tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925831446847762222024-03-13T13:51:22.534-07:00Conserving the Mobile NationTwitter: BennyTheKite, in honor of Benjamin FranklinDavid Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-42459014028075587982020-04-06T13:11:00.004-07:002020-04-06T13:11:50.627-07:00Principles are more important than politics<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This might be my last blog page for awhile, maybe my last one ever. Ever since the Chinese Virus was released from a bio-weapons lab in the city of Wuhan, various governments around the world have used whatever legal authority they have, and in some cases, assuming legal powers that they don't have, with thegoal of containing this viurs.<br />
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There are several problems with this approach. The expectated numbers of confirmed cases and deaths from this disease were wildly inflated at the start of this health crisis, yet many national presidents and the lower-ranking governmental officials, such as Governors and Mayors, used these false numbers as the basis for taking away the freedom of their people to do a wide variety of activities, including shopping for food, having parties in private homes, and even attending worship services at Christian churches and Jewish temples.<br />
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The rights that were stolen from the American people in particular are named explicitly in a document that has a very special place in American history for two reasons. It's a list of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, and the ratification of this document was deliberately delayed in order to secure the votes that were needed to ratify the Constitution itself. This is a copy of a painting that depicts the moment when America declared itself to be a new nation.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U_kT_VxRWkY/Xot5L8z69xI/AAAAAAAANEU/WEEoT93h_-IUfogldCRdvxe8-9hkeKO6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/signing-the-declaration-of-independence-john-trumbull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="900" height="263" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U_kT_VxRWkY/Xot5L8z69xI/AAAAAAAANEU/WEEoT93h_-IUfogldCRdvxe8-9hkeKO6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/signing-the-declaration-of-independence-john-trumbull.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Because the British Empire still considered us to be thirteen colonies, when they heard the news, much later, they sent armed troops to enforce the harsh laws that we had just rebelled against. Our own people trained and armed ourselves as much as we could, and it was good enigh to win a war that cost many lives on both sides, but we did win, so we began the process of establishing a new government, based on the best principles that we knew. Fortunately for us, many of our leaders were highly-educated and faithful to a religion that taught good principles, like personal humillity and the love of others..<br />
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The United States Constitution has seven parts to it, called Articles. The first three Articles explicitly give some power to three separate parts of a brand-new government. America needed a new government because we had fought and won a war against the world's strongest army and navy at that time, the British Empire.<br />
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Any power that hasn't been given to one of the three branches of the U.S. Government is a power that the people retain. This is explicitly mentioned in the 10th Amendment of the Constitution.<br />
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<td>It isn't well-known, but the original proposal to add amendments to the U.S. Constitution was a list of 12 propsed amendments. The elected representatives of the new American government voted on these proposals, one at a time, and 10 out of the 12 proposals received a majority of the votes that were cast.</td>
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I have seen enthusiasm growing among America's elected Mayors and Governors for political power that the U.S. Constitution doesn't give them. In short, they have become dictators, which I wrote about in <a href="http://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2012/07/why-dictatorships-are-always-bad.html">this essay</a>, written in July 2012 and in <a href="http://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2014/09/presidents-must-be-accountable-to-their.html">this essay</a>, written two years later, in August 2014. The first page states some universal political science principles tnat can be applidd to any country. The second page applies those prinvciples to the United States.<br />
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These are the first paragraphs of <a href="https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/coronavirus-in-boston-walsh-to-provide-update-to-response/2102827/">an April 5, 2020 news story</a> published by the NBC affiliate in Boston.<br />
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Boston Mayor Marty Walsh on Sunday issued a recommended curfew of 9 p.m. and asked all residents to wear a mask when leaving the house after the city saw its largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases.</div>
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The recommended curfew extends through 6 a.m. each morning and applies to all residents except essential workers, the mayor said. People are encouraged to utilize delivery services as much as possible after 9 p.m.</div>
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As evidence of the enthusiasm of the Mayor of Boston for the power of a dictator, this is the 11th paragraph of the same news story.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(13 , 13 , 13 , 0.9); font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">There is nothing that I won't do as Mayor of the City of Boston to protect our residents, and at this very critical time, we must do everything we can as Bostonians to protect one another. This is bigger than any one person - this is about the greater good of our people. Stay safe, stay inside, and let's get through this together." </span></blockquote>
He has no self-imposed limits on his power, which means he has no self-discipline. In addition, he has no respect for his own Oath of Office, which requires him to support and defend the United States Constitution<br />
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Just like a shocking number of other Mayors and Governors in America, he has either forgotten or deliberately ignored the immortal words of one of America's greatest Presidents, who has the honor of being one of only four men whose face is carved into Mt. Rushmore. These are the last sentences from a speech he gave <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/gettysburg-address">at the dedication of a new cemetary</a> whose first bodies came from a rencent battle.<br />
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But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate-we can not consecrate-we can not hallow-this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us-that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion-that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.</blockquote>
"... we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."<br />
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Government of, by, and for the people must sometimes be fought for because dictators like the Mayor of Boston are eager to have power that they should never have.<br />
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This is one of many links to <a href="https://voicesofdemocracy.umd.edu/lincoln-gettysburg-address-speech-text/">the text of this speech</a>. The full text is also carved into the back wall of the memorial to this great man, whose actions I am not worthy to try to copy.<br />
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<td>Tonight, I will defy this dictator. I will walk through Boston and the next-door city of Cambridge, the home of Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.). I will do it after 9pm, which is a violation of the Mayor's curfew, and I will blow a coach's whistle, similar to the one on the right.</td>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w1tZstRz4Jo/XouJTQ5TyJI/AAAAAAAANEg/AMgkfAQPIE4LW2Kb0qw9ggLHt6Q7gVgNQCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoBmI6t1F8V5aXn3-6O9MRnb-5p9LJyhZBQalkLjbT7FHg_DTlGb-45bz8dg2LwNbf8rq8DZddSI4pdDrqn9m8xLLgf2UsE8IZwTDwAryGRx_zO6dotGDgjbOphlEbrQitJQICRUfW7c4iVXPwx6pCHN82rguAcRidyzqCuUuf9ujLjwpUts3k5pGGiFQwnPn3XcMF34S5o9VnVWEMX5sMewjl3jpK_DYkc6wTywos1M1zTuj52X9Xc5p1a8ClMwQZJdE_G42YG82rBheQ-aZqqj8PoSRIA__80y6-kntZOaPNdH6BnC4qah9U50JeQ_tywri9D_ghZw9Q3bp8-ALPE6Qr7qq7_XMtzAOgyo0gym303hZyVq6h2pUI7GQ9a5jBEXixVF0I4F2Ok5Jy3qirfyHscR3Sa2q4DUvG389lNY8KzvDFrDib7Dc67w3cPp5f44T5JKTXvJZ2MkrZoAnz1uO_rIULYIdnetbJDeAq4qSrNOhggR7Tiuvnm1aOuqsPS0DJQmbLdGs2oAVSBEffb0nT9NQZ9zo8P5DWk9TvS1cgMMYtUWpRsjqVNWxucvuSTtzWHD3Jpx8VIy4rixAENL4AvBJeeIwz0wyJeu9AU/s1600/760055_image_01_red.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="276" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w1tZstRz4Jo/XouJTQ5TyJI/AAAAAAAANEg/AMgkfAQPIE4LW2Kb0qw9ggLHt6Q7gVgNQCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoBmI6t1F8V5aXn3-6O9MRnb-5p9LJyhZBQalkLjbT7FHg_DTlGb-45bz8dg2LwNbf8rq8DZddSI4pdDrqn9m8xLLgf2UsE8IZwTDwAryGRx_zO6dotGDgjbOphlEbrQitJQICRUfW7c4iVXPwx6pCHN82rguAcRidyzqCuUuf9ujLjwpUts3k5pGGiFQwnPn3XcMF34S5o9VnVWEMX5sMewjl3jpK_DYkc6wTywos1M1zTuj52X9Xc5p1a8ClMwQZJdE_G42YG82rBheQ-aZqqj8PoSRIA__80y6-kntZOaPNdH6BnC4qah9U50JeQ_tywri9D_ghZw9Q3bp8-ALPE6Qr7qq7_XMtzAOgyo0gym303hZyVq6h2pUI7GQ9a5jBEXixVF0I4F2Ok5Jy3qirfyHscR3Sa2q4DUvG389lNY8KzvDFrDib7Dc67w3cPp5f44T5JKTXvJZ2MkrZoAnz1uO_rIULYIdnetbJDeAq4qSrNOhggR7Tiuvnm1aOuqsPS0DJQmbLdGs2oAVSBEffb0nT9NQZ9zo8P5DWk9TvS1cgMMYtUWpRsjqVNWxucvuSTtzWHD3Jpx8VIy4rixAENL4AvBJeeIwz0wyJeu9AU/s1600/760055_image_01_red.png" /></a></div>
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I do not know whether I will be safe, walking through the streets of Boston and Cambridge tonight. A lot of things can happen, including the possibility that I could be arrested or killed, but whatever happens, I am doing this because I must do it. I named my Twitter account (@BennyTheKite) so that it would honor this man, who has been called the greatest American who was never a U.S. president.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qhGnf8Yh7kQ/XouM0q__GqI/AAAAAAAANEs/K8NueMs2MQg4VJwEAwaaR6P6x4vmCOt1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/0ff2250865863284833d2decced78f35--ben-franklin-quotes-founding-fathers-quotes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qhGnf8Yh7kQ/XouM0q__GqI/AAAAAAAANEs/K8NueMs2MQg4VJwEAwaaR6P6x4vmCOt1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/0ff2250865863284833d2decced78f35--ben-franklin-quotes-founding-fathers-quotes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is <a href="https://www.biography.com/scholar/benjamin-franklin">his biography</a> on the Biography Channel website.</div>
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David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-63808872773365363222020-02-28T15:47:00.000-08:002020-06-05T13:44:00.352-07:00Blog pages in a series, part 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The series in this set have a lot of pages. The first set has five pages plus one page with videos. The second set has nine pages, and a tenth page is more than half-finished. The third set has five pages plus an extra two pages that are related. <br />
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Public School Horror Stories</h2>
Each of the pages in this series has quotes of news stories and sometimes informal articles that document the bad behavior of teachers and administrators in America's public schools. The 4th and 5th pages in this series are focused on one topic within the general topic of American public education.<br />
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<li><a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/06/reasons-to-home-school-your-child.html" target="_blank">This page</a> documents the hypocrisy of the Michigan chapter of C.A.I.R., which demanded that Muslim students be allowed to take time away from classes to pray and which also demanded that Christian students could not participate in a Bible Study during school time. This page also has 30+ links to news stories about teachers who were arrested for sexual activity with their students plus another 30+ links to news stories about teachers who were <u>convicted</u> of these crimes.</li>
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<li><a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/12/reasons-to-home-school-your-child-part-2.html" target="_blank">This page</a> has a story about an elementary school in Manhattan that required its' students to learn the Arabic language. Teachers in different states were arrested for soliciting a prostitute. A school in Colorado criticized 7th grade students who had conservative political attitudes. Two schools sent students out in handcuffs.</li>
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<li><a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2014/10/reasons-to-home-school-your-child-part-3.html" target="_blank">This page</a> includes the story of a satanic group that wanted to distribute literature in a school system, various public schools that discouraged patriotism, one school that encouraged the desecration of an American flag, a teacher who forced a student to use his bare hands to unclog a urinal, and a section about dual-language public schools. A police officer used a taser on a violent student at a Utah public high school. A school nurse stole prescription medicine from students. One boy was not allowed to read his personal Bible during free time at school. A teacher showed an erotic film to her students. A teacher and his roommate were arrested for possession of illegal drugs that had a street value of $6.2 million.</li>
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<li><a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2015/07/reasons-to-home-school-your-child-part-4.html" target="_blank">This page</a> shows how some public schools, typically run by leftist activists, have overreacted when a young boy pretends to have a gun. Students have been suspended for activities that are clearly legal, including wearing an N.R.A. t-shirt.</li>
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<li><a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2016/01/reasons-to-home-school-your-child-part-5.html" target="_blank">This page</a> is about Common Core. It begins with a summary of the three categories of objections to it. Then, the page includes a YouTube video that shows how first-graders in one school district were taught how to write like a political activist.</li>
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<li><a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/09/videos-of-reasons-to-home-school-your.html" target="_blank">This extra page</a>, published in September 2013, before the publication of the second page in this series, has 23 YouTube videos. Most of them are a news story about a public school horror story.</li>
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Reelect Ted Cruz</h2>
The first page in this set was written in March 2017, although Google misdated it. Other pages were added later.<br />
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<li><a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2016/08/reelect-us-senator-ted-cruz-part-1.html" target="_blank">This page</a> is about his basic biography and his early career. It includes a few articles about one of his professors at Harvard Law School, Alan Dershowitz, who called him "brilliant". There is a 2003 press release about the end of his job as the Director of the Federal Trade Commission's Office of Policy Planning. There is a section about his personal faith and how he, as a U.S. Senator, helped a Christian woman who was being persecuted in the Sudan. Another section is about a dispute he had with the openly lesbian Mayor of Houston. Another section has videos of him listening to criticism.</li>
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<li><a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2017/03/re-elect-us-senator-ted-cruz-part-2.html" target="_blank">This page</a>, written in March 2017, is about him as an author. There are quotes from many of the articles he's written for journals that include Real Clear Politics, the Wall Street Journal, and the National Review. There is a large section about his best-selling book, "A Time for Truth", which the New York Times denied was a best-seller until the evidence was shown to them by many publishing professionals.</li>
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<li><a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2017/03/re-elect-us-senator-ted-cruz-part-3.html" target="_blank">This page, written in March 2017,</a> is about the November 2009 murder of some soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas and the fact that other soldiers were wounded. President Obama called it "workplace violence" and denied the wounded soldiers the medical benefits that they would've received if they had been awarded the Purple Heart, but Senator Cruz, who represents Texas in the Senate, began a multi-year project, with the help of other legislators, to change the law that President Obama had relied upon. He was successful. This page also shows some of his visits to military bases and one Navy ship in Texas.</li>
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<li><a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2017/03/re-elect-us-ted-senator-cruz-part-4.html" target="_blank">This page</a>, written in March 2017, is about his dedication to the Rule of Law, Due Process, and other principles that are embedded into the U.S. Constitution. He will support and defend these principles even when they're unpopular. He introduced a Constitutional amendment to prevent the U.S. Government from overturning state laws on marriage. This page also includes a section about Hillary Clinton's e-mail server, which he criticized in the Senate.<a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2017/04/re-elect-us-senator-ted-cruz-part-5.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></li>
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<li><a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2017/04/re-elect-us-senator-ted-cruz-part-5.html" target="_blank">This page</a>, written in April 2017, is about his principled opposition to legislation that claimed to give financial help to people who were hurt by Superstorm Sandy. This legislation included many unrelated financial benefits, sometimes called pork. The page also mentions his effort to get financial help for his home state of Texas when it was victimized by flooding.</li>
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<li><a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2017/04/re-elect-us-senator-ted-cruz-part-6.html" target="_blank">This page</a> has copies of tweets that he has made that show him interacting with various individuals and groups in his official capacity as a U.S. Senator. These groups include the March for Life (January 2017), Texas Wheat Producers (February 2017), the British Ambassador Kim Daroch (February 2017), and the Customs and Border Protection agency (February 2017), and some Boy Scouts (March 2017. This page was published in April 2017, but I have added many more tweets since then.</li>
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<li><a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2017/05/re-elect-us-senator-ted-cruz-part-7.html" target="_blank">This page</a> has copies of tweets that thanked Senator Cruz for helping them in some way. This page also has tweets from VIPs who complimented him. In May 2016, the Governor of Texas said that Ted was "the most conservative of all with a No. 1 ranking by American Conservative Union." The police chief in Pasadena, Texas said, "Had the opportunity to met Senator Ted Cruz, who has always been an advocate of law enforcement on the national level." This page was published in May 2017, but I have added a lot of tweets to it, also.</li>
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<li><a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2017/07/re-elect-us-senator-ted-cruz-part-8.html" target="_blank">This page</a> is about his effort to repair Obamacare early in 2017. Its' exchanges were failing. This was a clear sign that the law had created an unsustainable medical economy. <a href="https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/theresa-smith/cruz-free-govt-healthcare-wonderful-idea-world-where-you-believe-santa/" target="_blank">A July 2017 Christian News Service article</a> is quoted with this headline "Cruz: Free Health Care Is Wonderful in 'World' of 'Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and Pixie Fairies’".</li>
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<li><a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2017/08/re-elect-us-senator-ted-cruz-part-9.html" target="_blank">This page</a> is about the Senator's commitment to the religious liberty of all Americans. There are subsections. One is about a Supreme Court case based on a business called Hobby Lobby. The second section is about the Washington, D.C. City Council, which passed two City Ordinances that restricted the rights of religious-based health-care organizations. The third is about his support for a county clerk in Kentucky who
refused to process marriage licenses from two men or two women. The fourth section shows how he used religious liberty effectively as a campaign issue, and a companion section about the Democrat Party's hatred for organized religion. Thee is a brief section about a conversation between the Senator and a gay business owner, followed by his support for Pro-Life causes. The last section is a Supreme Court case involving a Lutheran Church.</li>
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In August 2017, a hurricane came into Texas. The first large city it hit was Houston. While it was still in the Gulf of Mexico, Senator Ted Cruz sent out, on his Twitter account, a series of tweets, some of them written in Spanish, to prepare the people of Texas, who he loves, for that disaster. They're copied onto these two blog pages.<br />
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<a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2017/09/senator-ted-cruz-helped-texas-deal-with.html" target="_blank">Page 1</a> covers the time period from August 17, 2017 to August 26, 2017.<br />
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<a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2017/09/senator-ted-cruz-helped-texas-deal-with_8.html" target="_blank">Page 2</a> covers the time period from August 27, 2017 to August 31, 2017, but I added more tweets that were made by Senator Cruz, starting in July 2018.<br />
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<h2>
Factions within America's political parties</h2>
Every major political party is like a large group that is formed for any reason. There will always be minor disagreements among its' members. Because the Democrat Party and the Republican Party have so many members, it would be impossible for every member of either party to agree on the best presidential candidate or to agree on the best policies for its' platform.<br />
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The pages listed below are arranged by the name of the party. These pages were written in a different order. The pages about Republican factions are labeled 1a, 1b, and 1c. The pages about Democrat factions are labeled 2a through 2g.<br />
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The Republican Party</h3>
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Page 1a</h4>
<a href="https://conserving-the-nation.blogspot.com/2017/12/diversity-in-american-politics-part-1.html" target="_blank">This page</a> starts with a brief history of the party and then discusses the faction that represents Donald Trump's family and their supporters, some of whom are so loyal, they would forgive him if he shot someone in cold blood on the streets of New York City.<br />
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The Republican Party has other factions, some of whom are loyal to the traditional Republican respect for law and order, and the Rule of Law, which states that everyone, even people who have a lot of charisma and supporters, need to obey the laws passed by state governments and the U.S. Government.<br />
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<td style="font-size: Small;">The law that he says he could disobey without any consequences in this video, recorded in Iowa on <nobr>January 23,</nobr> 2016, is the law that makes it a crime to murder people.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTACH1eVIaA" target="_blank">CNN video of the same event</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBOi7nfrd8k" target="_blank">CBS News video of the same event</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEonHJt_iqY" target="_blank">the NBC affiliate in Columbus, Ohio</a></td>
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Some of his supporters are still so loyal to him today, they will forgive him for anything, even cold-blooded murder.<br />
<br />
Page 1a also includes some information about another Republican family that has more conservative values. This is the Koch family, which was headed by two brothers, although one of them <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/david-koch-billionaire-conservative-activist-philanthropist-dies-79-n1045696" target="_blank">died in August 2019</a>.<br />
<br />
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<td style="font-size: Small;">In August 2017, I attended the last of 11 one-day events that were organized by one of the Koch brother's lobbying organizations, called Americans for Prosperity.<br />
<br />
This event was held in Richmond, Virginia. The speakers included Steve Forbes, the GOP candidate for Governor of Virginia, a U.S. Representative in Virginia, and one of the five F.C.C. Commissioners.<br />
<br />
I recorded videos of all of them and this video. </td>
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<br />
Page 1a also has information about another conservative faction within the Republican Party, the Tea Party. It is a movement, not a political party that is registered with <a href="https://www.fec.gov/" target="_blank">the U.S. Federal Elections Commission</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eruKVXs8lYk/XlqqTNyn7AI/AAAAAAAAM90/QRdS4nOWY1ExkoQZCxElIZ_bytN_HpdHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Tea-Party.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eruKVXs8lYk/XlqqTNyn7AI/AAAAAAAAM90/QRdS4nOWY1ExkoQZCxElIZ_bytN_HpdHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Tea-Party.png" width="200" /></a>Conservative principles were mentioned in a 2009 CNBC video on the page and explained in more detail in a 2010 video of a speech given by <a href="https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/10411" target="_blank">Michelle Bachmann</a>, who was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives at the time. Both videos are on the page.<br />
<br />
Page 1a continues with a long discussion of "Republicans who have been in office for along time", a group that is sometimes called "the Republican Establishment", then a discussion of the Mormon Church, a group that has many politically-conservative members, and then a discussion of Republicans like <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Booker-T-Washington" target="_blank">Booker T. Washington</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Luther-King-Jr" target="_blank">the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.</a>, who were advocates of civil rights within the party.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2KU1v8IkhR0/XlqrJGJUlCI/AAAAAAAAM-E/pVSvZaTEmXQuq21hp-n6kTnFKABO_YfEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/John%2BKasich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="375" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2KU1v8IkhR0/XlqrJGJUlCI/AAAAAAAAM-E/pVSvZaTEmXQuq21hp-n6kTnFKABO_YfEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/John%2BKasich.jpg" width="133" /></a>Page 1a continues with a discussion of a well-known Republican Governor, pictured on the right, who threatened to leave the party because his political views were more moderate than he saw within the party. This section also names a well-known conservative Republican commentator who <u>did</u> leave the party. Other people I know on Twitter describe themselves as having left the party. This section names a wealthy man who also left the Republican Party.<br />
<br />
This page ends with my commentary about the corruption of the former Chairman of the Republican Party, Reince Priebus, by presidential candidate Donald Trump.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Page 1b</h4>
<a href="https://conserving-the-nation.blogspot.com/2018/10/diversity-in-american-politics-part-1b.html" target="_blank">This page</a> begins with a look at the most effective Republican lobbying groups. It continues with the 2018 dispute between President Trump and the Chamber of Commerce over tariffs. The Chamber is a traditional Republican group because they represent business owners.<br />
<br />
This page then mentions a small faction called the Log Cabin Republicans, a 2018 spending bill in the House of Representatives, a dispute between the Club for Growth and a Republican member of the Senate. who was a big fan of President Trump. The Club tried to have another Republican challenge the sitting Senator.<br />
<br />
This page then mentions the fact that President Trump campaigned for the reelection of Senator Ted Cruz. His efforts were successful. The Senator was reelected in November 2018.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Page 1c</h4>
<a href="https://conserving-the-nation.blogspot.com/2019/12/diversity-in-american-politics-part-1c.html" target="_blank">This page</a> has more information about the Log Cabin Republicans and another group of gay Republicans. The page also examines the complex relationship between gays and a pedophile group called <a href="https://www.nambla.org/" target="_blank">the North American Man-Boy Love Association</a>.<br />
<br />
This page includes a tweet from James Woods, who used to be a Democrat, and it finishes with a large section about a Democrat who used to be a Governor. Because of his strong patriotism and his moderate political views on foreign policy and other issues, I recommended to the Democrat Party in 2014 that they make him a presidential candidate.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The Democrat Party</h3>
<h4>
Page 2a</h4>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3mL-41sLayk/Xlqy3MHxGII/AAAAAAAAM-c/7TODsuyPpxIkNvUs0EYt4kNc6YkIOF6hgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="160" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3mL-41sLayk/Xlqy3MHxGII/AAAAAAAAM-c/7TODsuyPpxIkNvUs0EYt4kNc6YkIOF6hgCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Label.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="https://conserving-the-nation.blogspot.com/2018/01/diversity-in-american-politics-part-2a.html" target="_blank">This page</a> begins with a clickable outline of all of the pages in this series, including the three pages about Republican factions. I then give a short description of the history of the Democrat Party, and I name some patriotic Democrats because they are one small but important faction in this party.<br />
<br />
The image on the left was sewn into the inside of clothing during the 1930s, when the U.S. President was Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, and when there was high unemployment in America. There is a large section about him.<br />
<br />
A large section on Page 2a also names F.D.R.'s successor, Harry Truman, as a patriotic Democrat. Another large section is about President John F. Kennedy, another patriotic Democrat because he defended America against Russian military aggression in Cuba in 1962. There is also a small section about President James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, who was an officer in the U.S. Navy, and a quote from a February 2019 article about former Vice-President Joe Biden, who was quoted as saying that he wanted a strong relationship between America and "her traditional allies".<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wuNayBumAj4/Xlq2ws1cGdI/AAAAAAAAM-o/XZf24GlJNJ00LanqY82Vlk1SWd4NW3_TgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Brian%2BSchweitzer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="279" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wuNayBumAj4/Xlq2ws1cGdI/AAAAAAAAM-o/XZf24GlJNJ00LanqY82Vlk1SWd4NW3_TgCEwYBhgL/s200/Brian%2BSchweitzer2.jpg" width="141" /></a>The page includes a tweet from a patriotic American who has millions of followers on Twitter, and then it ends with a large section about a former Governor pictured on the right, who is very patriotic and who has moderate views about foreign policy and other issues. He even has an N.R.A. membership.<br />
