewhat embittered if YOU were targeted by someone who held a position on your staff? Should Trump really be expected to continue to trust someone who made that choice? Even if he shouldn't, like it or not, it's his privilege, as president, to make these decisions. And I'm surprised that you're surprised at this (what seems to me) very natural outcome. 

Nora Skinker (Morton)

In an election season, EVERYTHING is political. That said, I believe Trump has every reason & the right to appoint his loyalists to key positions. That's what presidents do. 

Joan Ruggles (Young)

 Golly gosh Nori, sorry you had to lose sleep to watch the debate. No need for me to comment since you've already told us how it went ,

"annoying, self-righteous, defensive, scary, mean, indignant, spewing hysterical little grenades, silly, etc. etc. etc."

I guess instead of finding these debates boring as the previous ones were called, this one which was an actual debate was too real for you.

I won't be stupid enough to provide you with fodder by revealing my candidate choice, even though my absentee ballot still sits with no choice…….except for Adam Schiff. I’ll be happy to vote for whomever is chosen as the candidate for president.  

Jack you showed us the story of how DT became enraged when he learned that an intelligence briefing was given to congress regarding the current Russian interference in our elections again to get DT reelected. Why do you suppose that pissed him off so much? Maguire even got fired because of it. Maybe Nori can enlighten us?

As for needing to prove DT doesn't care about our country. This is almost funny since it's been seen again and again and again. He cares about himself. How could he make that any more obvious? It continues to amaze me that his supporters see him as a "strong" leader while the rest of us see an insecure bully who's terrified of being seen as weak and impotent and not as rich as advertised. How did his strength get him his way with Kim Jong Un? Threats? Name calling? Then a love affair? How's that working out? What about Iran? Threats? Assassinations? Tearing up the Iran deal? How's that working out? What about China? Threats? Tariffs (which we pay)? How's that working out for our farmers?

Oh and on the subject of unnecessary deaths to mourn, what about the 9 Kurds killed in Germany by a right wing extremist for the sin of being immigrants. Is our country ever going to have a response? Words of condolence to Merkel and the German people? The normal response of one country to its ally? Do we not give a shit because the crime was committed by a white guy? What if the races/nationalities had been reversed? Any guesses on the White House response.?

Oh and do we all agree that continued Russian interference should be tollerated, even welcomed? So many questions......

Jack Mallory

Ah, the Vindmans again, Nora.

I hate it when lies are told about people who have pledged their lives and shed their blood for the nation, so I'll continue to ask this every time you bring them up. As I said in post 10707, 

"The occasional exaggeration, different interpretations of evidence, heated rhetoric, all might call for polite restraint. But when malicious accusations are made against apparently decent people, when repeated requests for evidence are ignored, when it is not a matter of interpretation of evidence but absolute lack of evidence, restraint seems a weak response. Restraint in the face of lies seems itself dishonest. 

"When such charges are made deliberately and repeatedly, without evidence even after evidence is requested, I think it is fair to say that's a lie. 

Got any evidence for your lie about their part in a back channel conspiracy to replace the administration?

1. Evidence that such a conspiracy exists?

2. Evidence that Lt. Col A. Vindman was part of that conspiracy?

3. Evidence that Lt. Col Y. Vindman was part of that conspiracy?

Jack Mallory

Joan--Concerning how much "continued Russian interference should be tollerated, even welcomed?" 

I can't imagine the extent to which Trump will go to deny Russian election interference, past, present, and future.

Well, actually I can. 
 

Tuesday, November 3, 2020:

At dawn, reports that Russian Spetznaz units have seized polling places in key precincts across the country.

Followed by photos of tens of thousands of Russian paratroops landing in Costco and Walmart parking lots wearing camouflaged Make America Great Again caps, and lining up at the polls to vote Russian--I mean, Republican. 


 

President Trump says that he has talked to his bud Vlad who denies that this is happening. Trump says he sees no reason to disbelieve him, they're probably Ukrainian troops, and orders the Vindmans, Admiral McRaven, and Generals Mattis, McMaster, and McChrystal arrested for treason and human scummery.  Nora says it's about time. 

Millions of Trump supporters refuse to admit anything out of the ordinary is happening, and say it's better than having Democrats voting anyway. 

 Mitch Tovarisch McConnell is awarded the Supreme Magnificent Ultimate Order of the Russian Empire.

The Soviet Embassy relocates to the Old Executive Office Building immediately adjacent to the West Wing of the White House. Simultaneously, in Moscow,

An imagination is a terrible thing. 

 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Nori, please answer this one question. Do you defend and support Trump removing the Director of National Intelligence after he reported to Congress that the Russians are attacking our election again....and then he put in a Trump loyalist with no intelligence experience....the question is, do you think removing someone because they told the truth to Congress about Russian interference is ok. To me this is indefensible when we need to protect our country from Russian interference. Love, Joanie

Robert Hall

Jack Mallory

Why do I react so strongly against Trump's and Nora's lies about the Vindmans and others in the military who speak the truth? I guess it's not just their attacks today but the history of lies about truth-tellers who have served, told to further the purposes of those who haven't.