<br />
Because of these factors, <a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-democrats-best-choice-in-2016.html" target="_blank">I wrote a page in 2014</a> that asked the Democrat Party to nominate him for President.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Page 2b</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VjsrnKSvfYQ/XlrBXOibWSI/AAAAAAAAM-0/8qVaveoBzX0bm_m0M2EMf6nPc-TVRMjcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Blood-Feud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="137" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VjsrnKSvfYQ/XlrBXOibWSI/AAAAAAAAM-0/8qVaveoBzX0bm_m0M2EMf6nPc-TVRMjcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Blood-Feud.jpg" width="137" /></a></div>
This page begins with evidence that the Democrat Party has many factions. One piece of evidence is a late November 2018 Op-Ed in the Sacramento Bee that includes this sentence. "And these intraparty rivalries are often quite nasty." The page includes a large section about the rivalry between the Clinton family and the Obama family, as described by this best-selling book.<br />
<br />
There is a small section that says that these two families settled their differences after the 2016 election by uniting to attack Donald Trump, who they correctly believed would be the presidential nominee of the Republican Party.<br />
<br />
This page has a large section about Classic Liberals, a group that is defined by their willingness to be open-minded to new ideas. For contrast, the page documents how some people have attacked the supporters of Donald Trump by grabbing MAGA hats from their heads, sometimes without any resistance, which shows the violently intolerant nature of these people.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1i_htIapYvs/XlrSVmmWiAI/AAAAAAAAM_M/PJn9zsaH3r8JVjtmX54OZcmY45b2I2k_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Blue-Dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="438" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1i_htIapYvs/XlrSVmmWiAI/AAAAAAAAM_M/PJn9zsaH3r8JVjtmX54OZcmY45b2I2k_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Blue-Dog.jpg" width="160" /></a>The page continues with a large section about Democrats who have moderate economic views. Some of them are part of a well-organized group called the Blue Dog Democrats. This section has a sub-section about 2013 legislation called Wall Street Reform. It was co-sponsored by a moderate Republican Senator named <a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/christopher_dodd/300034" target="_blank">Chris Dodd</a> and a moderate Democrat U.S. Representative named <a href="https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/F/FRANK,-Barney-(F000339)/" target="_blank">Barney Frank</a>.<br />
<br />
This page ends with a large section about the efforts of a new Republican President and the Republican Congress to reform the Wall Street Reform law. <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-06/u-s-senate-takes-first-step-to-pass-bill-overhauling-dodd-frank" target="_blank">A March 2018 Bloomberg story</a> about this effort has a section headline titled "Divided Democrats".<br />
<br />
<h4>
Page 2c</h4>
<a href="https://conserving-the-nation.blogspot.com/2018/03/diversity-in-american-politics-part-2c.html" target="_blank">This page</a> has more information about the Blue Dog Democrats, who have moderate economic views. There is a large section about Democrats who are forced by reelection pressure to soften their views because a lot of their voters are Republicans. There is also a small section about the first Thanksgiving, because good harvests of food depended on a capitalist economy.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MFdPENvl92Y/XlrSvmvqwCI/AAAAAAAAM_U/7rPplzRXqjcWp7uE6vgSCInqkGcfKQC7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Zell-Miller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MFdPENvl92Y/XlrSvmvqwCI/AAAAAAAAM_U/7rPplzRXqjcWp7uE6vgSCInqkGcfKQC7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Zell-Miller.jpg" width="133" /></a>This page has a large section about individual Democrats who have had public disagreements with the policies of their party. Each of these people has a small section. They include <a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/zell_miller/300074" target="_blank">Zell Miller</a>. seen on the left, <a href="https://www.biography.com/actor/roseanne-barr" target="_blank">Roseanne Barr</a>, and there is a very long section about President Bill Clinton, who reformed welfare and deregulated America's banks.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Page 2d</h4>
<a href="https://conserving-the-nation.blogspot.com/2018/05/diversity-in-american-politics-part-2d.html" target="_blank">This page</a> is about Democrats who don't like Capitalism because they prefer Socialism or Communism. Capitalism and Socialism are compared early in the page, and then there is a section about Democratic Socialists, who secretly admire Karl Marx<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ct7TsrwG3dE/XlrQH1Gf2SI/AAAAAAAAM_A/CXBtKYJfA-IIeVnrK8yx_nFZVVJELlVvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/UN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ct7TsrwG3dE/XlrQH1Gf2SI/AAAAAAAAM_A/CXBtKYJfA-IIeVnrK8yx_nFZVVJELlVvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/UN.jpg" /></a>There is a large section about the U.N. because their Agenda 21 is unmistakably anti-capitalist. This program states that people have a right to eat, which turns farmers and other food producers into slaves who must keep working, regardless of the economic conditions that they live with.<br />
<br />
There is a section about a Socialist website that is misnamed because many of their issues and many of the headlines on their printed newspaper are political, not economic. An accurate description of them is that they are a Marxist organization.<br />
This page has a large section about a freshman House member called Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a section about an organization called World Hunger, which like the U.N.'s Agenda 21, insists that people have a right to eat.<br />
<br />
The page also names, as an anti-capitalist organization, a college in
California that invited members of the Venezuelan Government to speak
about their economic initiatives. This subsection includes two tweets
from U.S .Senator Marco Rubio, who criticized this college for their
invitation.<br />
The page also names other Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama, and Bernie Sanders, who have been advocates for Socialism. Thee is a short section about college students who were interviewed on-camera. A YouTube video shows their satisfaction with Socialism and then their inability to define the word.<br />
<br />
This page shows how some poor people have gained wealth. There is a short section about the current Chinese dictator and another small section about the empty promises of Socialism.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Page 2e</h4>
<a href="https://conserving-the-nation.blogspot.com/2018/07/diversity-in-american-politics-part-2e.html" target="_blank">This page</a> is about Democrats who don't like democracy because they prefer street violence that is led by unelected radicals. The page begins with a dictionary definition of the word "democracy", which emphasizes leadership by the people "Demos" in Greek. When radicals plan a protest demonstration or a march, there is no input by any large group of voters on their plan, so there is no democracy, which was first developed in Ancient Greece.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-obamF9Ldyww/XlrbbW04LwI/AAAAAAAAM_g/aje_EiuDGS4DRr5_z1QQ7-wwj2JKtLY7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Ancient-Greece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-obamF9Ldyww/XlrbbW04LwI/AAAAAAAAM_g/aje_EiuDGS4DRr5_z1QQ7-wwj2JKtLY7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Ancient-Greece.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The page mentions an alternative to a democracy, in the form of a dictatorship, including the explicit "dictatorship of the proletariat", which was stated by Karl Marx. There is a section about U.S .Senator Elizabeth Warren, who <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/elizabeth-warren-i-created-occupy-wall-street" target="_blank">publicly stated her support</a> for a street demonstration called Occupy Wall Street.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Page 2f</h4>
<a href="https://conserving-the-nation.blogspot.com/2018/07/diversity-in-american-politics-part-2f.html" target="_blank">This page</a> names some organizations, usually supportive of the Democrat Party, that don't approve of the basic principles of a democracy, which are named in the previous page.<br />
<br />
The city council in one California city allowed each of their members to choose members of various commissions, thus violating the right of the people to vote for people to serve on those commissions.<br />
<br />
Some colleges have refused to provide adequate protection when a conservative student group invites a conservative to speak to their group. Planned protests have resulted in the President of that college cancelling the appearances of those speakers.<br />
<br />
Students have assaulted other students without any consequences. This is documented by videos of the violence.<br />
<br />
Free speech was enforced by actions taken by the U.S. President a U.S. Senator, a U.S. Governor, and the U.S. Justice Department.<br />
<br />
There are sections about these organizations.<br />
<ul>
<li>the American Civil Liberties Union, which often ignores the civil liberties of political conservatives,</li>
<br />
<li>the Democratic Socialists of America,</li>
<br />
<li>Antifa, a group of vigilantes,</li>
<br />
<li>the Sunrise Movement, a new group on the political left, and</li>
<br />
<li>two students of a high school in Florida who became anti-gun activists when someone murdered some of their fellow students</li>
</ul>
This page ends with a discussion of the future of the Democrat Party.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Page 2g</h4>
<a href="https://conserving-the-nation.blogspot.com/2018/08/diversity-in-american-politics-part-2g.html" target="_blank">This page</a> begins with news stories that show how two radical Democrats, Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, lost some of the popularity that they had in 2016. The page continues with more information about the Blue Dog Democrats, who have moderate views on economic issues. Finally, a well-known gay man asks all of the factions in the Democrat Party to stop fighting with each other. This plea is similar to one made by Rodney King, whose 1991 arrest led to riots in Los Angeles, mostly because his arrest was videotaped.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Future pages in this series</h2>
An unfinished page will show that at least three of America's minor parties also have factions. These parties are the Green Party, the Socialist Party, and the Communist Party. When I publish this page, it will be labeled Page 3.</div>
</div>
David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-80687988471394601342020-02-21T15:46:00.001-08:002020-02-22T13:06:08.467-08:00Blog pages in a series, part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
These pages have YouTube videos that are part of a theme. Sometimes, the whole theme is contained on one page, but other times, the theme shows up on multiple pages. These pages are arranged in chronological order. The first page listed was published the earliest.<br />
<br />
I try to update the viewer numbers for the videos in each set after a year has passed since the last update, but sometimes a year and a half passes since the last update. If one video has had a large percentage change in its' viewership since the last update, I will keep a record of the viewer numbers during each update.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, a video will have such a large increase in its' viewership, it will end up with more viewers than other videos that were listed higher on the page. When that happens, I will adjust the order of the videos to maintain the ranking.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
International Talent Shows</h2>
The pages in this section show people competing in shows like America's Got Talent and the X-Factor, except that they're competing all around the world. Some of these videos show the contestants talking with the judges in languages other than English. Some of these videos show people dancing, doing magic tricks, working as a ventriloquist, and showing other talents.<br />
<br />
I try to update the viewer numbers once a year for these pages, but sometimes, the updates are made more than a year after the last update. <br />
<br />
<h3>
Page 1</h3>
All of the 21 videos on <a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-world-has-talent.html" target="_blank">this page</a> have been watched more than 40 million times. The most-watched video has been watched 241 million times. as of the February 2020 update.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Page 2</h3>
All of the 21 videos on <a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-world-has-more-talent.html" target="_blank">this page</a> have been watched a minimum of 4 million times. Any video that has more than 40 million viewers will be moved to the first page.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Popular Videos</h2>
The pages in this section have videos with a wide variety of subjects. Some are homemade and planned, some are the records of unplanned events, and some are scenes from Hollywood movies. <br />
<br />
I try to update the viewer numbers once a year for these pages, but sometimes, the updates are made more than a year after the last update.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Page 1</h3>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lw6Q-CRP36s/XlBVA2E0LTI/AAAAAAAAM4A/BahdVITzQPMBvfv0q1Ca2WobaqJ-lbZRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Saddam.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lw6Q-CRP36s/XlBVA2E0LTI/AAAAAAAAM4A/BahdVITzQPMBvfv0q1Ca2WobaqJ-lbZRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Saddam.jpeg" width="200" /></a>All of the 23 videos on <a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/08/very-popular-videos.html" target="_blank">this page</a> have been watched from 5 million to 15 million times, although there are links at the bottom of the page to videos that have less readership. I still recommend those videos.<br />
<br />
The topics on this page include Saddam Hussein's last moments before he was hung, trick shots performed on a pool table, a store security camera that recorded the unsuccessful attempt to rob a gas station, and a woman who briefly came out of a long coma with the help of a new drug.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Page 2</h3>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PJvXLCEI8uE/XlBVbOV0toI/AAAAAAAAM4I/0r-VIxo5OwQWAW_ow_w4WlfcvIqjk3P4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Tonight-Show.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="112" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PJvXLCEI8uE/XlBVbOV0toI/AAAAAAAAM4I/0r-VIxo5OwQWAW_ow_w4WlfcvIqjk3P4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Tonight-Show.jpg" width="200" /></a>All of the 21 videos on <a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/07/more-very-popular-videos.html" target="_blank">this page</a> have been watched from 15 to 30 million times. The topics include a woman in England who weighs 610 lbs. (her 11-year-old daughter performs some grooming on her), a collection of short videos of babies who taste lemons and limes, Robin Williams and Jonathan Winters on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, a U.S. Marine Corps sniper doing his job, and an Uber driver who registered a Mercedes car but who sometimes uses a two-seat Lamborghini to pick up passengers.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Page 3</h3>
All of the 32 videos on <a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/11/extremely-popular-videos.html" target="_blank">this page</a> have been watched more than 30 million times.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n2TUYbmTifw/XlBWBAbuTGI/AAAAAAAAM4Q/lmsQvvSJpo4fff7R6j7uD-3_1qIOtWIGACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Two-Heads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="800" height="186" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n2TUYbmTifw/XlBWBAbuTGI/AAAAAAAAM4Q/lmsQvvSJpo4fff7R6j7uD-3_1qIOtWIGACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Two-Heads.jpg" width="200" /></a>These topics include a 6-year-old girl that has played the piano at the White House, a 6-year-old boy who has played the violin at an André Rieu concert, two surprise marriage proposals, a woman with two heads, an expert belly dancer, a 60-year-old man who is friends with a polar bear, and a python that eats a whole alligator.<br />
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The most-watched video in this set of three pages is a one-man show about the evolution of dance. This 6-minute video has been watched over <nobr>300 million</nobr> times.<br />
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<h2>
My Favorite Music</h2>
The videos on these four pages are all music videos. Some of them are live performances. Others are heavily-edited collections of film clips and still photos. Others, however, simply combine one still photo of an album cover with music from a store-bought CD.<br />
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Most of the music in this collection is early Rock and Roll, but I also like late 1950s Doo-Wop music, some country songs, some jazz music, and some classical music, typically played by an orchestra. Some of the songs on these pages are deliberately funny and even silly, such as a song that is often heard on Halloween about a party with Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Wolfman. A few music videos are copied from movies. One of the most watched videos was taken from the movie "Grease", starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nlzchJhYjCU/Xk_5rS2reYI/AAAAAAAAM2U/-7FDHAupac84BZHmp63HNmnzlbFx3hLhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Rolling-Stone-Mag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1177" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nlzchJhYjCU/Xk_5rS2reYI/AAAAAAAAM2U/-7FDHAupac84BZHmp63HNmnzlbFx3hLhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Rolling-Stone-Mag.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>
Any performer or group who is in <a href="https://www.rockhall.com/" target="_blank">the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame</a> or <a href="https://countrymusichalloffame.org/" target="_blank">the Country Music Hall of Fame</a> has a link to that page in the description of the video. Some songs on these lists appear on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The bottom of Page 1 of this series names and links to the top five songs on this list.<br />
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The #1 song on Rolling Stone's list is <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-151127/bob-dylan-like-a-rolling-stone-2-54028/" target="_blank">Like a Rolling Stone, sung by Bob Dylan</a>. The description of this song was written by Jay-Z. I disagree with him. I think the song is too serious. I prefer songs that can be listened to as entertainment, not because they inspire social change.<br />
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Every video on every page has been watched millions of times.<br />
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<h3>
Page 1</h3>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfcDNo-AZJU/XlATTyQz1-I/AAAAAAAAM2o/8sumWqSKNS4vDXFBqy4zNGMGdB_Br0i9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Whitney.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="763" height="148" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfcDNo-AZJU/XlATTyQz1-I/AAAAAAAAM2o/8sumWqSKNS4vDXFBqy4zNGMGdB_Br0i9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Whitney.jpeg" width="200" /></a>All of the music videos on <a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-favorite-music-part-one.html" target="_blank">this page</a> have been watched from one to five million times each. The performers include Sam Cooke, Whitney Houston (pictured on the right), Anne Murray, Brenda Lee, Ray Charles, and Pat Boone. The Beach Boys have three songs on this page. One video shows an unusual song because the "music" is played by a manual typewriter, with the help of an orchestra.<br />
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The description of the Connie Francis video includes her page on the Biography Channel and her IMDb page. The description of Mahalia Jackson's music video also includes a link to her page on the Biography Channel.<br />
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<h3>
Page 2</h3>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IKqa8mpYmeQ/XlATryUfExI/AAAAAAAAM2w/4LeSPGfZahc7xlBQYNt2aLNdbZAbsNXwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Platters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="251" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IKqa8mpYmeQ/XlATryUfExI/AAAAAAAAM2w/4LeSPGfZahc7xlBQYNt2aLNdbZAbsNXwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Platters.jpg" width="119" /></a>All of the music videos on <a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-favorite-music-part-two.html" target="_blank">this page</a> has been watched five to ten million times each. The performers include Roger Miller, Ray Charles, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Chicago, and Ricky Nelson. Two Doo-Wop groups, The Isley Brothers and The Platters, pictured on the left, have a video on this page.<br />
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A live performance of God Bless America, sung by Kate Smith, is also on the page. A silly song called Popcorn is also on the page.<br />
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<h3>
Page 3</h3>
All of the music videos on <a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-favorite-music-part-three.html" target="_blank">this page</a> have been watched from ten to twenty-five million times each. The Beatles and The Beach Boys have three songs each on this page. There are two videos of the song "Proud Mary", sung once by Tina Turner with her husband Ike and a live 2009 performance by Tina without her husband. Other performers include Diana Ross, Charley Pride, Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra, The Monkees, and a man who plays boogie on a piano inside a shopping mall. The #1 song on this page is a famous song from the 1938 movie "The Wizard of Oz".<br />
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<h3>
Page 4</h3>
All of the 38 music videos on <a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2014/08/my-favorite-musc-part-four.html" target="_blank">this page</a> have been watched more than 25 million times. This page includes four Beatles songs and five Elvis Presley songs. There are five Doo-Wop songs on this list, one each from The Temptations, The Drifters, The Ronettes, The Platters, and The Crystals. Other performers include Aretha Franklin, The Righteous Brothers, Chuck Berry, Led Zeppelin, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, The Doors, and Johnny Cash.<br />
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One music video, with 31 million views as of March 2019, was recorded during a live performance by Simon and Garfunkel in New York City's Central Park.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gdhSbnN7Bw/XlAVLxiRl-I/AAAAAAAAM28/1f4iOwMmTxUdbkTCpu95R3zT8do84jLFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Dave-Brubeck.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gdhSbnN7Bw/XlAVLxiRl-I/AAAAAAAAM28/1f4iOwMmTxUdbkTCpu95R3zT8do84jLFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Dave-Brubeck.jpeg" width="200" /></a>One music video, with 60 million views as of March 2019, is a small-band jazz group headed by Dave Brubeck (see the photo on the right) that plays a quiet tune without any singers. This song, "Take Five", was on the jazz charts and the popular music charts for a long time.<br />
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One music video on this page, with over 127 million views as of March 2019, was sung by Frank Sinatra's daughter.<br />
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The most-watched video in this set is the last scene of the movie "Grease". It has over 330 million views as of March 2019.<br />
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<h2>
Christmas Music</h2>
This series was published in December 2013. Most of the music is copied from a CD. I update the viewer numbers once every year, and usually in early December, but one year, I did the update in late November. Some of the music is sacred music, appropriate for a church service, but other music was recorded by individuals and groups who wanted to sell extra records and CDs in December. Two videos show Christmas music sung inside a shopping mall.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGxbYxtg4kI/XlASa6xYUHI/AAAAAAAAM2g/LcMMIyy2bIQe90xc2fTmh2FJMahPmTorQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Chipmunks-Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGxbYxtg4kI/XlASa6xYUHI/AAAAAAAAM2g/LcMMIyy2bIQe90xc2fTmh2FJMahPmTorQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Chipmunks-Christmas.jpg" width="200" /></a>This set of videos also includes some silly songs, including one recorded by The Chipmunks, one about Snoopy fighting in a biplane battle, one about a woman who sings, tongue-in-cheek, about Santa giving her some very nice presents, and one about someone's grandmother who was in an accident that involved Santa's sleigh.<br />
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One woman, who was a regular performer in a Las Vegas hotel many years ago, sang "The Twelve Days of Christmas", with altered lyrics. One of her early presents in the song was an alcoholic beverage, so every time she sang a verse, she pretended to get more drunk. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U5X0EPbougg/XlAdU2hTawI/AAAAAAAAM3I/YuNXkpLQOyM2XTBgenJFciw3S-KGwzzOACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Bing-Crosby-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1178" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U5X0EPbougg/XlAdU2hTawI/AAAAAAAAM3I/YuNXkpLQOyM2XTBgenJFciw3S-KGwzzOACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Bing-Crosby-2.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>
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The best-selling song in human history was first recorded in December 1941 by Bing Crosby, shown on the right. One reason why it sold so well then and still sells now is because it gives comfort to deployed servicemen who miss their families. Wikipedia's page that lists <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_singles" target="_blank">the best-selling singles</a> proves this. <a href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bing-crosby-introduces-white-christmas-to-the-world" target="_blank">This page of the History Channel</a> commemorates the first time this song was released, on Christmas in that year as his gift to the world.<br />
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<h3>
Page 1</h3>
Every video on <a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/12/popular-christmas-videos.html" target="_blank">this page</a> has been watched from one to five million times. The description of "Sleigh Ride", an instrumental song (no vocals) includes links to seven other videos of the same song, performed by other people. One video shows a parade during December at Disney World in Florida.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VvCDUg_hdH4/XlAhK9Ii1II/AAAAAAAAM3U/VL6iH4LaFck2wUHGwZ7l4_k4tJyw40dPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Jim-Reeves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VvCDUg_hdH4/XlAhK9Ii1II/AAAAAAAAM3U/VL6iH4LaFck2wUHGwZ7l4_k4tJyw40dPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Jim-Reeves.jpg" width="200" /></a>Another video shows President Obama's dog walking through part of the White House. President Obama and Michelle spent seven of their eight Christmases in Hawaii. This is documented on <a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2016/03/barak-obama-is-not-christian.html" target="_blank">this blog page</a>. Two songs on this page, "Silver Bells" and "An Old Christmas Card", were sung by a country singer named Jim Reeves, shown on the left. This is <a href="https://countrymusichalloffame.org/artist/jim-reeves/" target="_blank">his page on the Country Music Hall of Fame</a>.<br />
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<h3>
Page 2</h3>
Every video on <a href="http://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/12/more-popular-christmas-videos.html" target="_blank">this page</a> has been watched between five and fifteen million times. This page includes the music that is heard during a half-hour movie, starting the characters in the Peanuts comic strip. This page also includes another song that is the basis for a much-loved half-hour children's television show, called "Frosty the Snowman".<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qpJ5q6ky-8c/XlAo8RA4A5I/AAAAAAAAM3g/NyKv_h5dEvgLzMllcJqEOGXSMi3rZNv0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Gene-Autry.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qpJ5q6ky-8c/XlAo8RA4A5I/AAAAAAAAM3g/NyKv_h5dEvgLzMllcJqEOGXSMi3rZNv0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Gene-Autry.jpeg" width="200" /></a>There are two videos that have songs sung by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gene-Autry" target="_blank">Gene Autry</a>, shown on the right. He wrote and sang "Here Comes Santa Claus" in 1947, and he sang a song written by <a href="https://www.songhall.org/profile/Johnny_Marks" target="_blank">Johnny Marks</a>, who is in the Songwriter's Hall of Fame because he wrote a lot of much-loved Christmas music. That song is "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer".<br />
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One video on this page has a traditional Christmas carol called "Silent Night", which was originally intended to be sung during a Catholic mass. The video shows Beyoncé singing it during a network television show that airs every morning, but the bottom of the page has links to videos of 24 other people, including Elvis, the Boy's Choir of Harlem, the New York City Children's Chorus, Andy Williams, Whitney Houston, Connie Francis, Aretha Franklin, and Connie Francis, all singing the same song.<br />
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<h3>
Page 3</h3>
All of the 17 songs on <a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/12/even-more-popular-christmas-videos.html" target="_blank">this page</a> have been watched more than fifteen million times. The most-watched video, a song sung by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mariah-Carey" target="_blank">Mariah Carey</a>, was been watched almost 400 million times as of the last annual update in December 2019. The performers include Nat King Cole, The Jackson 5, Elvis, José Feliciano, and Brenda Lee. One video, with 16 million views as of the December 2019 update, has a collection of 15 songs. One video shows a light-hearted performance of "The 12 Days of Christmas" by an all-male group called Straight No Chaser, shown below.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TjHj4OVlu0A/XlAuh9avWeI/AAAAAAAAM3s/QrFs7HQqQ_ElvQr9Q57vx9EHzMscAJx9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Straight-No-Chaser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TjHj4OVlu0A/XlAuh9avWeI/AAAAAAAAM3s/QrFs7HQqQ_ElvQr9Q57vx9EHzMscAJx9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Straight-No-Chaser.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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One video shows a flash mob that sang "The Halleluliah Chorus" inside a shopping mall. That video has been watched 53 million times since it was uploaded in November 2010. A video of "Let it Snow", sung by Dean Martin, has been watched 121 million times as of the December 2019 update, but because this song is now "controversial", that video has been watched seven million <u>more</u> times in the last two months.<br />
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<br />
<h2>
Other pages that have videos</h2>
These pages don't have enough videos to be shown on multiple pages, but each page has many videos.<br />
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<h3>
Happy Valentine's Day!</h3>
<a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/02/happy-valentines-day.html" target="_blank">This page</a> was published on February 14, 2013. It has a set of four videos about military life.<br />
<ul>
<li>a video of a surprise to a sailor who was commissioned as an officer without any advance notice</li>
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<li>a video of the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon performing in front of a large crowd</li>
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<li>a video, produced by the Army National Guard, of part of the Ranger school</li>
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<li>a video of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird pilots</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vb2zgj0kwXE/XlBrrNRMwyI/AAAAAAAAM40/a6i327JZRLQxDFmWHFaU5ZtEnpvkR9xLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Soldie%2BPpraying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="218" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vb2zgj0kwXE/XlBrrNRMwyI/AAAAAAAAM40/a6i327JZRLQxDFmWHFaU5ZtEnpvkR9xLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Soldie%2BPpraying.jpg" width="140" /></a>This page also includes a short video, less than a minute and a half, that has some inspiring words from President Ronald Reagan, as well as a printed copy of a soldier's prayer and this photo of a soldier who is praying.<br />
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<h3>
Happy Mother's Day!</h3>
<a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/05/happy-mothers-day.html" target="_blank">This page</a>, written on Mother's Day in 2013, has four videos of female members of the U.S. military making a surprise reunion with their families in a public place. Two of those four videos were recorded in a football stadium. The page also shows two reunions between women who were adopted and the women who gave birth to them.<br />
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<h3>
Surprise Reunions in Military Families</h3>
Thee are 16 YouTube videos on <a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2014/03/greater-love-hath-no-man.html" target="_blank">this page</a> that show military families who didn't know that one of their family members, who has been deployed to another country, would be visiting them. One video shows a woman who had no idea that her brother was able to obtain a one-day leave of absence so that he could attend her wedding.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bnsqIxi2ulg/XlGS2m7JOEI/AAAAAAAAM5k/xQGJ7ch6su84AsTxJxyMu-snc9qkw1usQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/SOTU-Reunion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="211" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bnsqIxi2ulg/XlGS2m7JOEI/AAAAAAAAM5k/xQGJ7ch6su84AsTxJxyMu-snc9qkw1usQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/SOTU-Reunion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Sometime after the 2020 President's State of the Union speech, I added a short video that shows the reunion, in the House Chamber, between this U.S. Serviceman and the wife and child who thought that he was still out of the country.<br />
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One more reunion video is also on the page. It shows a surprise reunion that took place in England between a girl who sang a song with other girls, with the Queen watching, followed by the surprise reunion with her father, who is a member of the British military.<br />
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This page has a special section at the bottom of the page. I ask discharged U.S. Servicemen and -women to consider running for public office. Brian Mast, pictured on the left, was discharged from the U.S. Army when a bomb took both of his legs, but after he was released from Walter Reed Military Hospital, he decided to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.<br />
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<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>This video was produced by his 2016 campaign for the U.S. House. It shows him literally running, with two prosthetic running blades.<br />
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He won that election and was reelected in 2018. This is a link to <a href="https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20181106/gops-brian-mast-wins-re-election-over-democrat-lauren-baer" target="_blank">a November 2018 article in the Palm Beach Post</a>.</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gHXHF2qTwNs/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gHXHF2qTwNs?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
</td>
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<h3>
Animal videos</h3>
I wrote <a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2017/10/popular-animal-videos.html" target="_blank">this page</a> in October 2017. It has 25 videos. Three of them show animals (a snake, a hermit crab, and a lobster) throwing off their outside skin or shell. Three other videos show animals (a tiger, a dolphin, and a giraffe) giving birth.<br />
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Other videos show animals in unusual environments. One shows a young fox who had its' head stuck in a tin can. Another videos show two foxes on a backyard trampoline. Another video shows a young deer that accidentally went into a backyard swimming pool. Another video shows how a young woman in Cambodia catches eels for her family to eat.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J_HxcRkmQJE/XlBUPOCWEkI/AAAAAAAAM34/nDml8mA0HHkZYAx8krRB9LWOtyfb07i0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Fugu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="307" height="130" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J_HxcRkmQJE/XlBUPOCWEkI/AAAAAAAAM34/nDml8mA0HHkZYAx8krRB9LWOtyfb07i0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Fugu.jpg" width="200" /></a>Two videos are about a fish that is sometimes caught by Japanese fishermen (see the photo). Parts of its' body contains a poison that is deadly in very small amounts, yet it is sometimes served in Japanese restaurants after being cooked by experts who have a special license. Some Japanese fishermen catch this fish and bring it to their wives, who cook it without this special training. Sometimes, the results are tragic.<br />
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The top of this page states that wild animals often have a violent death. Some of these videos show it, but the video with the largest viewership on this page shows a man giving a banana to a monkey. That video has been watched 276 million times as of the February 2020 update.<br />
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<h3>
Television Commercials</h3>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gz8IeZEoANg/XlBnmQFQCqI/AAAAAAAAM4o/QDbobdFI0cU3jVVLVR4Br7Fz3qdja8egACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Centraal-Beheer.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="195" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gz8IeZEoANg/XlBnmQFQCqI/AAAAAAAAM4o/QDbobdFI0cU3jVVLVR4Br7Fz3qdja8egACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Centraal-Beheer.gif" /></a>There are 26 videos on <a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/08/popular-television-commercials.html" target="_blank">this page</a>. All of them were made to advertise a product or a service offered by a company. Most of these companies are based in countries outside of the United States. Two of these companies are an insurance company, based in the Netherlands, whose corporate logo is shown on the right.<br />
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Most of these commercials are very entertaining. Some of them don't tell you what the product is until the last seconds. My description of some of these videos doesn't announce the name of the advertiser because I don't want to spoil your fun when you watch the video.<br />
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A few of the commercials involve sexual situations, but they always do it with humor. For example, at the beginning of one commercial, a woman is lying in bed, alone, when a dog enters and licks one of her feet. This excites the woman because she thinks that her husband is doing the licking. In another commercial, a woman sits on an office copier, with her skirt raised, to take a picture of her bottom, but when the copier malfunctions, she kicks it with the back of her feet while she still sits on top of it. This commercial is for a company that repairs copiers.<br />
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<h3>
Politics</h3>
All of the 20 videos on this page have a political theme. Four of them are about Michelle Obama, four others are about Ronald Reagan, and six of them are about Barak Obama, but other videos are about politics without mentioning politicians. These 20 videos have all been watched a minimum of one million times. The most-watched video has been watched 20 million times.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7hy8bgCgBl0/XlBhdFphlLI/AAAAAAAAM4c/YlDJsb4Dwg8ficU4UP0e_qsKqcVJ8WyigCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/All_in_family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7hy8bgCgBl0/XlBhdFphlLI/AAAAAAAAM4c/YlDJsb4Dwg8ficU4UP0e_qsKqcVJ8WyigCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/All_in_family.jpg" width="154" /></a>For example, one video has a scene from the television show <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066626/" target="_blank">All in the Family</a>, which was on the air from 1971-79. In this video, the character called Archie Bunker discusses politics with his wife. In another video, a Louisiana State Senator explains why he switched from the Democrat Party to the Republican Party. He has since left public office, but he is now part of the executive team inside the Louisiana Republican Party.<br />
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Another video shows brief interviews with <a href="https://www.biography.com/political-figure/sarah-palin" target="_blank">Sarah Palin</a>, who was a Vice-Presidential candidate in 2008. Another video shows an on-air comment made by <a href="https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Maher" target="_blank">Bill Maher</a> on his own show soon after the 9/11 attack. His network cancelled his show soon afterward. Another video shows a comedian named <a href="https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Skelton" target="_blank">Red Skelton</a>, who is in <a href="http://www.charliethejugglingclown.com/ichof_inductees.htm" target="_blank">the International Clown Hall of Fame</a> and <a href="http://www.radiohalloffame.com/red-skelton" target="_blank">the Radio Hall of Fame</a>. He hosted a show which premiered in 1951 on one network, but it moved to another network. One day, he explained the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance.<br />
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<h3>
Reasons to Home-School Your Child</h3>
<a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/09/videos-of-reasons-to-home-school-your.html" target="_blank">This page</a> is part of a six-page set of essays about public-school horror stories, but this page is the only page that has videos. There are currently 23 YouTube videos on the page. They all show inappropriate behavior by teachers or other public school personnel. Similar stories are shown in the form of quoted news stories on the other pages in that series. You can find that series by clicking the "Education" tag at the bottom of the page.<br />
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At the moment, one video in this set is unavailable, but every so often, I find more videos to replace the ones that cannot be shown for whatever reason.<br />
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<h2>
Special Note</h2>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oD_htqLnq7k/XlGPEI4vK5I/AAAAAAAAM5Y/lab7N0-YSkEr066jITG9kxnH9YTlREn_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Ted-Cruz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1400" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oD_htqLnq7k/XlGPEI4vK5I/AAAAAAAAM5Y/lab7N0-YSkEr066jITG9kxnH9YTlREn_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Ted-Cruz.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
A third page in this series will be added soon. It will have links to a series about factions within the two main political parties in America and links to a nine-page set of essays that helped to reelect Senator Ted Cruz to his second term.<br />
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When a hurricane was approaching Houston in 2017, the Senator sent out many tweets, some of them written in Spanish, to prepare the people of Texas for this disaster. Those tweets are copied onto two extra blog pages. All of these pages will be linked in the next page in this series.</div>
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David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-20593247209735749822020-02-19T11:47:00.000-08:002020-03-07T13:54:09.189-08:00Blog pages in a series, part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I became a blogger in June 2012. My first page was about a statewide holiday in my own state. A month later, I had written several pages on topics that included Republican politics, non-partisan political science, and fiscally-responsible economics.<br />
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A month later, I started a second blog so that I could write about a wide variety of other subjects. My first page on that second blog told the true story, as I remember it, about an experience I had as a teenager, helping a friend who had a minor medical problem.<br />
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Sometime after that, I started writing sequels to some of my original pages. I did this even though some of those original pages had updates. In some cases, the pages that had updates were so long, it was difficult to organize the material, so I moved some of the material that had been on that page to a new page. In other cases, I knew ahead of time that I was going to write a series of pages about one topic, partly because I had a lot of material on that topic.<br />
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In one case, I knew that I was going to write a two-page series about Social Security because I had a lot of material about the problems with the current system and a lot of material about possible solutions to those problems.<br />
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These are the topics that I have written multiple pages about. The order of these topics is more-or-less the order that the first page in each series was published. Within each topic, the individual pages are usually arranged in the order that they were published, with the oldest ones being listed first.<br />
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<h2>
Racism</h2>
<a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2012/06/end-of-racism.html" target="_blank">The End of Racism</a> was the third page I ever wrote. It explains, using a simple logical argument, that the concept of separate human races is a self-contradictory concept. The two main assumptions about race, namely the existence of races and the dominance of one race when a "mixed-race" couple has a biological child, always produce a logical result that contradicts one or both of the original assumptions. This means that those assumptions are logically false.<br />
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<a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-end-of-institutional-racism.html" target="_blank">The End of Congressional Racism</a> I asked Congress to ignore the color of the skin of our last president and then to impeach him for the actions he took while in office.<br />
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<a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/04/if-you-see-racism-speak-up.html" target="_blank">If you See Racism, Speak Up</a> was based on an anti-racism campaign that appeared on a college campus. It used reverse racism to fight racism, a tactic that will always produce racial hatred among many people. This page includes pairs of memes and videos about well-known people, including Barak Obama, Malcolm X, Al Sharpton, and two segregationists (George Wallace and Louis Farrakhan).<br />
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<a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-beginning-of-color-blindness.html" target="_blank">The Beginning of Color-Blindness</a> shows what happens when a person has abandoned the self-contradictory concept of separate human races.<br />
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<a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2014/10/justice-is-not-being-done-in-ferguson.html" target="_blank">Justice is not being done in Ferguson, Missouri</a> was written a month after the riots began in that city. I waited that long before writing and publishing my page, hoping that President Obama's Department of Justice would see that the shooting of a convenience store robber was justified, but he obviously wanted to continue the racial hatred that he had fostered all during his presidency.<br />
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<a href="https://conserving-the-mobile-nation.blogspot.com/2015/03/race-for-dummies.html" target="_blank">Race for Dummies</a> simplifies the logical argument I made in the first page in this series, "The End of Racism". I take the reader, step by step, through the logical process of <br />
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<a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2017/05/racism-at-harvard-univversity.html" target="_blank">Racism at Harvard University</a> was written in early May 2017, soon after I heard that this university had approved a one-race-only graduation ceremony for later that month. This page quotes the journal that announced the racist ceremony and it explains why I was (and still am) opposed to a one-race-only graduation ceremony.<br />
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<a href="https://massachusetts-matters.blogspot.com/2017/05/rally-scheduled-for-may-23rd.html" target="_blank">Rally against Racism at Harvard University</a> was a deliberate attempt to organize a rally at Harvard's racist one-race-only graduation ceremony. I was the only person who showed up for the rally, but I didn't mind because I was doing it for the honorable principle of a color-blind society. I protested the rally, <i>during the rally,</i> wearing a custom-made t-shirt. Because Harvard held the same racist event in 2018 and 2019, I protested it both years, during the ceremony. I will return to it again every year they hold it.<br />
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<a href="https://conserving-the-mobile-nation.blogspot.com/2018/10/two-versions-of-racial-justice-in.html" target="_blank">Two Versions of Racial Justice in American Television</a> has two stories, both of whom involve Al Roker, who used to give weather forecasts on NBC's Today Show. He criticized Megyn Kelly for asking some members of her television audience about racist attitudes towards Halloween costumes and he ignored the obvious racism of the host of a late-night television show when he wore blackface during a one-man skit on his own show.<br />
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<h2>
California's drought</h2>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g-m8Vg0IL84/XkxJ7w5oAKI/AAAAAAAAMy4/LX79KYQl_zccZr-NrkmmENQ3IZqOCYpQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Pacific%2BOcean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="268" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g-m8Vg0IL84/XkxJ7w5oAKI/AAAAAAAAMy4/LX79KYQl_zccZr-NrkmmENQ3IZqOCYpQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Pacific%2BOcean.jpg" /></a>A few months after I started blogging, I discovered that California had some drought. This has always bothered me because their western neighbor is the world's largest ocean.<br />
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During my research, I learned that this drought had started decades ago and that the state was emptying some water out of their reservoirs into rivers that ended up in the ocean. I also learned that this same state has annual and very destructive wildfires.<br />
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<a href="http://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2012/08/water-economics.html" target="_blank">Water Economics</a> is the first page, written in August 2012. It's also my most-read page, with over 271,000 Google-confirmed readers since then. A lot of that readership happened from late June 2016 to early August 2016, when there were thousands of readers every day. This page has a lot of news stories about the drought and information about the amount of water that was in certain reservoirs in the state.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u2aafZIx0bs/XkxLlnY4paI/AAAAAAAAMzE/1lQt35TfAtwsfgslz_DRqyMRIKzkfSqSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Water_Cycle3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="400" height="236" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u2aafZIx0bs/XkxLlnY4paI/AAAAAAAAMzE/1lQt35TfAtwsfgslz_DRqyMRIKzkfSqSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Water_Cycle3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The page also outlines a scientific solution that involves transporting filtered seawater to a large, hot, dry, and uninhabited valley in California. This would create a man-made lake, but it was a natural salt-water lake millions of years ago.<br />
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When the water enters this valley, some of it would always be evaporating, leaving only the salts behind in the bottom of this new man-made lake. There are many benefits to building the very large-scale infrastructure project that would transport the water to this valley, including an increase in rainwater over a very dry part of the United States. This new source of clean rainwater would allow people to plant and harvest crops, thus increasing the U.S. Gross Domestic Product.<br />
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<td style="font-size: Small;">Other benefits include a reduction in the fire danger in California and a reduction in the rate of the increase in the ocean water levels.<br />
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This 30-second video is a preview of a four-part PBS series about the danger of rising water levels to some cities around the world. Each episode is one hour. The four cities are London, New York, Miami, and Tokyo. Each city has a different method of dealing with the water.</td>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pnt94HTeSNY/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pnt94HTeSNY?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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More than two years after I wrote that page, I wrote <a href="http://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2014/12/water-economics-part-2.html" target="_blank">this page</a> in December 2014 which condensed the basic concepts. It doesn't include the news stories about the low harvests of food crops or the analysis of the university study of the water rights in California, but it does include the step-by-step process of making it rain in the American southwest.<br />
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After I published the original page in 2012, there were three periods of intense international readership. The first one began in December 2014 and lasted for about a month and a half. In January 2015, I wrote <a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2015/01/readership-statistics-for-water.html" target="_blank">this page</a> to show some of that readership. After the page was published, there were two other periods where I saw even more daily readership, so I updated the statistics on the page. During the last of these periods, from late June 2016 to early August 2016, there were just over 7,300 readers every day, including weekends and holidays.<br />
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In June 2015, I published <a href="http://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2015/06/news-about-california-drought.html" target="_blank">this page</a> which begins with a look at the California economy. Later in the same page, however, is a very long list of links and sometimes quotes of news stories about the drought in California. I mentioned a few times on that page the fact that a scientific solution to the drought is on another page, and I linked to that page a few times. I have continued to add more links and quotes of news stories about the drought in California, along with stories about flooding whenever that happens in that state.<br />
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In July 2016, I wrote <a href="https://conserving-the-mobile-nation.blogspot.com/2016/07/water-economics-for-kids.html" target="_blank">this page</a> on another blog. It has the same concepts, but it was written for younger readers. This page includes more graphics, some animated graphics, colored text, and a different writing style.<br />
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Also in July 2016, I wrote <a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2016/07/other-viewpoints-about-california-water.html" target="_blank">this page</a> to examine other people's ideas about the drought. I looked at two U.S. Government agencies and a handful of well-known environmental organizations. Overall, I was unimpressed with the scholarship of these organizations. Their pages made many statements without any documentation of their facts, figures, and quotes.<br />
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In December 2016, I wrote <a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2016/12/references-to-wet-death-valley.html" target="_blank">this page</a> to show my research into the fact that there was once a natural salt-water lake where Death Valley is now.<br />
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Also in December 2016, I discovered that an environmental organization called the Natural Resources Defense Council had published an 85-page report in 2004 about the California drought. They linked water use with the energy that was required to transport it. Because their goal was to reduce energy use, their report advocated for a reduction in the use of water, even though this would mean smaller harvests of food crops. I wrote <a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-natural-resources-defense-council.html" target="_blank">this page</a> to analyze their report.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lzWNacIqeBY/Xkx3NvpsqRI/AAAAAAAAMzQ/FJ65T9fzEZgU04J2bQ0jI_YGkY8XQF7-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Invasion2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="204" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lzWNacIqeBY/Xkx3NvpsqRI/AAAAAAAAMzQ/FJ65T9fzEZgU04J2bQ0jI_YGkY8XQF7-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Invasion2.jpg" /></a><a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2018/11/water-in-desert.html" target="_blank">The last page in this series</a> is based partly on a book that was written by a famous French author and partly on some historical facts. This photo shows the cover of an English-language translation of the book, which was his last one. There is a below-sea-level area inside the Sahara Desert, and it's located less than <nobr>100 miles</nobr> from the Mediterranean Sea.<br />
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Those two facts, put together, gave some military engineers an idea in World <nobr>War II</nobr> to dig a canal from the sea to the area in the desert so that this would become a new salt-water lake. The individual laws of physics that I mentioned in the first essay in this series would mean that some of this water would become groundwater, and some of it would evaporate, producing rain clouds and eventually rainfall somewhere else.<br />
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If a canal was dug that permitted water to flow from the Mediterranean Sea to the low-altitude area within the desert, it's possible that crops could be planted and harvested. This could enable Africa to increase its' total Gross Domestic Product by a significant percentage.<br />
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<h2>
Economic Theory</h2>
<a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2012/06/freedom-of-choice-in-marketplace.html" target="_blank">The second blog page I ever wrote</a> shows how a truly free market is self-regulating. When people make poor economic choices, they pay an economic price for those choices. At that point, Charles Darwin's "survival of the fittest" principle becomes active. Smart people will learn from their mistakes and stupid people will keep making poor choices. As a rule, the inherent competition in a free market encourages people who own a business to offer high quality products and services at a low price to the customer (because these business owners are competing <u>for</u> the customer).<br />
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In August 2012, I wrote <a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2012/08/to-insure-domestic-tranquility.html" target="_blank">this page</a>, which shows how a high amount of up-and-down income mobility (defined on the page) results in a high amount of internal peace in any country. The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution uses the term "domestic tranquility", but it means the same thing. If there are ways for a poor person to increase his financial status, and if there are ways for a wealthy person to lose a large portion of his wealth (for example, by being convicted of serious crimes and going to prison), then the people will sense the monetary value of honesty.<br />
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In September 2012, I published <a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2012/09/redistribution-of-wealth.html" target="_blank">this page</a>, which makes a distinction between the voluntary financial donations to a church or a charity and the involuntary redistribution of wealth that was the goal of President Obama, according to two YouTube videos that are on the page. One has an audio recording of his words, made in 1998. The other video was recorded in 2008, ten years later, when he was a presidential candidate.<br />
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In October 2012, I wrote <a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2012/10/taxes-and-national-income.html" target="_blank">an essay</a> about the relationship between tax rates and the total amount of tax income that any state or nation receives. I used pictures of brownies like these to illustrate my point. This essay is a personal favorite.<br />
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Each brownie represents a $10,000 block of family income, so one photo represents $10,000 and the other photo represents $30,000.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vBksyRP2iNw/XkyF1_BioDI/AAAAAAAAMzc/RfjiG55Y1sA1X9dJkOI0Ydn6KejI6WumwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Brownie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vBksyRP2iNw/XkyF1_BioDI/AAAAAAAAMzc/RfjiG55Y1sA1X9dJkOI0Ydn6KejI6WumwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Brownie.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3IJcl5PBUE/XkyF595EKHI/AAAAAAAAMzg/XSzZ4l4eqmM1DDvfCszrEFAUKeQXTAPegCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Brownies%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3IJcl5PBUE/XkyF595EKHI/AAAAAAAAMzg/XSzZ4l4eqmM1DDvfCszrEFAUKeQXTAPegCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Brownies%2B2.jpg" /></a></div>
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On the page, I showed how a large change in the tax rates caused people to adjust their economic behavior, including how they spend and invest the limited amount of money that they receive from a job.<br />
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In November 2012, I wrote <a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2012/11/america-grew-with-help-of-craftsmen.html" target="_blank">this page</a> that celebrates the craftsmanship of the people who helped to grow America. Their crafts became their names. I named some Millers, Bakers, Coopers, Smiths, Wrights, and Masons, and I showed how each of these crafts resulted in a service or a product that make life better for the customers who bought those services or products.<br />
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In March 2013, I wrote <a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2013/03/taxes-wealthy-and-freedom-to-flee.html" target="_blank">a page</a> about the freedom of wealthy people to leave a city, a state, or a country if the taxes and regulations imposed by that government were too harsh. The page included news stories about real people who had moved out.<br />
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In January 2018, my essay about income mobility, written in August 2012, was too large. i had added a lot of news stories and articles about individual people who had seen large percentage changes in their income. I took the material about individual income mobility and moved to <a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2018/01/stoiries-of-individual-income-mobility.html" target="_blank">a new page</a>.<br />
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<h2>
Applied Economics</h2>