Almost 50 years ago, time enough but not time enough to have put it all behind me, I took off my uniform and with thousands of Vietnam veterans tried to tell the truth about that war. Many Americans who might have been grateful for our service and our honesty were not, especially those in power. 

Vietnam Veterans Against the War were attacked by some as commies and traitors, disloyal and unpatriotic. But we were especially vilified, we now know from the historical documents, by our Commander in Chief and his henchmen (many of whom, like many of our current CIC's staff, went on to be indicted, convicted, and jailed). 

Nixon conspired with his inner circle to block VVAW's legal political actions with FBI surveillance and harassment. They referred to us as "embittered," "horrible," "phony," "bastards," "opportunists," un-American and a threat to national security.

The similarities between then and now, between the paranoid vindictiveness of two corrupt administrations, the willingness of their supporters to condemn those who had proven their loyalty to and love for the country, are clear and disgusting.

When we spoke out against the war we were not speaking AGAINST Nixon, but for the truth. Lt. Col. Vindman was not speaking AGAINST Trump, but replying honestly to questions under subpoena and oath. We and Lt. Col. Vindman were doing our duty to our nation. 

To have the Commander in Chief and our fellow citizens attack the testimony of those who served, to assail their honesty and dedication to country, is deeply disturbing and offensive. Perhaps I might have more successfully put my own history behind me had Trump and his followers not so closely mimicked that history. 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Nora Skinker (Morton)

Oh, well. Glad you could get some of that pent up rage released. Lots of rage going around. Fire in the belly! Hot & heavy. (Glen, wish we could unleash more of that into our fire-&-ice Caps!) Watching it explode on Bloomberg the other night was an interesting dynamic. Lemme guess: you might be a Warren fan, Joan. I peg you for Sanders, Jack. Joanie's hanging with Biden. Robert, need you be silent too? I'm putting you with Joe. Jay, can you reveal your choice? I am truly sad that talking about reasons you are for &/or against your own party's candidates, is offering "fodder". Alas, would have been fun. 
Ho hum. Russians all over again? Even the Oscars are bored with the whole damned thing. And Jack, what WOULD you call a conspiracy to remove this president if not exactly what has been going on since the escalator? 
But, most important: Joan, did you at least like the cake? 
Off to Epcot! 

Jack Mallory

"Jack, what WOULD you call a conspiracy to remove this president"

No, Nora. YOUR evidence to support the lie that YOU are spreading. Evidence that a conspiracy exists, and for the Vindmans' participation in it. Come on, quit the dodging, back up your words. 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Glen Hirose

Joan Ruggles (Young)

This is great, now Nori is a fortune teller? Have you all noted who she tells us we're voting for? Write it down unless you forget.

I guess Nori is forgetting the last time someone here mentioned their preference of candidate. She began trashing that choice. Maybe the rest of us would not like to be fodder for her attacks.

Cake? What cake? Personally I'm not a fan of cake. Oh I guess you mean the photo you posted of an extreme cake like they feature on reality show contests? Since you ask, it looks like they used a ton of fondant which is a pliable mixture of gelatin, sugar and corn syrup - kind of disgusting to eat but easy to work with. All I care about any pastry is what it tastes like. I would ask the same of this cake.

Still waiting to hear why DT was enraged by Congress being informed about Russian interference???  I'm sorry it's so boring to Nori, all this Russian interference. Has DT really made it so comonplace that it's become a ho hum subject? 

Oh and the supposed rage we're accused of? Hmm maybe that's just us continuing to shake our heads in disbelief at the next jawdropping abuse of power that an unleashed DT is possible of. Remember Hoover and Nixon and their enimies list? That will soon pale in comparison to DT's purge.

Jack Mallory

Joan--I don't know how Nora did in her other speculations about who voted for whom, but she got me wrong.  Did you know speculation and speculum have the same etymology?

*********

Seeing the word conspiracy repeated over and over sends me back to the well-known Hofstadter article I posted last fall, "The Paranoid Style in American Politics." (https://harpers.org/archive/1964/11/the-paranoid-style-in-american-politics/)

Just a couple of clips from a classic in American political history: 

After reassuring the reader that this isn't something restricted to right or left politics, or that he is using the word in any clinically diagnostic sense, he says, 

"I call it the paranoid style simply because no other word adequately evokes the sense of heated exaggeration, suspiciousness, and conspiratorial fantasy that I have in mind . . . 

"It is the use of paranoid modes of expression by more or less normal people that makes the phenomenon significant . . .

There is a way in which Hofstadter's conception of paranoid conspiracies differs from Trump's and his supporters' allegations of sinister plots. This is their disregard for facts and evidence, versus the paranoid style as described by Hofstadter.

"A final characteristic of the paranoid style is related to the quality of its pedantry. One of the impressive things about paranoid literature is the contrast between its fantasied conclusions and the almost touching concern with factuality it invariably shows. It produces heroic strivings for evidence to prove that the unbelievable is the only thing that can be believed . . . 

"The paranoid seems to have little expectation of actually convincing a hostile world, but he can accumulate evidence in order to protect his cherished convictions from it."

Nora, how about some "heroic strivings for evidence" in your conspiratorial fantasies?

Robert Hall