The basic principles of economics, including the relationship between supply and demand, the effects of government operations on individuals and families, and the consequences of our economic choices, are applied to real-life situations, as described below.<br />
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The Boy Scouts taught many worthwhile skills to young boys, including how to build a campfire. I wrote <a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2012/07/boy-scout-economics.html" target="_blank">this page</a>
in July 2012 that told the true story of how I, as an older Boy Scout,
was with a group of older boys who went on a weekend camping trip. This
page writes about this experience as a way of showing how assets (in
this case, it was firewood) could be used to supply a group of people
(in this case, it was a small group of Boy Scouts) with something they
needed (heat).<br />
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<a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-trillion-dollar-coin.html" target="_blank">This page</a>, written in January 2013, was inspired by a news story about a plan to have the U.S. Mint create a single coin that had a trillion dollars of value. This coin would then be used to make payments on the U.S. National Debt. Even if you ignore the fantasy nature of such a plan, as a simple exercise in economic theory, many dishonest people would be willing to spend a billion dollars (assuming that they had it) in order to steal or rob the U.S. Government of a coin that was worth a trillion dollars.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y8sTOya3ePw/XkyP2ocHZEI/AAAAAAAAMzw/bPJsXbQvnp0GX-iAQyv4m6GDFp5C9uVTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Karate%2BWoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1290" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y8sTOya3ePw/XkyP2ocHZEI/AAAAAAAAMzw/bPJsXbQvnp0GX-iAQyv4m6GDFp5C9uVTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Karate%2BWoman.jpg" width="161" /></a><a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/09/female-athletes-need-better-agents.html" target="_blank">This page</a>, written in September 2013, stated the need for female professional athletes to have better sports agents. This would result in them having a higher income. The page includes five black-and-white photos of female athletes that I took with a camera in the 1980s, including the one on the right..<br />
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In February 2020, I started writing a new section about female athletes at the high school level who had filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on the grounds that boys who self-identified as girls were unfair competition in sports such as wrestling and track and field.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zYaFqQXk6AM/XkyROIeUv4I/AAAAAAAAMz4/Hk-qiOwPqBUr_qqDQgB7VoJ5zYP57zWJACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Fluorescent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="400" height="148" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zYaFqQXk6AM/XkyROIeUv4I/AAAAAAAAMz4/Hk-qiOwPqBUr_qqDQgB7VoJ5zYP57zWJACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Fluorescent.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-to-dispose-of-light-bulb-in-united.html" target="_blank">This page</a>, written in January 2014, showed that a broken compact fluorescent light bulb was a potential hazardous substance, according to the laws that were enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency. These laws required any company that had a broken bulb to measure the amount of mercury in the broken bulb and then, to dispose of it properly, depending on how much mercury was in it.<br />
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In August 2014, I wrote <a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2014/08/sexual-politics-and-economics.html" target="_blank">this page</a> about a real-life example of people "voting with their feet". When the state government in California began debating legislation that would require male porn actors to wear a condom when they filmed sex scenes, some companies that produced these films moved out of the state, and others announced plans to do so.<br />
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There are only two ways to stop this geographic shift from happening. Defeat the legislation or build a wall around the state and enforce emigration laws with armed force so that companies cannot leave. This is what happened in Berlin, starting in August 1961.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9ZUJtIh1_s/Xk2VVJeljkI/AAAAAAAAM0o/Fk0G6OtllRg3jYd0tT3EcUCIwDr3Zu4GQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Berlin%2BWall.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="472" height="307" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9ZUJtIh1_s/Xk2VVJeljkI/AAAAAAAAM0o/Fk0G6OtllRg3jYd0tT3EcUCIwDr3Zu4GQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Berlin%2BWall.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2015/04/stop-using-paypal-on-july-1-2015.html" target="_blank">This page</a> was inspired by an Alex Jones radio show with a fill-in host The host described how a new customer contract for the PayPal payment service would allow that company to take full legal control over the intellectual property (trademarks and copyrights) of the customer. My essay makes a carefully detailed grammatical examination of the terms of this contract. It also examines a few attempts by the PayPal Corporation to deny what their contract clearly says that they are doing.<br />
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<a href="https://conserving-the-nation.blogspot.com/2015/02/obamas-economic-plan.html" target="_blank">This page</a>, also written in February 2015, documented U.S. Government fines on companies that totaled tens of billions of dollars. I have added more material to that page since then, and the current total is $115 billion. These fines were levied only during the eight years that B. Hussein Obama was in office. The largest single fine was made against British Petroleum, and Obama's Justice Department fought hard against any effort to lower it, but in the end, the BP Corporation made a sincere and a timely effort to stop the pollution. The Federal court that oversaw the case recognized this.<br />
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<h2>
Social Security</h2>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mWzlTTnZSTM/Xk1ygIIqzdI/AAAAAAAAM0E/uDQyOUkryjsaEdSoOM1728fXLNtfiL16ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Poster1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="476" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mWzlTTnZSTM/Xk1ygIIqzdI/AAAAAAAAM0E/uDQyOUkryjsaEdSoOM1728fXLNtfiL16ACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Poster1.gif" width="158" /></a>In February 2015, I wrote two pages on the same day. One was about some of the problems with this U.S. Government program, first proposed by President Franklin Roosevelt in the 1930s as part of his New Deal legislation. It was intended to give Americans some guaranteed income when they were too old to work. The poster on the right was part of the campaign to pass the authorizing legislation.<br />
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Unfortunately, this program started experiencing some economic problems. Some people who were ineligible for the benefit payments lobbied their legislators to be included, without enough income to cover the payments to these people. One major change happened when benefits began to be paid to people who were younger than the traditional retirement age but who were not physically capable of working. New legislation was passed in 1956 to allow these people to receive Social Security Disability payments.<br />
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This created a situation that is similar to the operating loss that some companies experience and are obligated to report to their shareholders. This loss was intensified by many pieces of legislation, including bills that removed the retirement earnings test. <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/history/senateret.html" target="_blank">This page on the program's website</a> has a record of the debate over this bill.<br />
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<a href="https://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-better-retirement-system-part-1.html" target="_blank">The first page of this two-page set of essays</a> looks at some of the problems with the program, primarily the imbalance between the income of the program and the benefits paid out by the program.<br />
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The second page of this set looks at some possible solutions to this imbalance, including Individual Retirement Accounts and 401(k) plans. It mentions a quote from President Kennedy that is shown in this meme. The evidence for this statement is in the video next to it. It is a time-lapse record of one complete cycle of the tide in one part of Nova Scotia.<br />
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When the tide comes in, every boat rises.</div>
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The second page also links to information about a presidential commission that had the specific mandate to propose ideas that included accounts whose individual owners could invest their money. This page includes two informative videos, narrated by a college professor, that show that the program offers a very poor return on someone's "investment" of the taxes that are taken out of people's paychecks. An investment of this tax money in a stock index fund during a 20-year time period would vastly improve the amount of money that each person has when he retires.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H9OYHTuOm90/Xk2Qb3G2-1I/AAAAAAAAM0c/0gTg4ISKsCUfzkCxrOX5SWDU6PEh4bOvACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Daily-Caller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="600" height="100" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H9OYHTuOm90/Xk2Qb3G2-1I/AAAAAAAAM0c/0gTg4ISKsCUfzkCxrOX5SWDU6PEh4bOvACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Daily-Caller.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
A third, unfinished page of this series is based on <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2017/03/02/private-social-security-accounts-wont-work/" target="_blank">this 2017 Daily Caller article</a> which makes a comparison between the average account balance for a U.S. Government employee who has a Thrift Savings Account and the likely financial needs of a person at that age.<br />
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<h2>
Illegal Immigration</h2>
This was originally one long page, but even after I wrote and published it in December 2015, I kept adding more material to it, so in October 2017, I moved the second half of it to a new page.<br />
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I still add new material to both pages occasionally.<br />
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<h3>
The first page</h3>
<a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2015/12/an-emigration-plan-for-illegal-aliens.html" target="_blank">This page</a> begins with a statement of the importance of maintaining America's sovereignty, including our border with Mexico. America and Mexico are now cooperating in this effort. The mass-immigration of foreigners is a drain on the financial resources of the United States. The previous U.S. President didn't enforce U.S. immigration laws, as was required by his Oath of Office, so American patriots began to defend our border themselves.<br />
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This page also documents some of the threats to our sovereignty, including organized terrorist groups who pretend to be refugee groups, immigrants who are carrying diseases, and sanctuary cities.<br />
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The page then shows an excellent 2½-minute video of various construction methods that could be used to build the border wall that Donald Trump said, during the 2016 campaign, that he wanted. The video mentions some of the challenges that the builders will face, including different types of soil and, sometimes, very humid air. The video also predicts a <nobr>$10 billion</nobr> cost to build the wall.<br />
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I quoted a news story about a judicial ruling that said that a private company could build the border wall. I then stated my personal policy on immigration, which makes a distinction between legal immigrants and illegals.<br />
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Then, I quoted three 2016 presidential candidates on the subject of illegal immigration<br />
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I mentioned some methods of forcing unarmed and untrained invaders to retreat from our border. They include some high-tech devices that are already in use in some cities for crowd control. Another idea I mentioned is to deploy squads of armed Army or National Guard troops with Rules of Engagement that allow them to fire warning shots over the heads of any invader.<br />
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<h3>
The second page</h3>
This page begins</div>
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David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-55125850707898463462018-10-26T15:43:00.000-07:002020-01-05T13:46:52.257-08:00Two versions of racial justice in American television<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Meet two people who will interact</h1>
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This is Megyn Kelly</h2>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l62JiMuKo5A/W9ivYQHgfdI/AAAAAAAAJQ8/KnNnS_ZDlcQoJeCcs5TusnLOWwDWGf_nQCLcBGAs/s1600/Megyn-Kelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="1160" height="216" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l62JiMuKo5A/W9ivYQHgfdI/AAAAAAAAJQ8/KnNnS_ZDlcQoJeCcs5TusnLOWwDWGf_nQCLcBGAs/s400/Megyn-Kelly.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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She was a Fox News Anchor</h2>
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<td style="font-size: Small;">This video was uploaded by ABC News on October 26, 2016. It's a collection of short videos of her disputes with Donald Trump, who was then a presidential candidate.<br />
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One of the video clips shows her asking questions of Donald during a Republican debate.</td>
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She talked with a panel on her new show</h2>
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<td style="font-size: Small;">This video was uploaded by the Wall Street Journal exactly two years later, October 26, 2018. It was recorded on <nobr>October 23,</nobr> 2018.<br />
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She talked with a small group of people on her show about changing attitudes toward Halloween costumes, specifically the criticism of some costumes by a university.</td>
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<h2>
This is Al Roker</h2>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1_DG5tl6Xo8/W9OAAyXdGQI/AAAAAAAAJPc/cu9MBCA_P04h0tQf3TFLEqOth8LbFVT5wCLcBGAs/s1600/Al1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="550" height="218" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1_DG5tl6Xo8/W9OAAyXdGQI/AAAAAAAAJPc/cu9MBCA_P04h0tQf3TFLEqOth8LbFVT5wCLcBGAs/s400/Al1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<td style="font-size: Large;">Al, doing something that he was good at doing.</td>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lll_zE2n34c/W9OAEae-UCI/AAAAAAAAJPg/CClDDE9VlQk6z22DiyL6ns3iKSNmt_iqQCLcBGAs/s1600/Al2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lll_zE2n34c/W9OAEae-UCI/AAAAAAAAJPg/CClDDE9VlQk6z22DiyL6ns3iKSNmt_iqQCLcBGAs/s400/Al2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<td style="font-size: Large;">He was the meteorologist for <a href="https://www.today.com/" target="_blank">The Today Show</a> for many years.</td>
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<td>This video was recorded sometime in 1990 and uploaded on September 18, 2010.<br />
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He and late-night talk-show host David Letterman had some fun on the set of the Today Show.<br />
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He had two sets of standards about race and racism, but he hid them very well.</td>
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<h1>
Version #1 of racial justice</h1>
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<h2>
Al Roker calls Megyn Kelly a racist</h2>
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/al-roker-megyn-kelly-nbc-blackface-segment_us_5bd05f57e4b0d38b587e53db" target="_blank">an October 24, 2018 Huffington Post article</a>. The links in these paragraphs were in their article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
“Today” show host Al Roker on Wednesday called out <a data-rapid-parsed="slk" data-rapid_p="1" data-v9y="1" data-ylk="subsec:paragraph;cpos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0" href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/megyn-kelly-apologizes-blackface_us_5bcf7dace4b055bc9485cc9b?2wh">NBC colleague Megyn Kelly </a>for <a data-rapid-parsed="slk" data-rapid_p="2" data-v9y="1" data-ylk="subsec:paragraph;cpos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0" href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/megyn-kelly-blackface-halloween_us_5bcf24ede4b055bc9484db43?zmt">defending blackface</a> Halloween costumes.<br />
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“The fact is while she apologized to the staff, she owes a bigger apology to folks of color around the country,” Roker said on the show, a day after <a data-rapid-parsed="slk" data-rapid_p="3" data-v9y="1" data-ylk="subsec:paragraph;cpos:2;elm:context_link;itc:0" href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/megyn-kelly-apologizes-blackface_us_5bcf7dace4b055bc9485cc9b?2wh">Kelly apologized in a memo to NBC colleagues</a> for wondering why blackface in Halloween costumes was considered racist.<br />
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Soon after Roker’s comments, <a data-rapid-parsed="slk" data-rapid_p="4" data-v9y="1" data-ylk="subsec:paragraph;cpos:3;elm:context_link;itc:0" href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/megyn-kelly-apologizes-on-air-blackface_us_5bd06a13e4b055bc9486e2a6?f9">Kelly did apologize on air</a>, then convened a discussion about the history of blackface that included black panelists.<br />
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“I was wrong,” she told viewers.</blockquote>
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This is the first part of the second paragraph.<br />
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“The fact is while she apologized to the staff, she owes a bigger apology to folks of color around the country,” Roker said on the show ....</div>
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<td style="font-size: X-Large;">"She owes a bigger apology to folks of color around the country,” Roker said on the show.</td>
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<h2>
If racism is based on the concept of race ....</h2>
<a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2012/06/end-of-racism.html" target="_blank">I'm color-blind</a>, so I don't know the meaning of the phrase "folks of color", but Al has his own definition in his mind of the meaning of that phrase. Whatever that definition is, I'm using it, for now, as <u>the</u> definition of the phrase.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-200fl3kKWpQ/W9RwezaeB5I/AAAAAAAAJQQ/ycddGOSH0WgpMD3fj9lvIIxhGubkIU5xQCLcBGAs/s1600/Hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-200fl3kKWpQ/W9RwezaeB5I/AAAAAAAAJQQ/ycddGOSH0WgpMD3fj9lvIIxhGubkIU5xQCLcBGAs/s320/Hands.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Find the white person in the photo above, then find the black person in the same photo.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ib9AoYFGlWc/W9RwlIw9O7I/AAAAAAAAJQU/8lXHkp_UHz4FGdk10qv63BpoxI_GPr98ACLcBGAs/s1600/Black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ib9AoYFGlWc/W9RwlIw9O7I/AAAAAAAAJQU/8lXHkp_UHz4FGdk10qv63BpoxI_GPr98ACLcBGAs/s1600/Black.jpg" /></a></div>
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I don't see any white people in the first photo.<br />
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I don't see any black people in the first photo, either, but Al, as I said, has his own definition of "white people", "black people", "brown people", and perhaps the people who were born and raised in southeast Asia, too.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5cIQMPprOCk/W9SDLmc__4I/AAAAAAAAJQw/qo_QP3iPm54KALnRfDlncrJ-2O5v7kbPACLcBGAs/s1600/Southeast-Asia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="1206" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5cIQMPprOCk/W9SDLmc__4I/AAAAAAAAJQw/qo_QP3iPm54KALnRfDlncrJ-2O5v7kbPACLcBGAs/s320/Southeast-Asia.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
I wonder what color Al assigns to them, and I wonder whether he sees any difference between the people of China, Japan, Korea, Cambodia, Indonesia, and other countries in that geographic area. Each country has its' own culture and genetic history. <br />
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For now, all I ask is that Al's definition of "folks of color" is consistent. This phrase and every standard of behavior for people who interact with these "racial groups", whoever they are, should apply to everyone equally.<br />
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This is the top of the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. <br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yuLAvxeSBYU/W9Ry9YYcrJI/AAAAAAAAJQk/O5vGIsfRaSYn5396nYtEr4xW3NLL_eB0QCLcBGAs/s1600/Equal-Justice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="1280" height="270" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yuLAvxeSBYU/W9Ry9YYcrJI/AAAAAAAAJQk/O5vGIsfRaSYn5396nYtEr4xW3NLL_eB0QCLcBGAs/s640/Equal-Justice.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Equal justice is the standard that is expected in courtrooms, where anyone who is accused of a crime is judged guilty or innocent based on the evidence and the wording of the law, <u>not</u> on the name of the defendant, his personal history, his ancestry, his lifestyle, or what he looks like.<br />
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<h2>
Megyn Kelly gets fired for her comments</h2>
This is a tweet that was posted October 26, 2018 by NBC News. If you click on the date at the end of this tweet, you'll see it posted on their timeline.<br />
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JUST IN: NBC News spokesperson: “Megyn Kelly Today is not returning. Next week, the 9 a.m. hour will be hosted by other TODAY co-anchors.”</div>
— NBC News (@NBCNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1055873207029428224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
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These are the first five paragraphs of <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/megyn-kelly-nbc-fired-blackface-747389/" target="_blank">an October 26, 2018 Rolling Stone article</a>. The links in these paragraphs were in their article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
<a data-tag="megyn-kelly" href="https://www.rollingstone.com/t/megyn-kelly/" id="auto-tag_megyn-kelly">Megyn Kelly</a> is out at NBC after making controversial <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/megyn-kelly-blackface-fired-reckoned-747038/">comments about blackface</a> and Halloween costumes during an episode of her morning show Tuesday.<br />
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“‘Megyn Kelly Today’ is not returning,” according to an NBC statement. “Next week, the 9 a.m. hour will be hosted by other TODAY co-anchors.”<br />
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During her 9 a.m. hour of the <i>Today </i>show Tuesday, Kelly claimed that blackface was acceptable in the context of Halloween costumes, saying it was “OK when I was a kid as long as you were
dressing like a character.” The backlash was swift and even drew criticism from longtime <i>Today </i>co-host Al Roker, who said, “While she apologized to the staff, she owes a bigger apology to folks of color around the country because this is a history going back to the 1830s.”<br />
<br />
During her Wednesday show, Kelly tried to make amends, saying, “I want to begin with two words: I’m sorry. I defended the idea [of blackface], saying that as long it was respectful and part of a
Halloween costume, that it seemed OK. Well, I was wrong, and I am sorry.”<br />
<br />
Despite the apology, NBC decided to call of Kelly’s show for the rest of the week, choosing instead to air reruns on Thursday and Friday. On Wednesday, <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/tv/megyn-kelly-drops-caa-signs-with-uta-amid-blackface-controversy/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kelly dropped</a> her talent agency, CAA, over several issues, including concerns over conflicts of interest stemming from CAA’s representation of other NBC talent and executives. Kelly signed with a different agency, UTA, soon after, and hired entertainment attorney Bryan Freedman.</blockquote>
This is the subtitle of the previous article.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times, new roman; font-size: Large;">
Morning show anchor made controversial comments about blackface, Halloween</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is the complete text of <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/megyn-kelly-nbc-news-talking-about-anchor-leaving-network-n924741" target="_blank">an October 26, 2018 statement on the NBC website</a>. The links in these paragraphs were in their article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
NBC News and Megyn Kelly are in talks about the anchor leaving the network, according to a source familiar with the situation.<br />
<br />
"Conversations have already started about Megyn's exit from the network," the source, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said Thursday night.<br />
<br />
NBC News declined to comment on the talks but noted in an earlier statement, “Given the circumstances ‘Megyn Kelly Today’ will be on tape the rest of the week.”<br />
<br />
Representatives for Kelly are scheduled to meet Friday with company executives, according to another source with direct knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly. The same source said it looks “extremely unlikely” that she will stay at the network. A representative for Kelly declined to comment.<br />
<br />
Executives will likely be weighing whether Kelly will receive a financial package, or whether she breached her contract with the network. Kelly is paid $23 million per year, and has a three year
deal that was signed in January 2017, according to a source familiar with the contract.<br />
<br />
The anchor drew immediate criticism on Tuesday after she <a class=" vilynx_listened" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/megyn-kelly-apologizes-questioning-why-wearing-blackface-considered-racist-n923521" target="_blank">defended the use of blackface</a> during Halloween.<br />
<br />
"What is racist? Because you get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface for Halloween or a black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween," she said during a segment. "When I was a kid, that was OK as long as you were dressing up like a character."<br />
<br />
Her comments set off a firestorm on social media and also drew rebuke from her colleagues on “Today.”<br />
<br />
<a class=" vilynx_listened" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/megyn-kelly-apologizes-questioning-why-wearing-blackface-considered-racist-n923521" target="_blank">Kelly apologized on Wednesday</a> during the opening of her show.<br />
<br />
“I’m Megyn Kelly and I want to begin with two words: I’m sorry," she said. "I learned that given the history of blackface being used in awful ways by racists in this country, it is not OK for that to be part of any costume, Halloween or otherwise."<br />
<br />
On Thursday, Kelly's show aired a repeat.<br />
<br />
Her initial comments led to condemnation from her NBC News colleagues on air, including Al Roker, who spoke on Wednesday's episode of "Today" about the historical context about why blackface is offensive.<br />
<br />
"She owes a bigger apology to folks around the country of color," Roker said. "This is a history going back to the 1830s minstrel shows to demean and denigrate a race. It wasn't right."<br />
<br />
NBC News Chairman Andy Lack addressed the comments on Wednesday at a pre-scheduled Town Hall event. "There is no other way to put this: I condemn those remarks; there is no place on our air or in this workplace for them,” he said.<br />
<br />
On Wednesday night, <a class=" vilynx_listened" href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/megyn-kelly-fires-her-agent-after-criticism-over-blackface-remarks-n924181" target="_blank">Kelly fired her talent agent</a> at Creative Artists Agency and was in talks to be represented by United Talent Agency, before that agency ended conversations.<br />
<br />
Kelly <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/03/business/media/megyn-kelly-nbc-fox-news.html" target="_blank">joined NBC News in January 2017</a> after having risen to a prominent role at Fox News as host of “<a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/megyn-kelly-says-goodbye-kelly-file-i-am-better-having-been-961725" target="_blank">The Kelly File</a>."<br />
<br />
Shorly after joining NBC News, Kelly generated negative headlines for a number of reasons, including her <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/vladimir-putin-outwitted-megyn-kelly-by-weaponizing-incompetence">interviews of Russian President Vladimir Putin</a> and conspiracy theorist <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/what-nbcs-alex-jones-interview-says-about-megyn-kelly-201885/">Alex Jones</a>.<br />
<br />
Kelly's interview with Jane Fonda also drew criticism after asking the Academy Award-winning actress about Fonda's plastic surgery.<br />
<br />
Kelly’s show, which replaced the “Today” show hour anchored by Tamron Hall and Roker, has not attracted the same ratings. Their time period drew 2.68 million total viewers in the first seven months of 2017, while Kelly’s show year-to-date drew an average of 2.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen.</blockquote>
Remember, Megyn made <u>comments</u> about the topic of "blackface". Comments.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h1>
Version #2 of racial justice</h1>
<br />
<h2>
Jimmy Kimmel wears a costume and makeup</h2>
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
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<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-wse5lgIDxM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-wse5lgIDxM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
</td>
<td style="font-size: Large;">He was never a basketball player.<br />
<br />
This video was uploaded on October 12, 2017. It has been watched almost 870,000 times.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Jimmy Kimmel refuses to apologize</h2>
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="font-size: Large;">This is the 14<sup>th</sup> paragraph of the NBC statement that was posted on their website and which was quoted earlier on this page.</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lWqERZeyupk/W9OKdCNbckI/AAAAAAAAJPw/9K72pnxbjBgoYnhQ6uLdvYX98Ea5zT23gCLcBGAs/s1600/Jimmy-Kimmel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="350" height="217" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lWqERZeyupk/W9OKdCNbckI/AAAAAAAAJPw/9K72pnxbjBgoYnhQ6uLdvYX98Ea5zT23gCLcBGAs/s320/Jimmy-Kimmel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times, new roman; font-size: Large;">
NBC News Chairman Andy Lack addressed the comments on Wednesday at a pre-scheduled Town Hall event. "There is no other way to put this: I condemn those remarks; there is no place on our air or in this workplace for them,” he said.</div>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Megyn Kelly and Al Roker, summarized</h3>
“I want to begin with two words: I’m sorry. I defended the idea [of blackface], saying that as long it was respectful and part of a
Halloween costume, that it seemed OK. Well, I was wrong, and I am sorry.”<br />
<br />
- Megyn Kelly<br />
<br />
<br />
This is what Al Roker has <u>never</u> said since he criticized Megyn Kelly two days ago.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times, new roman; font-size: Large;">
“The fact is that Jimmy Kimmel never apologized to anyone, so he owes an apology to folks of color around the country, and I owe an apology to Megyn Kelly for having two sets of standards about race."</div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
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<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LNpwpu4W5pg/W9OP6U6_bNI/AAAAAAAAJQE/fYaTSH3dMSM-KibSBanMpBnoPDQE3HOvACLcBGAs/s1600/Jimmy-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LNpwpu4W5pg/W9OP6U6_bNI/AAAAAAAAJQE/fYaTSH3dMSM-KibSBanMpBnoPDQE3HOvACLcBGAs/s320/Jimmy-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xNT-duV_JmE/W9OPHlr1r0I/AAAAAAAAJP8/ERzIqncoeKMszgKKEuyrd-kIorJyg13RACLcBGAs/s1600/Al3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="223" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xNT-duV_JmE/W9OPHlr1r0I/AAAAAAAAJP8/ERzIqncoeKMszgKKEuyrd-kIorJyg13RACLcBGAs/s1600/Al3.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
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</table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-size: Large;">
Jimmy has never apologized for what he did. Al Roker has never asked him to apologize. Andy Lack, the NBC News Chairman, has never condemned Jimmy's actions, which are racist by the standards of NBC News. Do any of them really think that Megyn was wrong to talk about Halloween costumes that people wore decades ago?</div>
<br />
It's obvious. Jimmy, Al, and Andy all hate Megyn for her conservative politics.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
September 30, 2018 update</h3>
While retweeting some of the tweets that were posted by <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9080167/bio" target="_blank">Laura Loomer</a>, I discovered that she had publicly asked Twitter's owner, <a href="https://www.biography.com/people/jack-dorsey-578280" target="_blank">Jack Dorsey</a>, to take some action on this person for posting this tweet months ago. This tweet is still available for any racist to look at, and this person can still show his hatred for Jews any time he wants.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Thoroughly and completely unmasking the Satanic Jew and the Synagogue of Satan.<br />
<br />
Full Video: <a href="https://t.co/N5KXtakhpl">https://t.co/N5KXtakhpl</a> <a href="https://t.co/zRgSKcAsZj">pic.twitter.com/zRgSKcAsZj</a></div>
— MINISTER FARRAKHAN (@LouisFarrakhan) <a href="https://twitter.com/LouisFarrakhan/status/1004515781244280833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
This is one man's reply.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Why isn’t this account banned <a href="https://twitter.com/jack?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Jack</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TwitterSupport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TwitterSupport</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Twitter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Twitter</a> thought hate speech wasn’t allowed here.</div>
— Emory Goodrich ❌ (@EmoryGoodrich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmoryGoodrich/status/1057056114280423424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
This is another man's reply.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Ahhh <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTube?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YouTube</a> why is this still up? Isn't this considered "hate speech?" Maybe you're just intellectually dishonest. <a href="https://twitter.com/facebook?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/LinkedIn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LinkedIn</a> does he have profiles still up?</div>
— Brett Deister (@DeisterB) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeisterB/status/1027024528872882179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
Jack Dorsey, who is the CEO of Twitter, says that hate speech isn't allowed on his social-media platform, but yes, he does allow exceptions to his anti-hate-speech policy, for reasons that he hasn't told us about yet.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
October 17, 2019 update</h3>
Two tweets were added today.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Megyn Kelly told Tucker Carlson that there needs to be an “outside investigation” of NBC over allegations made in Ronan Farrow’s new book <a href="https://t.co/ZlpCD41Ucl">https://t.co/ZlpCD41Ucl</a></div>
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) <a href="https://twitter.com/thedailybeast/status/1184826406070554625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="font-size: X-Large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Catch-Kill-Ronan-Farrow-ebook/dp/B07TD413RV" target="_blank">This is a link to the Kindle edition of Ronan Farrow's book</a>, on the Amazon website, which is mentioned by Megyn Kelly in her tweet.</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RuSKIJx8ti8/XaiKxITnNrI/AAAAAAAAL4c/OQlriRZcZRYendArgOEkGU7lNmlK_w1AQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Catch-and-Kill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="185" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RuSKIJx8ti8/XaiKxITnNrI/AAAAAAAAL4c/OQlriRZcZRYendArgOEkGU7lNmlK_w1AQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Catch-and-Kill.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
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</table>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Megyn Kelly returns to Fox News, delivers fiery remarks blasting NBC over Matt Lauer allegations <a href="https://t.co/7JCVNR5pIs">https://t.co/7JCVNR5pIs</a></div>
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) <a href="https://twitter.com/theblaze/status/1184831454280372224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
January 5, 2020 update</h3>
Megyn's color-blind criticism of this ex-NFL Quarterback is appropriate.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Because everything is racist. Everything. Even fighting back against terrorists who kill Americans. Nike, feeling proud? <a href="https://t.co/sfc1Yz3phY">https://t.co/sfc1Yz3phY</a></div>
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/megynkelly/status/1213603362605658112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> </div>
</div>
David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-37614597104578051122018-05-13T13:45:00.004-07:002020-10-06T04:21:44.705-07:00These guns also save lives<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
In January 2013, I published <a href="http://conserving-the-mobile-nation.blogspot.com/2013/01/this-gun-saved-lives.html">a page on this blog</a> about a married woman who was at home with two small children when a man broke into her home. She took the children into their attic, and she also took with her a handgun that her husband had taught her how to shoot. She also had with her a telephone, which she used to call the police. She and her children are alive today because of what she did with her handgun while she was waiting for the police to arrive.<br />
<br />
In August 2014, I wrote <a href="http://conserving-the-mobile-nation.blogspot.com/2014/08/this-gun-also-saved-lives.html">another page on this blog</a> about two doctors who were attacked on two separate days by patients who had a handgun. One doctor carried his own gun and successfully defended himself. He had a minor wound, but a caseworker died before the attacker was shot three times. The other doctor was unarmed.<br />
<br />
These tweets are arranged in chronological order, oldest first. Two of them were originally on the essay that I published in August 2014.<br />
<br />
<h3>
March 12, 2017</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Quick thinking store clerk exercises Second Amendment rights when confronted by armed robber <a href="https://t.co/CTz51Hch1d">https://t.co/CTz51Hch1d</a> <a href="https://t.co/txKztRrg3w">pic.twitter.com/txKztRrg3w</a></div>
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) <a href="https://twitter.com/theblaze/status/841016646005338112">March 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<h3>
April 22, 2017.</h3>
The original tweet includes a short video of a robber in line at a supermarket. He is armed with a knife, and he tries to get money from the checkout clerk, but the next person in line has a concealed firearm. He draws the gun, points it at the robber with the knife, and prevents the robbery without any injuries to anyone.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
This is why more people should carry EVERYWHERE they go. Good guys with guns is a great crime prevention tool. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/saturdaymorning?src=hash">#saturdaymorning</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/2A?src=hash">#2A</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MAGA?src=hash">#MAGA</a> <a href="https://t.co/21XYvTDF6S">pic.twitter.com/21XYvTDF6S</a></div>
— Steve Hirsch (@Stevenwhirsch99) <a href="https://twitter.com/Stevenwhirsch99/status/855800110818758656">April 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<h3>
The May 8, 2018 bank robbery</h3>
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="http://www.fox35orlando.com/news/local-news/deputies-sort-through-conflicting-stories-about-robbery-at-bank">a May 8, 2018 news story published by WOFL in Florida</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, "new roman";">
There was an armed robbery at a bank in Orange County.<br />
<br />
The Orange County Sheriff's Office says that the armed robbery occurred at the Wells Fargo on the 4500th block of Hoffner Avenue at 2:38 a.m. The bank and the property next door was roped off on Tuesday morning as deputies investigated.<br />
<br />
Deputies say that a white male in his 60’s was at an ATM when he was approached by a Hispanic male in his 20’s. The Hispanic male attempted to rob the white male at gunpoint. There was an exchange of gunfire, as the white male had his weapon on him. The white male drove away and called 911. He then returned to the scene.<br />
<br />
Deputies say that Hispanic male was taken to the hospital, but is now deceased.</blockquote>
Note: This story mentions two races, but I do not mention any race in my essays. The reporter/writer of this story did mention two races, so the racial characterizations are his, not mine.<br />
<br />
This is <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/24/us/oklahoma-city-shooting/index.html">a May 25, 2018 CNN story</a> that shows why race is a meaningless concept. Even if you assume that race, as a concept exists, no definition of any one race can remain intact after a member of another race provides DNA to the bloodline.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><div style="font-size: large;">
Some videos</div>
<br />
This video shows a clerk in a convenience store defending herself against an armed robber.<br />
<br />
This was the very first time that she had used a gun, according to the narrator of the video, but the robber was standing close to her, so there was a small chance that she would miss him when she fired.</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U6Ps1ZC1-Qw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U6Ps1ZC1-Qw?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>This video, a news report from a Fox News television station in Michigan, was uploaded in November 2012. It shows two consecutive armed robberies by the same two people.<br />
<br />
At the second robbery, an armed customer killed one of the two robbers and recovered the money from the first robbery.</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/p63UWAhpviI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p63UWAhpviI?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>This video, a news report from an NBC television station in Washington State, was uploaded in September 2013. A pair of teenagers tried to steal an unoccupied vehicle.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately for them, it belonged to an ex-Marine who was armed. He killed the male thief. The female was taken into custody.</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fVW60_ivso0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fVW60_ivso0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<h3>
May 12, 2018.</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
THIS is the beauty of concealed carry. A sick man walks up to a group of women and children and tries to rob them. A good woman with a gun takes care of him! If she had no gun, they’d likely have all been dead/injured! <a href="https://t.co/X1YVzV3djr">pic.twitter.com/X1YVzV3djr</a></div>
— Joey M. (YourVoice™ America) (@JTMYVA) <a href="https://twitter.com/JTMYVA/status/995386564950810624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The May 25, 2018 restaurant incident</h3>
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="http://www.fox35orlando.com/news/local-news/deputies-sort-through-conflicting-stories-about-robbery-at-bank">a May 8, 2018 news story published by WOFL in Florida</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, "new roman";">
(CNN) An armed bystander gunned down a shooter Thursday at an Oklahoma City restaurant, killing him, police said.<br />
<br />
A man walked into Louie's Grill & Bar and opened fire, striking three people, who are expected to survive. As the gunman ran from the scene, the bystander armed with a pistol confronted and fatally shot him outside the restaurant, Oklahoma City police Capt. Bo Mathews told reporters.<br />
<br />
"Right now, all I know is that it was just a good Samaritan that was there and looks like he took the right measures to be able to put an end to a terrible, terrible incident," Mathews said.<br />
<br />
The Oklahoma City police identified the suspect as Alexander C. Tilghman, 28, of Oklahoma City. His motive was unknown.</blockquote>
Andrew's motives are unimportant now because he's dead and because every one of the people he tried to kill are still alive.<br />
<br />
More news stories in the form of tweets, online news stories, and YouTube videos may be added to this page later.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
August 26, 2018.</h3>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cE7GoydrfOU/XcBIvvZ-JtI/AAAAAAAAMC0/AJPEI0T8ca0NnJUhp3ni9HjL2JOsHhUAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Richard-Corcoran.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="399" height="156" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cE7GoydrfOU/XcBIvvZ-JtI/AAAAAAAAMC0/AJPEI0T8ca0NnJUhp3ni9HjL2JOsHhUAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Richard-Corcoran.png" width="200" /></a>At the time that Richard Corcoran posted this tweet, he was the Speaker of Florida's House of Representatives. His Twitter account followed mine (@BennyTheKite, named in honor of Benjamin Franklin). Thank you, Richard.<br />
<br />
He is now <a href="http://www.fldoe.org/about-us/commissioner-corcoran/" target="_blank">the Commissioner of Education in Florida</a>, and his Twitter account still follows mine. Thank you again, Richard.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Info provided at today’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Cmsn proved that early and immediate engagement of school shooters by civilians led to less fatalities. Training certain school employees through the Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program will save lives <a href="https://t.co/bToVmaOV2q">pic.twitter.com/bToVmaOV2q</a></div>
— Richard Corcoran (@richardcorcoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/richardcorcoran/status/1027649809224740864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
Richard retweeted this tweet.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
WATCH: A new program in Central Florida is training everyday people to stop potential school shooters. The guardians - who are not officers of the law - train from morning 'til night and will earn $30,000 per year. <a href="https://t.co/I0YczRH0xi">https://t.co/I0YczRH0xi</a> <a href="https://t.co/apzuBNSWcf">pic.twitter.com/apzuBNSWcf</a></div>
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSThisMorning/status/1006943685114818560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
November 25, 2018</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
A good guy with a gun stops bad guys with guns every time...<a href="https://t.co/3rXAcZny4t">pic.twitter.com/3rXAcZny4t</a></div>
— Maverick (@RodStryker) <a href="https://twitter.com/RodStryker/status/1066602015151857664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
December 4, 2018</h3>
These are the first fve paragraphs of <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/south-carolina-woman-kills-escaped-jail-inmate-who-kicked-down-her-door-sheriff-says">a December 4, 2018 Fox News story</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, "new roman";">
Hours after he and another inmate escaped jail after beating up a security guard, a South Carolina inmate was fatally shot after he broke into a woman’s house, officials said.<br />
<br />
Bruce McLaughlin Jr., 30, was shot in the head by the woman after he kicked in her back door on Tuesday, according to Pickens County authorities.<br />
<br />
After he entered the home, McLaughlin grabbed a knife sharpening tool from the kitchen and headed toward the woman’s bedroom around 3 a.m. Sheriff Rick Clark said the woman was home alone and had undergone concealed weapons training at some point prior to the incident.<br />
<br />
"This was a big guy. If she hadn't had a weapon there's no telling what would have happened," the sheriff said. "I gave her a big hug. I told her how proud I was of her."<br />
<br />
Clark said the incident was “a shining example” of why owning and knowing how to properly use a gun is important.</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
May 25, 2019</h3>
These are the first three paragraphs of <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/hatchet-thief-oregon-store-clerk-gun">a May 25, 2019 Fox News story</a>. The links in the first two paragraphs were in their story. The photo after the story was found with an image search.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, "new roman";">
<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/us-regions/west/oregon" target="_blank">Oregon</a> authorities are seeking a would-be thief who was armed with a hatchet when he tried to rob a convenience store, only to flee when the clerk drew a gun and called 911.<br />
<br />
However, the clerk's quick thinking cost him his job, with the president of Plaid Pantry in Oak Grove explaining to local station <a href="http://www.koin.com/news/local/clackamas-county/would-be-robber-shows-hatchet-clerk-pulls-out-gun/2024928955" target="_blank">KOIN-TV</a> that the chain has a zero-tolerance policy for weapons.<br />
<br />
He said employees are trained to de-escalate robbery situations to avoid injury, according to the station.</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7q-t2Bv3Bp0/XOmoedKp6dI/AAAAAAAAKn8/teHpLukVNt0fH0WJFib69TAlTjkR4Wc7wCLcBGAs/s1600/Hatchet-Robber.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="639" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7q-t2Bv3Bp0/XOmoedKp6dI/AAAAAAAAKn8/teHpLukVNt0fH0WJFib69TAlTjkR4Wc7wCLcBGAs/s640/Hatchet-Robber.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The September 3, 2019 carjack</h3>
This is the complete text of <a href="https://abc13.com/woman-shoots-man-who-tried-to-steal-her-purse-police/5511638/">a September 3, 2019 news story on the website of the ABC-TV affiliate in Houston, Texas</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, "new roman";">
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A woman shot and wounded a suspected robber who reached for her purse, police say.<br />
<br />
It happened around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday on Creekbend at Fondren in southwest Houston.<br />
<br />
Police say Lachelle Hudgins had just parked her vehicle outside her home when two men reached through her driver's side window and grabbed her purse. Before they could take it, Hudgins frantically reached into her bag and grabbed her gun.<br />
<br />
"I couldn't do anything except scream. At one point, they told me to stop screaming, and he reached his hand inside my car," Hudgins explained.<br />
<br />
Officials say she fired two rounds and the men ran away.<br />
<br />
"It was all I had in my gun. I shot until I couldn't shoot anymore," Hudgins said.<br />
<br />
A short time later, authorities received a call about a man found shot on the other side of the complex.<br />
<br />
The suspect underwent surgery. He's expected to face aggravated robbery charges.<br />
<br />
Hudgins told ABC13 that she still can't believe she survived an attempted robbery unscathed.<br />
<br />
"I saved my life," Hudgins said.</blockquote>
"I saved my life," Hudgins said.<br />
<br />
All she had to do was to own a handgun, learn how to use it, have it with her, and when five men tried to steal her car, fire the only two bullets that were in the gun.<br />
<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="font-size: large;">This video was included in the story above.</td>
<td><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="267" src="https://abc13.com/video/embed/?pid=5512652" width="476"></iframe></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The August 9, 2019 home invasion</h3>
This video was included in <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2019/08/09/liveleak-breaking-and-entering-home-owner-gun/" target="_blank">this Daily Caller story</a>. A man examined someone else's house from the outside and then tried to enter it,but as soon as he was across the threshold, the homeowner confronted him with a handgun.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.liveleak.com/e/sXBlK_1565218947" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The public school teachers in Florida</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QdJfJtr957w/XcBJbEtg-nI/AAAAAAAAMC8/MNx43-IxJO036fAXy9tOze7dsbjBZJGwACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Examiner.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="127" data-original-width="360" height="70" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QdJfJtr957w/XcBJbEtg-nI/AAAAAAAAMC8/MNx43-IxJO036fAXy9tOze7dsbjBZJGwACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Examiner.png" width="200" /></a></div>
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/how-can-we-stop-it-florida-teachers-carrying-guns-in-classrooms-in-bid-to-stop-next-mass-shooting">an October 2, 2019 Washington Examiner story</a>. The link in the first paragraph was in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, "new roman";">
A controversial law in Florida went into <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/01/us/florida-teachers-carry-guns-classrooms-bill-trnd/index.html" target="_blank">effect this week</a> allowing some trained teachers to carry firearms in the classroom to protect the lives of the students and faculty in the event of a mass shooting.<br />
<br />
The bill, which was signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in May, followed recommendations made by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission detailed in a 446-page report.<br />
<br />
"Safety and security accountability is lacking in schools, and that accountability is paramount for effective change if we expect a different result in the future than what occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas," the report said.<br />
<br />
The "guardians" faculty hired specifically to carry arms and protect the students and staff of the school will not be identified, and their weapon carrying status will remain anonymous. Each guardian
is required to undergo 144 hours of tactical and weapons training, as well as undergo drug testing and psychological evaluations.<br />
<br />
Though advocates for stricter gun control have pushed back against the measure, others see the added protection as major step forward in protecting students as mass shootings in schools have become more commonplace.</blockquote>
This is the second paragraph of this story.<br />
<br />
"The bill, which was signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in May, followed recommendations made by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission detailed in a 446-page report."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MSDHS/CommissionReport.pdf" target="_blank">This is the PDF-format report</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Vh_Aes-7GE/XZTbDsg18rI/AAAAAAAALzg/piCpraCQH6cs7hVQe7kg2B5G3yiOK7nhACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sun-Sentinel-logo.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="640" height="60" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Vh_Aes-7GE/XZTbDsg18rI/AAAAAAAALzg/piCpraCQH6cs7hVQe7kg2B5G3yiOK7nhACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Sun-Sentinel-logo.png" width="200" /></a></div>
This is the complete text of <a href="https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooting/fl-ne-full-commission-report-20181212-story.html" target="_blank">a December 12, 2018 Sun-Sentinel story</a>. The link in the first paragraph was in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, "new roman";">
A long-awaited draft report from the <a href="https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooting/fl-ne-parkland-school-shooting-recommendations-20181119-story.html#nt=instory-link" target="_blank">Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission</a> faults by the Broward school district and the Sheriff Office in the school shooting that killed 17 people in Parkland on Feb. 14.<br />
<br />
The report, released Wednesday, concludes that the Broward Sheriff’s Office displayed deficiencies in training, command and individual performance in the response to the shooting 0at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.<br />
<br />
The commission recommends that the Sheriff’s Office conduct an internal review of the performance of seven deputies who showed up, heard shots and failed to take steps to engage the shooter.<br />
<br />
The report also recommends an extensive overhaul of school security measures, including mandating lockdown training for staff and creating safe areas in classrooms called “hard corners.”</blockquote>
There were more recommendations in that report, as mentioned in their followup story.<br />
<br />
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooting/fl-ne-stoneman-douglas-commission-report-20181231-story.html">a January 02, 2019 Sun-Sentinel story</a>. All of these links were in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, "new roman";">
The state commission investigating the <a href="https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooting/#nt=instory-link" target="_blank">Parkland school shooting</a> unanimously approved a tough final report Wednesday that puts the responsibility for reform on school districts, law enforcement agencies, Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis and state legislative leaders.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MSDHS/Meetings/2019/January/Documents/MSD-Report-Public-Version.aspx" target="_blank">458-page report</a> by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission addresses the cascade of errors revealed in the wake of the shooting, including <a href="https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooting/fl-school-shooter-broward-deputies-disciplined-20180907-story.html#nt=instory-link" target="_blank">fumbled tips</a>, lax school security policies and <a href="https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooting/fl-ne-deputy-eason-restricted-duty-20181130-story.html#nt=instory-link" target="_blank">unaggressive Broward sheriff’s deputies</a> who hung back as shots were fired. The report now goes to Gov. Rick Scott, <a href="https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-ne-desantis-considers-sheriff-suspension-20190102-story.html#nt=instory-link" target="_blank">DeSantis</a>, Senate President Bill Galvano and House Speaker José Oliva.<br />
<br />
The report contains dozens of recommendations. Some would require action by the governor and Legislature, such as the proposals to allow some teachers to carry guns and increase spending on school security. It also calls for laws to be changed to allow school districts to raise taxes for security improvements and to require rather than simply permit mental health providers to notify law enforcement if a patient threatens anyone with harm. Many of the proposals were inspired by <a href="https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooting/fl-florida-school-shooting-district-secrecy-20181112-story.html#nt=instory-link" target="_blank">errors and weak spots </a>that came to light after the Feb. 14 massacre of 17 people.<br />
<br />
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, chairman of the commission, said many recommendations could have been implemented a long time ago had school safety been treated with the importance it deserved, particularly by school districts.</blockquote>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fAJXVwKF4pU/XZTei3anElI/AAAAAAAALzs/ZMZyKdimjaUI05vk5EthcD40XJ9SWJqAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Local-10-logo.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="400" height="75" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fAJXVwKF4pU/XZTei3anElI/AAAAAAAALzs/ZMZyKdimjaUI05vk5EthcD40XJ9SWJqAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Local-10-logo.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.local10.com/news/parkland-school-shooting/msd-public-safety-commission-presenting-final-report-to-state" target="_blank">This similar story</a> was also published January 2, 2019, but by the Miami affiliate of ABC-TV.<br />
<br />
<h3>
The October 30, 2019 home invasion</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eVczuPm5WIo/XcBHd9cDsUI/AAAAAAAAMCk/y08swUCi50E6m7Vp4poliVp6s2xv5OsBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BayNews9.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eVczuPm5WIo/XcBHd9cDsUI/AAAAAAAAMCk/y08swUCi50E6m7Vp4poliVp6s2xv5OsBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/BayNews9.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
These are the first paragraphs of <a href="https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2019/10/31/suspect-shot--killed-during-home-invasion-in-lithia">an October 31, 2019 Bay News 9 story</a>. The story was updated by <a href="https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2019/11/01/victim-of-violent-home-invasion-speaks--credits-wife-with-saving-his-life#">their October 31, 2019 story</a>. <i>That</i> story was linked by <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7647139/Heavily-pregnant-mother-uses-AR-15-kill-home-intruder-two-men-burst-Florida-home.html?ito=social-twitter_dailymailus">this November 4, 2019 Daily Mail (U.K.) story</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, "new roman";">
<b>LITHIA, Fla.</b> — Hillsborough County deputies are searching for a suspect after a home invasion in Lithia.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Suspect shot, killed during home invasion in Lithia</b></li>
<li><b>Other suspect ran off, being sought</b></li>
<li><b>Deputies said they do not believe this was random</b></li>
</ul>
The suspect being sought is one of two that broke into a home Wednesday night in the 100 block of Old Welcome Road. The other suspect was shot and killed by one of the homeowners, authorities said.<br />
<br />
According to authorities, deputies responded to a 911 call just after 9 p.m.<br />
<br />
When they arrived, they found one suspect dead in a ditch on the side of the road and the other suspect was gone.<br />
<br />
The homeowners, a man and a woman, said two men broke into their home, making demands.<br />
<br />
Deputies said the man and woman said the suspects attacked the man, pistol whipping him and beating him. That's when the woman retrieved a gun and fired a shot, hitting one of the suspects, deputies said.<br />
<br />
The suspects ran out the home, with the wounded man falling into a ditch nearby. That's where deputy found him.</blockquote>
<br />
This is the first paragraph of the November 4th Daily Mail (U.K.) story that is linked above. The link to the <nobr>October 31st</nobr> <nobr>Bay News 9</nobr> story was included.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times, "new roman"; font-size: large;">
A heavily pregnant woman used an AR-15 to kill a home intruder after two masked men entered her home in <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/florida/index.html" id="mol-7d27a810-fefe-11e9-8258-5f9aa8526311" style="font-weight: bold;">Florida</a>, pistol whipped her husband and violently grabbed their daughter. </div>
<br />
The men who entered a home with masks and a violent intent, while a heavily pregnant woman, her husband, and a child were inside, deserved to die for their crime.<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="font-size: small;">This photo was included in a different story, published in <a href="https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/three-masked-men-armed-shotgun-2151679" target="_blank">an October 29, 2018 stor</a>y in a journal called Lincolnshire Live (U,K.), titled "Three masked men armed with shotgun and machetes ‘force’ their way into house and threaten family".</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CXOf7BefJBg/XcBNhT7p3RI/AAAAAAAAMDI/mdOQd-vvkKUTEYMI7Tz4us363rsueyNlACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Masked-Men.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="615" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CXOf7BefJBg/XcBNhT7p3RI/AAAAAAAAMDI/mdOQd-vvkKUTEYMI7Tz4us363rsueyNlACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Masked-Men.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The December 29, 2019 church invasion</h3>
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/west-freeway-church-of-christ-shooting-gunman-opens-fire-at-white-settlement-texas-church-today-live-updates-2019-12-29/">a December 29, 2019 CBS news story</a>. The link in the fourth paragraph was in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, "new roman";">
Two parishioners were killed Sunday when a gunman opened fire during a church service near Fort Worth, Texas. Another parishioner shot and killed the gunman seconds after the incident began, according to officials and a livestream video of the service.<br />
<br />
Jeoff Williams of the Texas Department of Public Safety praised the "heroic parishioners" who stopped the gunman. Several parishioners quickly pulled their guns soon after the first shot was fired. <br />
<br />
Two people were treated at the scene and released, officials said.<br />
<br />
A witness told <a href="https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2019/12/29/2-dead-1-critically-injured-shooting-white-settlement-church/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">CBS Dallas / Fort Worth</a> the gunman shot someone with a shotgun during communion and that he was then taken down by another church member. According to the witness, another church member shot the suspect.</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4xvyNRl8OOc/XgpgvC8j40I/AAAAAAAAMZc/AigyJgP3mgAoW10SFlftoLBqU6htQ5M_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Governor-Abbott-Statement.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1408" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4xvyNRl8OOc/XgpgvC8j40I/AAAAAAAAMZc/AigyJgP3mgAoW10SFlftoLBqU6htQ5M_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Governor-Abbott-Statement.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
A gunman open-fired at a White Settlement, Texas church, and within 3 seconds, a good guy with a gun stopped him. This was possible due to critical changes to Texas law in 2017. <a href="https://t.co/pE2gRPWh9b">https://t.co/pE2gRPWh9b</a></div>
— NRA (@NRA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NRA/status/1211424077837156353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Watch the video again. From when he deployed the gun to when he was down was 5-6 seconds, with 2 innocent people shot. Now imagine the death toll if they had to rely on police response to a 911 call....</div>
— Elizabeth Walker (@Bwalkercox) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bwalkercox/status/1211445720475033601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Firearms instructor took out gunman at Texas church service <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NWAnews?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NWAnews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NWArk?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NWArk</a> <a href="https://t.co/H5pNZKPqGb">https://t.co/H5pNZKPqGb</a></div>
— KNWA News (@KNWAnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/KNWAnews/status/1211731182553063427?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Meet Jack Wilson.<br />
<br />
When a terrorist gunman opened fire at his church, the 71-year-old drew his firearm and squeezed off a single round, striking the moving shooter in the head from 50 feet and ending the potential massacre in roughly 3 seconds.<br />
<br />
This man is a hero. <a href="https://t.co/Ay9hVf8tFe">pic.twitter.com/Ay9hVf8tFe</a></div>
— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) <a href="https://twitter.com/jason_howerton/status/1211654988528791552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Just months ago, Joe Biden attacked the Governor of Texas for signing a law that allows people to bring guns into places of worship.<br />
<br />
Today, Two brave, armed parishioners took down the gunman at the West Freeway Church of Christ.<br />
<br />
They saved lives.<a href="https://t.co/HlW9ZkKvL2">pic.twitter.com/HlW9ZkKvL2</a></div>
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanAFournier/status/1211446928367587329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
A Monster entered a Texas Church to commit a mass shooting.<br />
<br />
It took Jack Wilson 6 seconds to kill him — the average police response is 9 minutes.<br />
<br />
Jack was armed and saved the lives of his friends and family from absolute evil.<br />
<br />
This is Jack’s story. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GunsSaveLives?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GunsSaveLives</a> <a href="https://t.co/aKhlidowkY">pic.twitter.com/aKhlidowkY</a></div>
— Turning Point USA (@TPUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TPUSA/status/1218931406618820608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
A grand jury has examined the case and has given its' "verdict".<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The grand jury found Jack Wilson was “justified” in using lethal force.<br /><br />"Texas law allows an individual, when they witness somebody placing others at risk of serious bodily injury or death, to act with deadly force"<br /><br /> <a href="https://t.co/7PYut0vV4u">https://t.co/7PYut0vV4u</a></p>— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) <a href="https://twitter.com/dcexaminer/status/1312205361156288512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The violent end of a burglar in Kansas City</h3>
This is the complete text of <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article239870468.html">a February 1, 2020 Kansas City Star story</a>. All of these links were in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, "new roman";">
A suspected burglar was shot dead early Saturday in Kansas City, Kansas, police said. <br />
<br />
Officers responded to a report of a shooting at 1:05 a.m. in the 1900 block of Minnesota Avenue, said Officer Jonathon Westbrook, a spokesman for the <a href="http://www.kckpd.org/" rel="Follow" target="_blank">Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department</a>.<br />
<br />
A preliminary investigation suggests that an occupant of the home confronted and shot the suspected burglar.<br />
<br />
Saturday’s shooting <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article238959858.html" rel="Follow" target="_blank">marks the fourth homicide</a> in Kansas City, Kansas, this year. <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article223986505.html" rel="Follow" target="_blank">At this time last year</a>, one homicide had been recorded, according to data maintained by The Star. <br />
<br />
Anyone with information is asked to call the <a href="http://www.kccrimestoppers.com/sitemenu.aspx?ID=452&" rel="Follow" target="_blank">TIPS Hotline</a> at 816-474-8477.</blockquote>
I have some information. Don't take anything that doesn't belong to you.<br />
<br />
<h3>
The mugger in Chicago who was almost killed</h3>
This is the complete text of <a href="https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/woman-with-concealed-carry-permit-fends-off-would-be-robber-in-little-village">a February 28, 2020 story published by the Fox News affiliate in Chicago</a>. The link in the first paragraph was in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, "new roman";">
<b>CHICAGO</b> - A woman with a concealed-carry permit stopped a robbery Thursday after exchanging gunfire with the would-be robber in <b><a href="https://www.fox32chicago.com/tag/us/il/cook-county/chicago/little-village">Little Village</a></b> on the Southwest Side.<br />
<br />
The woman was standing in front of her home about 6:50 p.m. in the 4100 block of West 24th Place when a male approached her with a gun and demanded her property, Chicago police said.<br />
<br />
The 33-year-old refused to hand over her things, and instead pulled out a
gun of her own, police said. The two exchanged gunfire as the male ran off, and no one was struck.</blockquote>
<br /><h3>Suburban Tampa, Florida has one less armed robber.</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Florida Woman Shoots, Kills Armed Intruder In Gunfight, Deputies Say <a href="https://t.co/YRWLesYSS1">https://t.co/YRWLesYSS1</a> <a href="https://t.co/EIgghcrEeS">pic.twitter.com/EIgghcrEeS</a></div>
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) <a href="https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1292571412977393664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div>
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David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-75510411410821030002017-10-14T13:46:00.001-07:002017-12-23T10:56:55.198-08:00The economics of the N.F.L. boycott<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<h3>
The revenue sources of the National Football League</h3>
These articles show where the NFL receives their income. They are arranged in chronological order, oldest first.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-20/nfl-teams-split-7-3-billion-in-revenue-packers-numbers-reveal" target="_blank">Bloomberg, July 20, 2015</a> "NFL Teams Split $7.3 Billion in Revenue, Packers Numbers Reveal"<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.watchdog.org/national/op-ed-nfl-teams-score-billion-in-taxpayer-subsidies-on/article_04014e6c-0012-5a36-8be4-1473879eaf5c.html" target="_blank">Christian News Service, September 16, 2015</a> "Op-Ed: NFL teams score $7 billion in taxpayer subsidies on stadiums"<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2017/03/01/nfl-tv-ad-revenue-hits-record-3-5-billion-despite-drop-in-ratings/">Forbes, March 1, 2017</a> "NFL TV Ad Revenue Hits Record $3.5 Billion Despite Drop In Ratings"<br />
<br />
<a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/03/06/nfl-will-reach-14-billion-in-2017-revenue/">Forbes, March 6, 2017</a> "NFL will reach $14 billion in 2017 revenue"<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-12/nfl-teams-split-record-7-8-billion-in-2016-up-10-percent">Bloomberg, July 12, 2017</a> "NFL Teams Split Record $7.8 Billion in 2016, Up 10 Percent"<br />
<br />
The NFL Player's Association asked a consulting firm in Chicago to prepare a report on the income of NFL owners. <a href="http://pirate.shu.edu/~rotthoku/papers/The%20Economics%20of%20NFL%20Team%20Ownership.pdf" target="_blank">Link to the undated report in PDF format</a>. The two authors of the study are both professors at the University of Chicago. Their biographies are the last two pages of the report. <br />
<br />
Note: The Green Bay Packers are a publicly-owned team. These words are <a href="https://finance.google.com/finance?q=green+bay+packers" target="_blank">the description of their stock on Google's specialized website for stock investors</a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times, new roman; font-size: Small;">
On the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, the Green Bay Packers battle for pride in the National Football League. The not-for-profit corporation owns and operates the storied franchise, which was founded in 1919 by Earl "Curly" Lambeau and joined the NFL in 1921. Home to such icons as Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke, and legendary coach Vince Lombardi, Green Bay boasts a record 13 league titles including four Super Bowl victories. The team is also the only community-owned franchise in American professional sports with more than 250,000 shareholders. The shares do not increase in value nor pay dividends, and can only be sold back to the team.</div>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Sponsorship of teams, players, and the league</h3>
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="http://fortune.com/2016/05/20/adidas-nfl-sponsor/">a May 20, 2016 Reuters story</a> that was published on the website of Fortune Magazine. The links in these paragraphs were in the article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Adidas wants to sign dozens of deals with U.S. sports stars in coming years, hoping that will provide a more lasting boost to sales than the current fashion fad for its retro sneakers, its North America head told Reuters.<br />
<br />
Since falling into third place in the United States behind Nike <a class="component stock-ticker is-up" href="http://fortune.com/fortune500/nike/">(NKE, +0.75%)</a> and Under Armour <a data-type="stock-ticker:ua" href="http://fortune.com/company/ua/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a>, the German firm has regained some ground in recent months after raising marketing spending in the world’s top sportswear market.<br />
<br />
Mark King has put a big focus on signing top athletes in sports like American football, basketball and baseball since he took over as president of the region for Adidas in 2014, after more than a decade running the company’s golf business.<br />
<br />
He said Adidas <a class="component stock-ticker is-down" href="http://fortune.com/company/addyy/">(ADDYY, -0.63%)</a> wants to sponsor 250 National Football League (NFL) players by 2020, up from 95 now, plus 100 National Basketball Association players (NBA), up from about 70 now.</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VKlI0UWYVds/WeerEM5EHsI/AAAAAAAAHQA/h6bmcaKOQkg8YbunxyosEX0Pgt75_XPCACLcBGAs/s1600/Adidas.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="795" height="138" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VKlI0UWYVds/WeerEM5EHsI/AAAAAAAAHQA/h6bmcaKOQkg8YbunxyosEX0Pgt75_XPCACLcBGAs/s200/Adidas.png" width="200" /></a></div>
As I recently told a friend on Twitter, it looks like Adidas didn't calculate what might happen if an N.F.L. player refused to stand for the National Anthem and if the N.F.L. Commissioner didn't punish him.<br />
<br />
Rules are meaningless if the N.F.L. referees won't penalize players who violate the rules. Rules are also meaningless if team owners and the N.F.L. Commissioner won't fine any player who violate the rules.<br />
<br />
These are the first five paragraphs of <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/2016/09/12/brandon-marshall-loses-endorsement-national-anthem-kneel/" target="_blank">a September 12, 2016 Denver Post story</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Brandon Marshall says he has no regrets. He doesn’t regret kneeling for the national anthem ahead of the Broncos’ season opener against the Panthers on Thursday. He doesn’t regret his peaceful protest of racial
inequity and police brutality. And he doesn’t regret it all, even as the
backlash and hatred pile on.<br />
<br />
Marshall, a teammate of Colin Kaepernick’s at the University of Nevada, said he had made the calculated decision to join the 49ers quarterback standing — or kneeling — for his beliefs, but expected
pushback.<br />
<br />
Friday, Marshall lost an endorsement with Air Academy Federal Credit Union. On Monday, Marshall lost another in CenturyLink, a company whose name is painted on the top of the Seattle Seahawks’ stadium. (On Sunday, all 53 Seahawks players stood together for the anthem, with their arms linked as a show of unity.)<br />
<br />
“We completely respect Brandon Marshall’s personal decision and right to take an action to support something in which he strongly believes,” <a href="http://news.centurylink.com/blogs/corporate/centurylink-is-terminating-agreement-with-brandon-marshall">CenturyLink said in a statement</a>. “America is anchored in the right of individuals to express their beliefs. While we acknowledge Brandon’s right, we also believe that whatever issues we face, we also occasionally must stand together to show our allegiance to our common bond as a nation. In our view, the national anthem is one of those moments. For this reason, while we wish Brandon the best this season, we are politely terminating our agreement with him.”<br />
<br />
As Marshall and his teammates practiced at the Broncos’ Dove Valley facility Monday morning, a man pulled up to the team’s headquarters and set ablaze an orange T-shirt with Marshall’s name written on it in ink.</blockquote>
These two sentences are in the fourth paragraph of the previous story.<br />
<br />
"While we acknowledge Brandon’s right, we also believe that whatever issues we face, we also occasionally must stand together to show our allegiance to our common bond as a nation. In our view, the national anthem is one of those moments."<br />
<br />
<br />
This is the complete text of <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2017/09/23/nfl-broadcasting-stocks-slump-as-protests-rise-and-tv-ratings-slump/" target="_blank">a September 23, 2017 Forbes article</a>. All of the links were included in their article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
During the past month the overall stock market is up more than 2% but shares of companies that broadcast NFL games--Comcast, Walt Disney, Fox, CBS--are all down between 1% to 8%.<br />
<br />
The NFL is now a hotbed of protests--a carry over from last year that began when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2016/10/05/confirmed-nfl-losing-millions-of-tv-viewers-because-of-national-anthem-protests/#11f4cc66226c" target="_self">protesting during the National Anthem</a>, to <a href="https://slate.com/sports/2017/08/colin-kaepernicks-protest-cost-him-his-job-but-started-a-movement.html" target="_blank">protests this year</a> by those who feel Kaepernick, who is without a team, is being unfairly treated by by the league, to a <a href="http://deadspin.com/nfl-players-send-memo-requesting-roger-goodells-support-1818619092" target="_blank">stronger push</a> by some players for an increase in NFL social activism.<br />
<br />
Towards the end of last season some felt the NFL's ratings dip <a href="http://deadline.com/2016/12/cbs-david-poltrack-nfl-ratings-network-tv-ad-sales-grow-1201864395/" target="_blank">would be temporary</a> and therefore would not ultimately hurt the networks by forcing them to <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/online/networks-forced-to-provide-make-goods-to-advertisers-due-to-sagging-nfl-ratings/" target="_blank">reimburse advertisers</a>. Instead, the opposite has happened.<br />
<br />
Ratings for the the NFL have been <a href="http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/nfl-tv-ratings-viewership-nbc-cbs-fox-espn-nfln-regular-season-playoffs/" target="_blank">worse this season</a> and <a href="http://thebiglead.com/2017/09/13/the-nfl-is-seriously-concerned-with-empty-stadiums/" target="_blank">attendance for some games</a> has also been disappointing. The networks will pay over <a href="https://www.outkickthecoverage.com/how-much-do-the-nfl-and-tv-partners-make-a-year-030117/" target="_blank">$5 billion this season </a>to televise the NFL and were already facing unflattering margins on advertising profits. An <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nfl-tv-ratings-slide-worries-wall-street-1041187" target="_blank">article </a>in The Hollywood Reporter reckons the drop in NFL ratings could trim the broadcaster's earnings by $200 million. Disney's ESPN, meanwhile, also continues to <a href="http://fortune.com/2016/08/31/pay-tv-cord-cutting/" target="_blank">get hammered</a> by cord-cutting.<br />
<br />
It's just two weeks into the 2017 NFL season. But the trend is not good for the league and its networks. No one seems happy.</blockquote>
This is the last paragraph.<br />
<br />
"It's just two weeks into the 2017 NFL season. But the trend is not good for the league and its networks. No one seems happy."<br />
<br />
<br />
These are the first five paragraphs of <a href="http://www.nj.com/hunterdon/index.ssf/2017/10/flemington_business_owner_pulls_tv_ads_over_nfl_pr.html" target="_blank">an October 5, 2017 article on the N.J. com website</a>. The letters "TWP" are an abbreviation for "township". The link in the first paragraph was in their article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
<a href="http://nj.com/hunterdon" target="_blank">RARITAN TWP.</a> -- In response to the ongoing controversy<a href="http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/09/trump_is_wheels_up_nfl_criticism_has_nothing_to_do.html" target="_blank"> surrounding NFL players kneeling</a> during the national anthem, the owner of Flemington Car and Truck Country has
pulled the dealership's ads from broadcasts of games for the remainder of the 2017 season.<br />
<br />
"The National Football League and its owners have shown their fans and marketing partners that they do not have a comprehensive policy to ensure that players stand and show respect for America and our flag during the playing of the national anthem," Steve Kalafer said in a statement. "We have cancelled all of our NFL advertising on the Optimum and Infinity (cable) networks."<br />
<br />
Kalafer is also part of the Somerset Patriots' ownership group, an independent professional baseball team based in Somerset County.<br />
<br />
"As the NFL parses the important nationwide issues of 'social justice' and 'freedom of speech,' it is clear that a firm direction by them is not forthcoming," Kalafer said in the statement.<br />
<br />
Advertising during the 2018 season will be considered at a later date, he said. Representatives of Optimum and Xfinity could not be reached for comment as of Monday night.</blockquote>
<br />
These are the first three paragraphs of <a href="http://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/21170410/gaffes-tv-ratings-concerns-dominated-nfl-players-forged-anthem-peace-league-meetings" target="_blank">an October 27, 2017 E.S.P.N. article</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
<b>NOBODY KNEW WHERE</b> to sit. Side by side or across from one another?<br />
<br />
It was the final question raised by a group of 11 NFL team owners as they mingled inside the sixth-floor conference room at the league's Park Avenue headquarters in New York City, minutes before they were to meet with a group of 12 players, one former player and three union leaders on the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 17. The day already had been stressful, and the meeting hadn't even started. League executives had spent that morning as they had the previous four weeks: grappling with a series of events the league and owners could not control, unleashed by President Donald Trump's harsh criticism of the decision by a handful of players to kneel during the national anthem.<br />
<br />
Morale was bad inside the league office, and the pressure was not letting up. There was the looming notion that sponsors would leave the NFL -- not just because of the protests but because of an array of challenges confronting the league, including the continuing decline in TV ratings. Nearly all of the league's longtime sponsors, from Papa John's to USAA, were rattled, and fissures within the league offices and teams, to say nothing of the players, were starting to expand.</blockquote>
This is the last sentence in the third paragraph.<br />
<br />
"Nearly all of the league's longtime sponsors, from Papa John's to USAA, were rattled, and fissures within the league offices and teams, to say nothing of the players, were starting to expand."<br />
<br />
<br />
These are the first three paragraphs of <a href="http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21250448/nfl-sponsor-papa-john-not-happy-anthem-protests" target="_blank">a November 1, 2017 E.S.P.N. article</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Executives from Papa John's, the official pizza company of the NFL, expressed disappointment on a conference call Wednesday about the league's ongoing player protests during the national anthem.<br />
<br />
"The
NFL has hurt us," company founder and CEO John Schnatter said. "We are disappointed the NFL and its leadership did not resolve this."<br />
<br />
Executives said the company has pulled much of its NFL television advertising and that the NFL has responded by giving the company additional future spots. Later in the day, a spokesman clarified that the spots themselves weren't being pulled, just the NFL shield or "official sponsor" designation on those spots.</blockquote>
<br />
When I see other similar articles or news stories that are relevant to this page, I will add them. I am also looking for articles or news stories that show the effect of the boycott on individual teams and on the league. As of this date, <nobr>October 14,</nobr> 2017, I consider it likely that at least one team will require financial assistance in order to pay for their expenses, which include player salaries.<br />
<br />
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="http://www.adweek.com/tv-video/nbcus-linda-yaccarino-says-some-nfl-advertisers-are-threatening-to-pull-out-over-protest-coverage/" target="_blank">a November 6, 2016 AdWeek article</a>. The link in the third paragraph was in their article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
While advertisers are sticking by the NFL games this season, they have made it clear to at least one network that they might pull out if coverage of national anthem protests continues.<br />
<br />
Linda Yaccarino, chairman of advertising sales and client partnerships for NBCUniversal, said that some advertisers are unhappy about the controversy over protests, which has “impacted” NFL ratings this year. She spoke Friday afternoon in New York during a fireside chat, moderated by Adweek, between her and Oath CEO Tim Armstrong that was part of the Verizon Media Tech Program with digital media agency R/GA.<br />
<br />
During the conversation with Armstrong, Yaccarino was asked about Papa John’s CEO John Schnatter, who <a href="http://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/papa-johns-new-marketing-chief-says-its-ceos-beef-with-the-nfl-is-about-business-not-politics/">blamed his company’s disappointing quarterly earnings</a> on the NFL’s failure to curtail national anthem protests, as well as the response from CBS Corp. CEO and chairman Leslie Moonves, who noted on his own earnings call that there was no hesitation on the part of any of his network’s NFL advertisers. “I don’t know of one sponsor that has
pulled out of any spot that they had,” said Moonves. “I don’t think it’s affecting advertising or their desire one iota.”<br />
<br />
Yaccarino
echoed Moonves’ comments, and said that none of NBCUniversal’s NFL advertisers have pulled out of NBC’s Sunday Night Football or Thursday Night Football games. However, a “list of advertisers have made themselves very clear: if you continue covering the political coverage of the issue, we will not be part of the NFL,” she said. “Because think about it: they have half the country that is cheering about that, and they have half the country that is emailing them, saying, don’t do that. So that’s a real thing.”</blockquote>
This is the second sentence of the fourth paragraph.<br />
<br />
However, a “list of advertisers have made themselves very clear: if you continue covering the political coverage of the issue, we will not be part of the NFL,” she said.<br />
<br />
The person who said this is Linda Yaccarino, chairman of advertising sales and client partnerships for NBCUniversal.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The economic effect of the boycott over time</h3>
The news stories in this section are arranged in chronological order, oldest first. The economic effects in the following stories can be measured in a few different ways, such as:<br />
<ul>
<li>reduced attendance at the stadiums</li>
<li>the reduced television and radio audience for games</li>
<li>lower sales of N.F.L.-licensed merchandise</li>
<li>the reluctance or refusal of fans to wear N.F.L.-licensed merchandise</li>
</ul>
All of these have some effect on the actual amount of income that is received by individual teams and the league.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
The 2016 football season</h4>
These are the first three paragraphs of <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonbelzer/2016/02/29/thanks-to-roger-goodell-nfl-revenues-projected-to-surpass-13-billion-in-2016/">a Forbes, February 29, 2016 article</a>. The links in these paragraphs were in the article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14786414/nfl-commissioner-roger-goodell-earned-341-million-compensation-2014-calendar-year" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">earned $34.1 million</a> in 2014, and he was worth every single penny. Thanks to Goodell's masterful negotiation of lucrative television rights deals as well as the enhancement of several new league income streams, the NFL's total revenues are projected to surpass $13.3 billion this year, up more than 50% from 2010.<br />
<br />
The projections are extrapolated from the newly revealed player revenue share numbers, which are estimated at around $200 million in total benefits for the 2016-17 season, of which $155 million will
be directly allocated under the salary cap. These numbers, <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/nfl-withheld-millions-from-players-1456189111" rel="nofollow">revealed by NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith</a>, mean that the approximately 1800 players in the league will share some $6.4 billion this upcoming season, which based on the collective bargaining agreement is a 47-48% share of total league revenues.<br />
<br />
The $13+ billion revenue figure is even more notable because it is halfway towards Goodell's stated goal of $25 billion, which he claims the league will reach by 2027. When Goodell made that
announcement in 2010, revenues were only $8.5 billion, meaning the league has brought in an estimated $750 million annually over the last six years... keeping them right on track for the $25 billion mark.</blockquote>
Please note that in the first paragraph of the previous article, the Commissioner's 2014 income is compared to his 2010 income, not his 2013 income, which would have been a straightforward one-year comparison.<br />
<br />
Please also note that this early 2016 article was written long before the first N.F.L. player began protesting the National Anthem, as proven by the next article.<br />
<br />
<br />
These are the first two paragraphs of <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000691077/article/colin-kaepernick-explains-protest-of-national-anthem">an August 27, 2016 article on the N.F.L. website</a>. The links in these paragraphs were in the article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- <a href="http://www.nfl.com/teams/sanfrancisco49ers/profile?team=SF">San Francisco 49ers</a> quarterback <a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/colinkaepernick/2495186/profile">Colin Kaepernick</a> has willingly immersed himself into controversy by refusing to stand for the playing of the national anthem in protest of what he deems are wrongdoings against African Americans and minorities in the United States. <br />
<br />
His latest refusal to stand for the anthem -- he has done this in at least one other preseason game -- came before the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/teams/sanfrancisco49ers/profile?team=SF">49ers</a>' preseason loss to Green Bay at Levi's Stadium on Friday night.</blockquote>
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kzhbqVYJpVc/WeTDZyEQmiI/AAAAAAAAHPc/LrJbQxdgfM4V4v2HI1-krZvrijero6UYQCLcBGAs/s1600/Bracket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="400" height="162" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kzhbqVYJpVc/WeTDZyEQmiI/AAAAAAAAHPc/LrJbQxdgfM4V4v2HI1-krZvrijero6UYQCLcBGAs/s200/Bracket.jpg" width="200" /></a>Mr. Kaepernick's protest began during games that were played during August 2016, usually referred to as "pre-season games" because the results of those games don't affect the names of the teams that are in the post-season playoffs. The graphic on the right shows an easy method of recording the playoff results.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.upi.com/Colin-Kaepernick-isnt-standing-tall-with-his-play/9321472412724/" target="_blank">United Press International published a similar story on August 28, 2016</a>. This story mentions Colin's poor performance on the field, which is a legitimate reason for a coach to take a player out of a game.<br />
<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uYc0wgeRt2w/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uYc0wgeRt2w?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
</td>
<td>This video was uploaded on September 1, 2016 by Mark Dice, a media analyst.<br />
<br />
The title of this video is "Colin Kaepernick Booed For Refusing to Stand During National Anthem on Military Appreciation Night".</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
September 11, 2016 was the 15th anniversary of the attacks in New York City, Washington D.C., and <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/flight-93" target="_blank">the attack that was prevented by the passengers</a> who were aboard United Airlines Flight 93.<br />
<br />
<br />
These are the first three paragraphs of an undated Bleacher Report article titled <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2662991-how-nfl-players-observed-national-anthem-on-15th-anniversary-of-911-attacks">How NFL, Players Observed National Anthem on 15th Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks</a>. The links in these paragraphs were in the article. The following Associated Press photo was included in the article and positioned just below the headline.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Ri-Sm7Rbnc/WeThUsr7v4I/AAAAAAAAHPs/xRN_hNvnU0UT2GqfnuS1tTaSYX-Lk1vtACLcBGAs/s1600/Patriotism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="650" height="425" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Ri-Sm7Rbnc/WeThUsr7v4I/AAAAAAAAHPs/xRN_hNvnU0UT2GqfnuS1tTaSYX-Lk1vtACLcBGAs/s640/Patriotism.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
With fervor over national anthem demonstrations at an all-time high, the focus on "The Star-Spangled Banner" was never greater than Sunday, which marked the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.<br />
<br />
There were demonstrations planned across the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/nfl">NFL</a> for Week 1, some in support of those who lost their lives and others in protest of racial inequality.<br />
<br />
San Francisco 49ers quarterback <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/colin-kaepernick">Colin Kaepernick</a> and teammate Eric Reid were off the marquee, with their opener against the Los Angeles Rams scheduled for Monday night. But the Seattle Seahawks made headlines before their game against the Miami Dolphins by announcing their plan to lock arms as a sign of unity.</blockquote>
N.F.L. fans can be very patriotic, but most of the N.F.L. players, <a href="https://www.nflpa.com/" target="_blank">their player association</a>, and the N.F.L. Commissioner are all ignoring this fact.<br />
<br />
<br />
These are the first six paragraphs of <a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/shut-up-and-play-the-nfl-and-espn-need-to-get-politics-out-of-sports-or-risk-losing-millions/article/2634948">a September 19, 2016 Sporting News story</a>. The links in these paragraphs were in the article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
ESPN host <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/espn-jemele-hill-trumo-white-supremacist-1202556517&source=gmail&ust=1505928296388000&usg=AFQjCNEugWw9T9BwJf61sA3CGi6R437zww" href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/espn-jemele-hill-trumo-white-supremacist-1202556517" target="_blank">Jemele Hill</a> is back on the air after calling President Trump a "white supremacist" who has surrounded himself with "other white supremicists" — remarks that earned her a reprimand, but not a suspension, from the network.<br />
<br />
The Twitter-taunting and subsequent fallout comes as the sports network's ratings have taken a significant hit over the last year, starting with players' social justice protests at pre-game festivities.<br />
<br />
Both the TV networks and the NFL are paying the penalty.<br />
<br />
As of July 2017, ESPN's ratings already dropped 9 percent compared to the same time period last year. Add that to an already bruising 2016 — in <a href="http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/nielsen-november-cable-subscriber-loss-espn-spike-1201910098/" target="_blank">November 2016 alone</a>, more than 600,000 subscribers dropped the network.<br />
<br />
Viewership for the entire NFL is down <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sliding-nfl-ratings-could-throw-networks-for-a-loss/&source=gmail&ust=1505928296389000&usg=AFQjCNE9VhbLZ_xvv_kCR92qzoOIhnZw3A" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sliding-nfl-ratings-could-throw-networks-for-a-loss/" target="_blank">14 percent</a> this year, according to Pivotal Research. It represents an eight-year low. Last year, ratings fell 9 percent.<br />
<br />
Advertising spending is also down. The NFL is experiencing the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.google.com/amp/www.sportingnews.com/amp/nfl/news/nfl-seeing-worst-tv-ad-commercial-sales-ratings-slump/9iavm52hu6q11ps4hifg9yqxg&source=gmail&ust=1505928296389000&usg=AFQjCNGcSXirxOF9TJgjhvZELFsuakya4A" href="https://www.google.com/amp/www.sportingnews.com/amp/nfl/news/nfl-seeing-worst-tv-ad-commercial-sales-ratings-slump/9iavm52hu6q11ps4hifg9yqxg" target="_blank">worst advanced ad sales</a> in a decade. Not since the recession started in 2008 have revenues been this dismal.</blockquote>
<br />
This is the third paragraph of the February 29, 2016 Forbes Magazine article that I quoted and linked earlier.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The $13+ billion revenue figure is even more notable because it is halfway towards Goodell's stated goal of $25 billion, which he claims the league will reach by 2027. When Goodell made that
announcement in 2010, revenues were only $8.5 billion, meaning the league has brought in an estimated $750 million annually over the last six years... keeping them right on track for the $25 billion mark.</blockquote>
The N.F.L. Commissioner's remark was made years before Mr. Kaepernick threw a monkey wrench into the relationship between the N.F.L. and the fans.<br />
<br />
<br />
These are the first five paragraphs of <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/nfl-tv-ratings-rasmussen-reports-poll-colin-kaepernick-anthem-protest-reaction-effect/95jdoch1ngj103xvbkllcbvk">an October 5, 2016 Sporting News story</a>. The links in these paragraphs were in the article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
It's the Kaepernick Effect, stupid.<br />
<br />
The alarming fall in NFL TV ratings this season is partly because of fan anger over on-field protests by Colin Kaepernick and other players of the American flag/national anthem, according to pollster Rasmussen Reports.<br />
<br />
Nearly one-third (32 percent) of adults say they're less likely to watch NFL game telecasts because of the Kaepernick-led player protests against racial injustice, according to Rasmussen's telephone/online survey of 1,000 American adults conducted Oct. 2-3.<br />
<br />
Only 13 percent said they were more likely to watch an NFL game because of continuing protests by Kaepernick and supporters such as Antonio Cromartie of the Colts (who was cut only two days after raising a fist during the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" in London on Sunday).<br />
<br />
More than half(52 percent) say the protests have no impact on their decision to watch NFL games on NBC, Fox, CBS, ESPN and NFL Network this season.</blockquote>
The third paragraph of the previous story is only one sentence. Here it is.<br />
<br />
"Nearly one-third (32 percent) of adults say they're less likely to watch NFL game telecasts because of the Kaepernick-led player protests against racial injustice, according to Rasmussen's telephone/online survey of 1,000 American adults conducted Oct. 2-3."<br />
<br />
Forbes Magazine wrote an article on the same date titled <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2016/10/05/confirmed-nfl-losing-millions-of-tv-viewers-because-of-national-anthem-protests/#72ebe841226c" target="_blank">Confirmed: NFL Losing Millions Of TV Viewers Because Of National Anthem Protests</a>. Their article quoted the Sporting News story and linked to it.<br />
<br />
The Atlantic Monthly wrote <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/10/nfl-ratings-just-fell-off-a-cliff-why/503666/" target="_blank">a similar story on October 11, 2016</a>. It mentions the drop in television ratings, but Colin Kaepernick's name is only mentioned once. That paragraph mentions twelve other players who have contributed to the sales of N.F.L.-licensed jerseys and television ratings) during the past few years, as of the date of their story.<br />
<br />
<br />
These are the first seven paragraphs of <a href="https://www.si.com/mmqb/2016/10/27/nfl-ratings-decline-football-fans-explain-viewership">an October 27, 2016 Sports Illustrated article</a>. "MMQB" means Monday Morning Quarterback, which is the name of <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl" target="_blank">a column about the N.F.L. on their website, written by Peter King</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The NFL has a ratings problem. Monday Night Football is down 24% from last year at this time, Sunday Night Football is down 19% and Thursday night is down 18%. We asked readers of The MMQB to share their theories and explanations behind the double-digit losses for prime-time games and the general sense that the league is losing viewers.</blockquote>
<br />
These are the first seven paragraphs of <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/nfl-player-protests-boycott-colin-kaepernick-tv-ratings-effect/1a4kz29pxpvx017kxgl64dbjb4" target="_blank">a December 13, 2016 Sporting News story</a>. The link in the seventh paragraph was in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Longtime NFL fan Jon VanDeBogart claims he has not watched one second of NFL action this season.<br />
<br />
The former U.S. Marine and police officer is morally offended by 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's protest of the U.S. flag and national anthem.<br />
<br />
VanDeBogart views Kaepernick's protest as anti-police, anti-military and anti-American. He wants the NFL to pass an NBA-style rule mandating all players stand for the presentation of the flag/anthem.<br />
<br />
He wants Kaepernick and other protesting players kicked out of the league — unless they stand for Old Glory and "The Star-Spangled Banner."<br />
<br />
"This has left such a bad taste in my mouth," the 46-year-old elementary school teacher told Sporting News. "I don't know if I can ever forgive them to tell you the truth. I don't know if I'll get the opportunity to find out. But it's not looking good. They may have lost a fan for life."<br />
<br />
VanDeBogart is not alone.<br />
<br />
Using the hashtag #BoycottNFL, a <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/nfl-tv-ratings-dropoff-protests-colin-kaepernick-49ers-boycott-fans-espn-cbs-nbc-fox/23puzjzpkl1v15rv3sixi112m">small-but-vocal group</a> of NFL fans have lodged their own protest against Kaepernick's protest by refusing to watch game telecasts.</blockquote>
<br />
These are the first three paragraphs of <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/briangoff/2017/01/23/nfls-missing-million-viewers/">a January 23, 2017 Forbes Magazine article</a>. The chart after the second paragraph was included in their article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Much has been written about the decline in viewership for the NFL this fall. I wanted to wait until most of the season was over before evaluating the situation in a more analytical way. It’s easy to jump to conclusions based on a couple of weeks or even half of season of data. Week-to-week matchups matter a lot for ratings and may not cancel each other out over a few weeks. In addition, a few special events such as the presidential debates and the unusually compelling World Series overlapped with NFL games.<br />
<br />
The table below shows 2016 season average viewership per game compared with the two prior seasons including both the regular season and playoffs through the divisional rounds:<br />
<br />
<b>NFL Viewership Per Game (millions) For Regular Season</b><br />
<table style="height: 90px; width: 225px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>Season</b></td>
<td><b> Viewers</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>2014</b></td>
<td> 19.2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>2015</b></td>
<td> 19.6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>2016</b></td>
<td> 17.6</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
Viewership dropped by about two million per game versus 2015 and about 1.6 million versus 2014. Playoff numbers are more mixed, showing the effects of the specific matchups. The playoff numbers show similar declines, at least at the median with 33 million viewers in 2016 falling two million below the 2015 median and four million below the 2014 median. The top end of the range of playoff viewership is better for 2016, where Dallas' presence in the divisional round boosted the figures (as in 2014). I don't yet have access to the conference championship numbers, and given the appeal of the Patriots-Steelers matchup, viewership may be strong. However, given that both championship games turned into blowouts won't help.</blockquote>
The author of this article, Brian Goff, is smart enough to know that the viewership of N.F.L. games can change for many reasons. These are the last three sentences of his first paragraph.<br />
<br />
"It’s easy to jump to conclusions based on a couple of weeks or even half of season of data. Week-to-week matchups matter a lot for ratings and may not cancel each other out over a few weeks. In addition, a few special events such as the presidential debates and the unusually compelling World Series overlapped with NFL games."<br />
<br />
The next part of Mr. Goff's article shows a similar three-year comparison for the audience of playoff games. This is the first of his five "results", as shown later in his article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The NFL lost about a million viewers per game. Taking into account these other factors makes a sizable dent in the apparent reduction using the raw viewership numbers, but it does not make it vanish altogether.</blockquote>
These are the last two results that he reported in his article.<br />
<ul>
<li>There is a mid-season lull between weeks 7 to 10 where the league loses about 1.5 to 2 million viewers per game. The World Series fall in this range, but also the combination of team byes along with some loss of early season interest before the push to the playoffs begins helps to explain it.</li>
<br />
<li>The presidential debates lopped off about 3 million viewers while the World Series reduced viewership by 5 million in 2016 and 4 million in 2015.</li>
</ul>
I thank Mr. Goff again for his fair and balanced reporting. Sometimes, finding and reporting a trend requires that more than one year passes before the event that starts the trend, such as Mr. Kaepernick's protest. That's why Mr. Goff included other factors like presidential debates and the World Series in his analysis, that's why I am including the economic facts of the 2017 football season, and that's why I will continue to write about the economic facts until the protest has ended and the economy of the N.F.L. shows clear signs of improvement as a direct result of the end of the protest.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<h4>
The 2017 football off-season</h4>
These are the first six paragraphs of <a href="http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/03/06/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/NFL-revenue.aspx">a March 6, 2017 Sports Business article</a>. It included a photo, positioned after the third paragraph, of Colin Kaepernick and two other San Francisco players kneeling, which is consistent with the content of the first paragraph.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The NFL will take in roughly $14 billion of revenue this season, over $900 million more than last year. <br />
<br />
Increased media payments, a new “Thursday Night Football” package, and the opening of the new U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota all contributed to the increase.<br />
<br />
“It continues unabated,” said Marc Ganis, a sports consultant close to the NFL. “When you get above a certain number, it is really hard to move the needle on revenue growth.”<br />
<br />
The figures are based on calculations from the salary cap for the 2017 season, which the league and NFLPA released last week. The cap is $167 million a team. With player benefits pegged at $37 million, the total for each of the 32 clubs comes to $204 million, or $6.5 billion in labor costs for 2017.<br />
<br />
The league shares most revenue with the players, who get between 46 percent and 48 percent of each year’s take. That would translate to revenue of between $13.6 billion and $14.2 billion. <br />
<br />
Those revenue figures are incomplete, as the league does not share every penny with the players, shielding hundreds of millions of dollars in areas such as stadium finance. So the total revenue for the league is almost surely to top the $14 billion mark this year.</blockquote>
This story was linked by <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/03/06/nfl-will-reach-14-billion-in-2017-revenue/" target="_blank">this NBC Sports story dated the same day</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/sports/espn-layoffs.html" target="_blank">a April 26, 2017 New York Times story</a>. The link in the first paragraph and the tweet after the first paragraph were in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The “Worldwide Leader in Sports,” as ESPN brands itself, laid off scores of journalists and on-air talent on Wednesday, showing that even the most formidable media kingdom was vulnerable to the transformation upending the sports broadcasting industry as more and more people turn away from cable television.<br />
<br />
Among the prominent people let go were the former N.F.L. players Trent Dilfer and Danny Kanell, the former N.B.A. player Len Elmore, the former baseball general manager Jim Bowden and the longtime N.F.L. reporter Ed Werder.<br />
<br />
ESPN is by far the biggest and most powerful entity in the sports media industry, and it has felt the sting as viewers turn away from traditional ways of consuming live sports.<br />
<br />
The network has lost more than 10 million subscribers over the past several years. At the same time, the cost of broadcasting major sports has continued to rise. ESPN committed to an <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/09/sports/football/espn-extends-deal-with-nfl-for-15-billion.html">e</a><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/09/sports/football/espn-extends-deal-with-nfl-for-15-billion.html">ight</a><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/09/sports/football/espn-extends-deal-with-nfl-for-15-billion.html">-</a><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/09/sports/football/espn-extends-deal-with-nfl-for-15-billion.html">year, $15.2 billion</a> deal extension with the N.F.L. in 2011; a nine-year, $12 billion deal with the N.B.A.; and a $7.3 billion deal for the college football playoffs, among many others.</blockquote>
Similar articles were published by these organizations. These stories are arranged in chronological order, oldest first.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/04/26/espn-announces-layoffs-with-100-people-reportedly-affected/" target="_blank">The Washington Post, written April 26, 2017, updated May 1, 2017</a></li>
<li><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2017/04/26/media/espn-layoffs-on-air-talent/index.html" target="_blank">CNN/Money, April 26, 2017</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/04/espn-layoffs-reports-john-buccigross-twitter-response" target="_blank">USA Today, April 26, 2017</a>, written about John Buccigross</li>
<li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/espn-layoffs-names-2017-4" target="_blank">Business Insider, April 26, 2017</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/04/espn-layoffs-andy-katz-twitter-response-beautiful-note" target="_blank">USA Today, April 27, 2017</a>, written about Andy Katz</li>
<li><a href="https://www.si.com/tech-media/2017/04/26/espn-layoffs-names-list-ed-werder-more" target="_blank">Sports Illustrated, April 28, 2017</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/other-sports/news/list-of-biggest-names-laid-off-at-espn-updates-ed-werder-john-buccigross/eyf1kwjj6gpt10erj8ke3n1tp" target="_blank">The Sporting News, May 31, 2017</a></li>
</ul>
If E.S.P.N. (and other networks) are getting fewer viewers, then those networks will have less revenue from their advertisers.<br />
<br />
<br />
These are the first six paragraphs of <a href="http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/20171611/national-anthem-protests-no-1-reason-viewers-tuned-nfl-games">a July 27, 2017 E.S.P.N. article</a>. It included a photo, positioned after the third paragraph, of Colin Kaepernick and two other San Francisco players kneeling, which is consistent with the content of the first paragraph.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
National anthem protests were the top reason that NFL fans watched fewer games last season, according to a new survey released by J.D. Power.<br />
<br />
The pollster said it asked more than 9,200 people who attended either one football, basketball or hockey game whether they tuned into fewer games and why. Twenty-six percent of those who watched
fewer games last season said that national anthem protests, some of which were led by Colin Kaepernick, were the reason.<br />
<br />
After that, 24 percent of those surveyed who said they watched fewer games said they did so either because of the league's off-the-field image issues with domestic violence or with game delays, including penalties.<br />
<br />
One in five (20 percent) listed excessive commercials and advertising as a reason, something the NFL is seeking to address by moving around traditional ad blocks.<br />
<br />
Sixteen percent said it was because of their interest being replaced by the 2016 presidential election coverage.<br />
<br />
Five percent said they watched fewer games because they got rid of cable.</blockquote>
The polling that is mentioned in the second paragraph was done during July. This is significant because much of the political actions that are done in the United States during the fall, winter, and spring are absent during the summer. This allows Americans to focus on what's important to them, including their families and their patriotism.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<h4>
The 2017 football season</h4>
<a href="https://deadline.com/2017/09/patriots-chiefs-nfl-kickoff-game-ratings-down-nbc-1202163914/" target="_blank">Link to a September 8, 2017 Deadline Hollywood article</a> titled "NFL Kickoff Scores 21.8M Viewers, Down Double-Digits From 2016".<br />
<br />
These are the first two paragraphs of <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/09/10/49ers-rams-open-seasons-empty-stadiums-photos">a September 10, 2017 Sports Illustrated article</a>. It included .<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The start of the NFL season is normally a pretty big deal across the country. Apparently Los Angeles and San Francisco didn't get the memo.<br />
<br />
The Rams and 49ers each opened their season at home Sunday, and both teams had to start their games with lots of empty seats in the stadium.</blockquote>
<br />
The following Associated Press photo and caption were included in <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2017/09/17/redskins-fans-made-their-presence-felt-at-half-full-los-angeles-coliseum/">this September 17, 2017 Washington Post story</a> with this headline: "Redskins fans made their presence felt at half-full Los Angeles Coliseum"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JGHfc23dxW4/WfjHsL-_dyI/AAAAAAAAHaE/UHic-jREid8hlKKq_wEpIe4xpnnkyOuPwCLcBGAs/s1600/Stadium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="1484" height="425" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JGHfc23dxW4/WfjHsL-_dyI/AAAAAAAAHaE/UHic-jREid8hlKKq_wEpIe4xpnnkyOuPwCLcBGAs/s640/Stadium.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: Small; text-align: Center;">
There was lots of burgundy and gold in the stands Sunday. (Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)</div>
<br />
... because there weren't as many fans in the seats as there used to be. Guess why.<br />
<br />
These are the first six paragraphs of <a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/shut-up-and-play-the-nfl-and-espn-need-to-get-politics-out-of-sports-or-risk-losing-millions/article/2634948">a September 19, 2017 Washington Examiner story</a>. The links in these paragraphs were in their story. In the first paragraph, the word "supremacist" was spelled correctly once and misspelled once. I don't correct anyone else's misspelled words.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
ESPN host <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/espn-jemele-hill-trumo-white-supremacist-1202556517&source=gmail&ust=1505928296388000&usg=AFQjCNEugWw9T9BwJf61sA3CGi6R437zww" href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/espn-jemele-hill-trumo-white-supremacist-1202556517" target="_blank">Jemele Hill</a> is back on the air after calling President Trump a "white supremacist" who has surrounded himself with "other white supremicists" — remarks that earned her a reprimand, but not a suspension, from the network.<br />
<br />
The Twitter-taunting and subsequent fallout comes as the sports network's ratings have taken a significant hit over the last year, starting with players' social justice protests at pre-game festivities.<br />
<br />
Both the TV networks and the NFL are paying the penalty.<br />
<br />
As of July 2017, ESPN's ratings already dropped 9 percent compared to the same time period last year. Add that to an already bruising 2016 — in <a href="http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/nielsen-november-cable-subscriber-loss-espn-spike-1201910098/" target="_blank">November 2016 alone</a>, more than 600,000 subscribers dropped the network.<br />
<br />
Viewership for the entire NFL is down <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sliding-nfl-ratings-could-throw-networks-for-a-loss/&source=gmail&ust=1505928296389000&usg=AFQjCNE9VhbLZ_xvv_kCR92qzoOIhnZw3A" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sliding-nfl-ratings-could-throw-networks-for-a-loss/" target="_blank">14 percent</a> this year, according to Pivotal Research. It represents an eight-year low. Last year, ratings fell 9 percent.<br />
<br />
Advertising spending is also down. The NFL is experiencing the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.google.com/amp/www.sportingnews.com/amp/nfl/news/nfl-seeing-worst-tv-ad-commercial-sales-ratings-slump/9iavm52hu6q11ps4hifg9yqxg&source=gmail&ust=1505928296389000&usg=AFQjCNGcSXirxOF9TJgjhvZELFsuakya4A" href="https://www.google.com/amp/www.sportingnews.com/amp/nfl/news/nfl-seeing-worst-tv-ad-commercial-sales-ratings-slump/9iavm52hu6q11ps4hifg9yqxg" target="_blank">worst advanced ad sales</a> in a decade. Not since the recession started in 2008 have revenues been this dismal.</blockquote>
"Not since the recession started in 2008 have revenues been this dismal."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://fortune.com/2017/09/20/nfl-monday-night-football-tv-ratings-decline/" target="_blank">This September 20, 2017 Fortune Magazine article</a> discusses television and the low ratings for N.F.L. games but not the player protests. <br />
<br />
<br />
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="https://nypost.com/2017/09/20/the-nfl-is-praying-for-a-ratings-turnaround/">a September 20, 2017 New York Post story</a>. The link in the fourth paragraph was in the article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
As the NFL kicks off Week 3 with “Thursday Night Football,” team owners, TV networks and Madison Avenue are hoping it can turn around an early-season ratings dip.<br />
<br />
Ratings in Weeks 1 and 2 were down 12 and 15 percent, respectively, according to Nielsen.<br />
<br />
To be sure, saturation TV coverage of Hurricane Irma sapped some eyeballs from football during the first week of play.<br />
<br />
Still, nine of the 13 NFL windows in the season-to-date posted viewership declines, <a href="http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/nfl-tv-ratings-viewership-nbc-cbs-fox-espn-nfln-regular-season-playoffs/">Sports Media Watch reported</a>.</blockquote>
<br />
The website called Sports Media Watch, linked in the last quoted paragraph of the previous story, has statistics on ratings and viewership in these six major categories, but there is no analysis of these numbers.<br />
<ul>
<li>the National Football League</li>
<li>college football</li>
<li>Major League Baseball</li>
<li>auto racing, which is further broken down into</li>
<ul>
<li>The National Hot Rod Association</li>
<li>N.A.S.C.A.R.</li>
<li>the cars that are raced at <a href="http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/" target="_blank">the Indianapolis Motor Speedway</a></li>
<li>Formula 1 cars</li>
</ul>
<li>a category that includes tennis, college basketball, golf, boxing, mixed martial arts, horse racing, the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Olympics</li>
<li>a page that shows the ratings for individual networks' sports programming</li>
</ul>
<u>Links to similar stories</u>, arranged in chronological order, oldest first:<br />
<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nfl-tv-ratings-slide-worries-wall-street-1041187" target="_blank">Hollywood Reporter, September 20, 2017</a></td>
<td><a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/nfl-ratings-troubles-could-cost-tv-network-partners-big-time-2017-9-1002388736" target="_blank">Business Insider, September 20, 2017</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/sports/2017/09/21/networks-could-lose-200-million-nfl-ratings-slide-continues/" target="_blank">Breitbart, September 21, 2017</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-college-football-vs-nfl-20170921-story.html" target="_blank">Chicago Tribune, September 21, 2017</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-attendance-down-2017-9" target="_blank">Business Insider, September 22, 2017</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-24/nfl-ratings-become-part-of-political-battle-with-president-trump" target="_blank">Bloomberg, September 24, 2017</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/25/sports/football/nfl-ratings-trump.html" target="_blank">New York Times, September 25, 2017</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-nfl-tv-ratings/" target="_blank">C.B.S. News, September 25, 2017</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2017/09/26/nfl-player-protests-hurting-ratings/703619001/" target="_blank">U.S.A. Today, September 26, 2017</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/nfl-ratings-continue-to-see-a-decline-in-2016_2165059.html" target="_blank">The Epoch Times, September 30, 2017</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Note: The Epoch Times is usually printed in Chinese. <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/c-china" target="_blank">This is their page of English-language news about China</a>.<br />
<br />
The headline of the September 24th Bloomberg story and the September 25th C.B.S. News story mentioned Donald Trump. As stated in <a href="https://conserving-the-mobile-nation.blogspot.com/2017/10/boycott-national-football-league-updates.html" target="_blank">my October 11, 2017 essay</a>, any news organization that frames this issue as a dispute between the President and the N.F.L. players is ignoring the anger of the fans over the politicization of the game and the disrespect of our country's flag and national anthem.<br />
<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BXhgis3LYcI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BXhgis3LYcI?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
</td>
<td style="font-size: Small;">This video was uploaded on September 26, 2017 by <a href="http://www.pennlive.com/">PennLive.com</a>.<br />
<br />
NFL players <i>demand</i> that team owners share the profits with them, but none of those same players are willing to share <i>their own profits</i> with the stores that sell the jerseys that have <i>their own names on them</i>.</td>
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<br />
Any company that has a license from the N.F.L. to manufacture any merchandise with the N.F.L. logo on it has.paid a fee to the N.F.L. in exchange for the right to manufacture that merchandise.<br />
<br />
These are the first five paragraphs of <a href="http://fox43.com/2017/09/29/steel-city-sports-in-lancaster-county-loses-business-after-national-anthem-controversy/" target="_blank">a related September 29, 2017 story on the website of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania affiliate of Fox News television</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
EAST LAMPETER TOWNSHIP, LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. -- After most of the Pittsburgh Steelers players opted to stay off the field during the national anthem before Sunday's game, one Lancaster County business is struggling to sell the team's memorabilia.<br />
<br />
Steel City Sports in East Lampeter Township bleeds black and yellow and everything Pittsburgh. It's a top spot for fans looking for sports memorabilia in Lancaster County.<br />
<br />
"People come in here for their slice of hometown Pittsburgh," said owner, Susan Moedinger.<br />
<br />
Business is hurting, though. Moedinger says profits are down 60 percent compared to this time last year, and she blames the recent decision by Steelers' football players not to participate in the national anthem Sunday at Chicago.<br />
<br />
"Monday morning, we began to get calls and people stopping in to say they will never shop in my store again because they were boycotting the Steelers, the NFL," she said. "I'd say potentially they're hurting Steel City Sports, me and my family. It's a small business, veteran owned."</blockquote>
This is the second sentence of the fourth paragraph.<br />
<br />
"[Store owner Susan] Moedinger says profits are down 60 percent compared to this time last year, and she blames the recent decision by Steelers' football players not to participate in the national anthem Sunday at Chicago."<br />
<br />
<br />
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="https://townhall.com/tipsheet/timothymeads/2017/10/08/nfl-ratings-dip-below-mlb-and-nba-n2392266">an October 8, 2017 Town Hall story</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The protests sparked by former National Football League quarterback Colin Kaepernick that caused league wide kneeling during the national anthem this past month has led to the decline in popularity of the NFL.<br />
<br />
At one point, the NFL was America’s favorite sport, but now a recent poll shows it is the least liked sport of any top professional or college sport.<br />
<br />
According to a poll conducted by the Winston Group, the NFL currently has a 44 percent favorability rating compared to a 40 percent unfavorable rating.<br />
<br />
The most liked sport is baseball. Major League Baseball has a 63 percent favorability rating compared to a 16 percent unfavorable.</blockquote>
<br />
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/12/nfls-anthem-protests-may-be-starting-to-hit-foxs-bottom-line.html">an October 12, 2017 C.N.B.C. story</a>. The link in the first paragraph was in their article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Declining football game television ratings will cut into <a class="inline_quotes" data-gdsid="27171" data-inline-quote-symbol="FOXA" href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/?symbol=FOXA">Twenty-First Century Fox's</a> earnings, according to one Wall Street firm.<br />
<br />
Credit Suisse lowered its price target and earnings per share forecasts for the media company, citing Fox's poor Sunday NFL ratings.<br />
<br />
"We trim our 2018/19 EPS forecasts … ahead of Q1 earnings," analyst Omar Sheikh wrote in a note to clients Thursday. "The key near term headwinds are soft NFL ratings and the risk that the Sky transaction is blocked by UK regulators."<br />
<br />
Fox is seeking to acquire the 61 percent of European pay-TV company Sky it does not already own.</blockquote>
<br />
These are the first three paragraphs of <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/nfl-tv-television-ratings-down-numbers-national-anthem-protests/l2x7dhlkuubk1tbeftag9ttis">an October 15, 2017 Sporting News story</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
No wonder alarm bells are sounding in NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s office.<br />
<br />
The league's average TV audience through Week 5 of the 2017 season dropped 7 percent vs. the same period of the 2016 season, according to Nielsen data obtained by Sporting News. Worse for the league, the average game audiences are down 18 percent compared to the first five weeks of the 2015 season.<br />
<br />
The NFL's average TV audience (including Sunday afternoon, Sunday night, Monday night and Thursday night games) slid to 15.156 million viewers through Week 5 of the 2017 season. That’s down 7.42 percent from an average of 16.371 million viewers through the same period of the 2016 season, and 18 percent down from the average of 18.438 million viewers through the first five weeks of the 2015 season.</blockquote>
<br />
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/nfl-tv-ratings-viewership-cbs-fox-stock/17014jc77y5rpzqhoiw8tugx8">an October 18, 2017 Sporting News story</a>. The links in these paragraphs were in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Television viewership of NFL games is down significantly this season, and the trend is affecting the outlook on media companies’ stocks.<br />
<br />
According to Nielsen data cited by <a href="http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21056998/nfl-ratings-75-percent-week-6-2017-compared-2016">ESPN.com</a>, an average of 15 million people have watched NFL games this season, down about 7.5 percent from the 16.2 million average through Week 6 last year.<br />
<br />
Reporting slightly different numbers, the New York Post <a href="http://nypost.com/2017/10/17/nfl-ratings-continue-to-crawl-back-to-normal/">writes</a> that through Week 6, the NFL “continued to close the deficit of TV viewers compared with last season — albeit at a numbingly slow pace.” Viewership of NFL games was down 12.3 percent after Week 1.<br />
Citing the potential impact of decreasing ratings on advertising revenues, investment bank Credit Suisse lowered its projections on Fox and CBS stocks within the last week.</blockquote>
<br />
These are the first two paragraphs of <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/briangoff/2017/10/23/nfl-losing-viewers-at-alarming-rate-but-faces-limits-on-its-response/#2c4d216f4212">an October 23, 2017 Forbes article</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Last year the NFL lost about a million regular season viewers versus the 2013 and 2014 seasons. It represented about a 6 percent fall-off --enough to be easily noticed and maybe even cause a little concern, but it could be written off as a one-year blip. I wrote about it in The NFL's Missing Million Viewers.<br />
<br />
Last year's seepage from the dam has turned into a major break in the dam. The league is now down about 3 million viewers per game from 2013 and 2014. When the specific teams appearing, the scope of the telecast, and week of the season are taken into account, the decline is even more dramatic with more than 4 million viewers or in excess of 20 percent.</blockquote>
<br />
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/10/26/fox-news-poll-positive-views-nfl-down-18-points-since-2013.html">a October 27, 2017 Fox News story about a Fox News poll</a>. The graphic and the link after the second paragraph was in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The National Football League is taking some hits these days. A new Fox News Poll finds that since 2013, the league’s favorable rating has dropped 18 points.<br />
<br />
Today, 46 percent of voters have a positive view of the N.F.L. while 41 percent view it negatively. Four years ago (the last time the question was asked), 64 percent had a positive view of the league and 19 percent were critical.<br />
<br />
<img alt="nflpoll1" src="https://a57.foxnews.com/images.foxnews.com/content/fox-news/politics/2017/10/26/fox-news-poll-positive-views-nfl-down-18-points-since-2013/_jcr_content/article-text/article-par-2/inline_spotlight_ima/image.img.png/612/344/1509047598518.png?ve=1&tl=1" /><br />
<br />
<a href="https://andersonrobbins.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/102617_complete_topline_NFL_Puerto-Rico_Security.pdf" target="_blank">READ THE FULL POLL RESULTS.</a><br />
<br />
“If the NFL were a political candidate, alarm bells would be going off in campaign headquarters,” says Democratic Pollster Chris Anderson who conducts the Fox News Poll with Republican Pollster
Daron Shaw.<br />
<br />
"Today, 46 percent of voters have a positive view of the N.F.L. while 41 percent view it negatively."</blockquote>
This is the first sentence in the second paragraph.<br />
<br />
"Today, 46 percent of voters have a positive view of the N.F.L. while 41 percent view it negatively."<br />
<br />
Link to a similar story, published the same day, by The Sporting News.<br />
<br />
Disapproval of the players by the fans always leads to reduced numbers of television viewers. These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/nfl-tv-ratings-2017-through-week-7-cbs-fox-nbc-espn-mnf-snf-tnf-goodell-kaepernick-trump/kyfaiyz0x9rm19cxtn994edwr">a October 27, 2017 Sporting News story</a>. The link after the second paragraph and the link in the fourth paragraph were in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The NFL's once-golden network TV numbers continue to drop.<br />
<br />
NFL games averaged 15.1 million viewers through Week 7, according to Nielsen data obtained by Sporting News. That's down 5.1 percent from 15.87 million viewers during the same period last season and off 18.7 percent from 18.35 million viewers during the same period in 2015.<br />
<br />
<b>MORE: <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/other-sports/news/espn-layoffs-latest-news-rumors-firings-mike-greenberg-golic-scott-van-pelt-svp-jemele-hill/1js74yxvu7l0wz8g26kdwl7nd" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sources say more ESPN layoffs coming</a></b><br />
<br />
Viewership numbers are lagging for a variety of reasons, not least the ongoing protests during the national anthem that former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began in 2016. Fans are still angry about Kaepernick’s continued unemployment as well as what's seen as the growing politicization of the NFL.<br />
<br />
In addition, President Donald Trump continues to attack the league for not forcing all players to stand during the anthem. Commissioner Roger Goodell and player reps met last week to seek a way forward, but <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/nfl-national-anthem-policy-roger-goodell-donald-trump-protests-meeting/1enkl2ucj0e7s17r1xy11a4lx6">there wasn’t much progress</a>, and players continue to protest.</blockquote>
As long as N.F.L. players continue to protest, without any punishment by the team owners or by the N.F.L. Commissioner, the fans will continue to stay away from live games and televised games.<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-10334851331394799362017-10-11T12:19:00.000-07:002020-02-02T12:55:39.830-08:00Boycott the National Football League - updates<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
This page has news stories that were published after my original blog page was published on <nobr>October 6,</nobr> 2017. The first two news stories, dated October 5th and October 8th, were on the original page until I moved them to this page. The first news story was published before my essay, but I didn't see it until after I published it, so that's the reason why I'm including it here.<br />
<br />
News stories and articles that are dated after July 1, 2018 are on the 2019 update page, which will be published after there is a reasonable amount of information on the page. <br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The N.A.A.C.P. agrees with most of America</h3>
This section was added October 18, 2017.<br />
<br />
The N.A.A.C.P. is the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. These are the first three paragraphs of <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2017/08/23/naacp-wants-meeting-with-nfl-commissioner-goodell-to-discuss-kaepernick.html" target="_blank">an August 23, 2017 Fox News story</a>. The links in these paragraphs were in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The interim head of the NAACP Wednesday requested a meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss why free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick has not been signed by any team.<br />
<br />
Kaepernick attracted national attention last season as a member of the San Francisco 49ers when he refused to stand for "The Star-Spangled Banner" to protest police brutality against African-Americans. Kaepernick attracted further controversy when he praised Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, as well as the Black Panthers and the Black Lives Matter movement.<br />
<br />
In the letter to Goodell, NAACP Interim President Derrick Johnson claimed Kaepernick was being blackballed for his advocacy.<br />
<br />
"As outlined in your office's public statement, [Kaepernick's] act of dissent is well within the National Football League's stated bylaws," Johnson wrote. "Yet, as the NFL season quickly
approaches, Mr. Kaepernick has spent an unprecedented amount of time as a free agent, and it is becoming increasingly apparent that this is no sheer coincidence."<br />
<br />
"No player should be victimized and discriminated against because of his exercise of free speech — to do so is in violation of his rights under the Constitution and the NFL's own regulations," Johnson added.</blockquote>
This organization and the fans who are protesting the N.F.L. kneelers agree that Colin Kaepernick and the other kneelers are not violating the terms of the N.F.L. policies. We also agree that Colin Kaepernick has spent a long time without playing for any N.F.L. team.<br />
<br />
America disagrees with this organization on these issues.<br />
<ol>
<li>America believes that football games are meant to be an athletic contest conducted under the rules of the sport. These rules are enforced by referees who take a pledge to enforce those rules without regard to the names of the players or the teams that they play for. This policy makes these referees color-blind and deliberately ignorant of any social or political causes that Mr. Kaepernick and his friends might care about.</li>
<br />
<li>America believes that Colin's political statements (sitting or kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem) are inappropriate for a color-blind athletic contest.</li>
<br />
<li>America believes that the wording of the N.F.L. rules does technically permit the players to kneel during the playing of the Nation Anthem, but the kneeling players are violating the spirit of the rules. </li>
<br />
<li>America believes that because Colin has violated the spirit of the rules of the sport, it is appropriate for all of the team owners to decline to hire this political activist who is masquerading as a football player. This player has used his highly-visible actions to promote political causes that do not belong on the field, or indeed, anywhere in any stadium.</li>
</ol>
This organization's interim President didn't say this in his statement, but America believes that the N.F.L. Commissioner should, with the approval of a majority of the owners, change the N.F.L. rules so that players are <u>required</u> to stand for the National Anthem.<br />
<br />
As I told someone on Twitter a moment ago (3pm E.S.T. October 18th), I truly hope that Colin retires from professional football and chooses, instead, to run for public office, preferably the U.S. House or the Senate. This choice would give him and his N.F.L. friends an opportunity to find out what America thinks of their protests.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The NFL Player's Association contributes to leftist groups</h3>
These are the first three paragraphs of <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/oct/5/nfl-players-union-teamed-george-soros-fund-leftist/" target="_blank">an October 5, 2017 Washington Times story</a>. The links in these paragraphs were in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Even before its feud over the national anthem with President Trump, the NFL Players Association wasn’t on the same political team as many of its fans, judging from its contributions to leftist advocacy groups.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://2ndvote.com/nfl-players-union-teamed-soros-planned-parenthood-support-anti-trump-resistance-org/" target="_blank">Tax documents released</a> by 2ndVote show the <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/nflpa/">NFLPA</a> donated $5,000 in 2015 to the Center for Community Change Action, a group active in the anti-Trump resistance and bankrolled by a host of
liberal foundations, including top Democratic donor George Soros’s Foundation for Open Society.<br />
<br />
A member of the AFL-CIO, the <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/nflpa/">NFLPA</a> also contributed in 2013 and 2015 to Working America, the AFL-CIO’s community affiliate, which Open Secrets said spent $1 million in 2016 to defeat Trump.</blockquote>
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<td>The previous news story mentions a website called 2nd Vote. <a href="https://www.2ndvote.com/nfl-players-union-teamed-soros-planned-parenthood-support-anti-trump-resistance-org/" target="_blank"> This is their website, with a similar story on it</a>, dated the next day (October 6, 2017). The 2nd Vote website has a link to <a href="http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2016/521/169/2016-521169809-0dd6e4f0-9O.pdf" target="_blank">this 2015 I.R.S. PDF-format document</a>, which is a tax return for an organization that is exempt from paying income taxes under the provisions of IRS Code <nobr>Section 501(c),</nobr> <nobr>Section 527,</nobr> or <nobr>Section 4947(a)(1)</nobr>. The first page of this 45-page document is on the right.</td>
<td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PXiy5lOkQCU/Wd5NR7m-mVI/AAAAAAAAHMY/E4m454Aks-AsLv-yKjIJp03aZWGcWxvAQCLcBGAs/s1600/Form%2B990.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="419" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PXiy5lOkQCU/Wd5NR7m-mVI/AAAAAAAAHMY/E4m454Aks-AsLv-yKjIJp03aZWGcWxvAQCLcBGAs/s200/Form%2B990.PNG" width="119" /></a></td>
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The Canada Free Press published <a href="http://canadafreepress.com/article/the-nfl-players-association-funds-the-far-left" target="_blank">a similar story on October 12, 2017</a>. The facts in their story are well-documented.<br />
<br />
The previous document was filed in 2015 by the National Football League Player's Association. This organization claims that they are exempt from paying income taxes because they fit the definition of one of these exempt organizations.<br />
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<h3>
The hypocrisy of the owner of an NFL team</h3>
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2017/10/08/cowboys-owner-jerry-jones-player-disrespects-flag-allowed-play" target="_blank">an October 8, 2017 Dallas Morning News story</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
ARLINGTON -- Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Sunday that any of his players who disrespect the flag during the national anthem won't play in games.<br />
<br />
Jones is the first NFL owner to publicly make a stand about disciplining players who kneel during the anthem. Jones didn't specify what kind of other demonstration he would consider
disrespectful.<br />
<br />
Cowboys defensive linemen Damontre' Moore and David Irving stood alongside teammates during the national anthem before Sunday's home game against Green Bay at AT&T Stadium. At the
conclusion of the anthem, the two players raised their fists.<br />
<br />
"I don't know about that. But if there is anything that is disrespectful to the flag then we will not play," Jones said after the Cowboys' 35-31 loss. "You understand? If we are disrespecting the flag then we won't play. Period."</blockquote>
This is the first sentence of the previous story.<br />
<br />
"Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Sunday that any of his players who disrespect the flag during the national anthem won't play in games."<br />
<br />
This statement is questionable because Jerry Jones disrespected the flag himself at a game, as reported by <a href="http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/section/nfl/id/20820307" target="_blank">this September 25, 2017 Associated Press story</a>, which was found on the ESPN website. The following photo was included in <a href="http://www.nbcsports.com/boston/new-england-patriots/jerry-jones-cowboys-kneel-national-anthem-against-cardinals" target="_blank">a similar story on an NBC News website</a>.<br />
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<td style="font-size: Large;">Refusing to stand when the National Anthem is played <u>is</u> disrespecting the National Anthem.<br />
<br />
The real heros are the members of the U.S. military who have risked their lives to fight the enemies of our country.</td>
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<br />
The American flag represents the country that Glen and many others love. Anthems are pieces of music that praise something. The National Anthem praises the United States. Glen loves his country. I love it, too, so I will honor people like Glen who honor my country with their military service and I will dishonor people like Colin who dishonor my country by kneeling when he and every other player should be standing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The consistent principles of an ice hockey coach</h3>
These are the first five paragraphs of <a href="http://www.twincities.com/2016/09/07/team-usa-hockey-coach-stand-national-anthem/" target="_blank">a September 7, 2016 Pioneer Press story</a> about the U.S. ice hockey team.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
It would seem if Wild players Zach Parise and Ryan Suter — any player on Team USA for that matter — want to play in the World Cup of Hockey, they won’t be sitting in solidarity with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.<br />
<br />
With the competition scheduled to start in 10 days, Team USA coach John Tortorella made himself very clear to SportsCenter anchor Linda Cohn that standing for the national anthem is an expectation.<br />
<br />
“If any of my players sit on the bench for the national anthem, they will sit there the rest of the game,” Tortorella told Cohn.</blockquote>
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<td>John Tortorella, the coach of the U.S. ice hockey team, honors our country, so I am honoring him here.<br />
<br />
Colin Kaepernick and the other N.F.L. players who refuse to stand for the National Anthem are dishonoring the country that I love, so I will not honor them here.<br />
<br />
<i>I meant to call him Colin Crap-ernick.</i>
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<br />
<h3>
The Commissioner of the National Football League</h3>
These are the first five paragraphs of <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/10/news/companies/nfl-roger-goodell-national-anthem/index.html" target="_blank">an October 10, 2017 CNN story</a>. The first paragraph had a larger font.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league needs to "move past this controversy" over the National Anthem.<br />
<br />
In a letter to team executives that was obtained by CNNMoney, Goodell wrote that the dispute "is threatening to erode the unifying power of our game, and is now dividing us, and our players, from many fans across the country."<br />
<br />
"Like many of our fans, we believe that everyone should stand for the National Anthem," he wrote. "It is an important moment in our game. We want to honor our flag and our country, and our fans expect that of us."<br />
<br />
The National Anthem protest began in 2016 when 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee rather than stand as the song played. He used the demonstration as a way to speak out against the treatment of black Americans, particularly by police.<br />
<br />
Since then more players have joined the protest. </blockquote>
I will discuss the unbalanced reporting standards a bit later. For now, I want to highlight the first paragraph, which states that the NFL Commissioner wants <i>the league</i> (the National Football League) to change. Specifically, he wants the league to "move past this controversy."<br />
<br />
There;s only one problem. The Commissioner can only affect the NFL audience and their ability to spend money on tickets, jerseys, and other merchandise indirectly. That means that he can only affect the league's revenue indirectly, and <u>that</u> means that he can';t "move past the controversy" until the number of people who disagree, loudly and with their actions, is dramatically reduced. This hasn't been done because the Commissioner is avoiding any responsibility for his own actions, or more accurately, his lack of action.<br />
<br />
In fact, the Commissioner misspoke when he said that the league needs to "move past this controversy." He meant to say that he wants the NFL <u>fans</u> to "move past this controversy" by buying game tickets and NFL-licensed merchandise, such as jerseys, which would reverse the sharp downtrend of the weekly income of the teams and the league.<br />
<br />
The previous CNN story was published in the evening of October 10, 2017. As reported by <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/11/news/trump-praise-nfl-anthem/index.html?sr=twCNN101117trump-praise-nfl-anthem0826AMStory" target="_blank">a CNN story that was published the next morning</a>, the N.F.L. Commissioner didn't use the power of his office to make any new policies or to enforce some old ones. These are the 2nd through the 5th paragraphs of the October 11 story. The capitalized words that are shown in the story were capitalized in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Trump said on Twitter Wednesday that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is now ordering that all players stand during the national anthem. <br />
<br />
"It is about time that Roger Goodell of the NFL is finally demanding that all players STAND for our great National Anthem-RESPECT OUR COUNTRY," he said in an early-morning tweet. <br />
<br />
The only problem is, Goodell stopped well short of demanding or ordering players to stand. <br />
<br />
"Like many of our fans, we believe that everyone should stand for the National Anthem," said <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/10/news/companies/nfl-roger-goodell-national-anthem/index.html?iid=EL">Goodell in letter sent to teams</a> on Tuesday. "We want to honor our flag and our country, and our fans expect that of us." He said it is important that the league "move past this controversy." </blockquote>
This is the first sentence in the fifth paragraph, with the link removed.<br />
<br />
"Like many of our fans, we believe that everyone should stand for the National Anthem," said Goodell in letter sent to teams on Tuesday.'<br />
<br />
He was stating his personal opinion, and he stated that he shared this opinion with "many of our fans", but Roger Goodell has a power that fans do not have. He can force teams to fine players for violating existing rules.<br />
<br />
These are the first six paragraphs of <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/nfl-owners-national-anthem-rule-standing-protest-jerry-jones-roger-goodell/bpiou2qr229w1jwh688sockxk" target="_blank">an October 10, 2017 Sporting News story</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
President Donald Trump may soon get his wish.<br />
<br />
NFL owners will discuss potential changes to the league's national anthem policy next week during the league's fall meeting in New York. One possibility is requiring players to stand on the sideline during the pregame ceremony or face league discipline.<br />
<br />
"This will be a chance to discuss this issue, look at the policy and hear any ideas if we need to change,” NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart said Tuesday on a media conference call. "I fully expect this will be front and center on the agenda."<br />
<br />
The NFL's game operations manual states that during the anthem “players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking … It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country.<br />
<br />
"Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses."<br />
<br />
The key word in the policy is "should" rather than "must," which has kept the door open for players to kneel or sit during the anthem as a form of protest. The NFL also has not levied fines through the first five weeks of the season toward players and teams that haven't followed the anthem rules.</blockquote>
This is the first sentence in the last quoted paragraph.<br />
<br />
'The key word in the policy is "should" rather than "must," which has kept the door open for players to kneel or sit during the anthem as a form of protest.'<br />
<br />
The reporter is absolutely correct. The key word in the policy, expressed in the NFL's game operations manual, <u>is</u> the word "should". This one word <u>does</u> "keep the door open" for players to kneel or sit. I call that the discretion of the NFL Commissioner. He has the power, if he wishes to use it, to require teams to require their players to honor the American flag and the National Anthem, or he can use his discretion to allow players to kneel or to put a fist into the air as a protest.<br />
<br />
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<br />
These are the first six paragraphs of <a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2016/10/12/blame-roger-goodell-demise-nfl/91980728/" target="_blank">an October 12, 2017 Detroit News story</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Don’t blame Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton for the demise of the National Football League.<br />
<br />
Blame commissioner Roger Goodell.<br />
<br />
Six weeks into the 2016 season, the NFL’s TV ratings are falling off a cliff. The league just last week issued a memo trying to placate angry advertisers and sponsors, faulting the steep ratings decline (by more than 10 percent) on the contentious presidential race and lackluster early-season matchups.<br />
<br />
It did everything but address the elephant in the room—fan anger from the NFL’s self-inflicted protest crisis.<br />
<br />
When San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided to take a seat (later, a knee) during the playing of the national anthem, the NFL could have done something about it—fine, suspend or discipline him. But NFL commissioner Goodell took a pass. As a result, Kaepernick’s protest has mushroomed from a one-man show into somewhat of a league-wide phenomenon, with many players on several other teams following suit.<br />
<br />
But before you cite that Kaepernick has the First Amendment right to protest what he perceives to be “oppression” against the nation’s minorities, remember this—he has the First Amendment right to yell the N-word, too. Kaepernick reportedly did that during a 2014 game against the Chicago Bears and was fined over $5,000 by the league.</blockquote>
This is the last quoted sentence in the previous Detroit News story.<br />
<br />
"Kaepernick reportedly did that during a 2014 game against the Chicago Bears and was fined over $5,000 by the league."<br />
<br />
The National Football Leaque also fined him $10,000, as recorded in the first two paragraphs of <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/colin-kaepernick-fined-10k/story?id=26083843" target="_blank">an October 9, 2014 A.B.C. News story</a>. The linkS in the first paragraph were in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/sf/san-francisco-49ers">San Francisco 49ers</a> quarterback <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14001/colin-kaepernick">Colin Kaepernick</a> thumbed his nose at authority following Sunday's victory by wearing Beats by Dre headphones around his neck after the NFL signed an exclusive agreement with Bose.<br />
<br />
And while his headphones were bright pink, purportedly to pay homage to Breast Cancer Awareness, Kaepernick paid for the indiscretion. He said Thursday the league fined him $10,000.</blockquote>
Colin Crap-ernick said himself that "the league" (the National Football League) fined him.<br />
<br />
The Commissioner of the National Football League <u>does</u> have the power to fine players for their behavior on the field, so the Commissioner does have toe power to fine players for sitting, kneeling, or other displays of disrespect to the American flag and our National Anthem.<br />
<br />
These are the first three paragraphs of <a href="http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21206250/dallas-cowboys-jerry-jones-owners-trying-halt-roger-goodell-proposed-contract-extension" target="_blank">an October 29, 2017 E.S.P.N. story</a><br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The Cowboys' Jerry Jones was a leading voice among 17 NFL owners on a conference call Thursday that discussed the possibility of halting commissioner Roger Goodell's pending contract extension, sources involved with the call told ESPN.<br />
<br />
There is a growing difference of opinion among owners about Goodell's overall performance as commissioner, according to sources. The owners on Thursday's conference call are generally unhappy with Goodell and the NFL's front office for a variety of reasons, including the player protests staged during the national anthem, issues regarding the relocation of teams to Los Angeles and the league's handling of the Ray Rice domestic violence case, according to sources.<br />
<br />
"You don't get to have this many messes over the years like Roger has had and survive it," one owner said during the call.</blockquote>
This is the second sentence of the second paragraph.<br />
<br />
"The owners on Thursday's conference call are generally unhappy with Goodell and the NFL's front office for a variety of reasons, including the player protests staged during the national anthem, issues regarding the relocation of teams to Los Angeles and the league's handling of the Ray Rice domestic violence case, according to sources."<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Hiding the truth from the public</h3>
These are the first five paragraphs of <a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/fox-and-espn-wont-air-national-anthem-live-during-this-weekends-nfl-games/article/2637523" target="_blank">an October 14, 2017 Washington Examiner story</a>. Both of these links were in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Fox and ESPN do not plan to air the national anthem live during this weekend's and Monday night's games.<br />
<br />
The networks don't usually air the pre-game ritual live except during major events, but began showing it after President Trump lashed out against players who took a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality, <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/13/media/nfl-national-anthem/index.html" target="_blank">CNN reported</a>.<br />
<br />
Mike Pence pushed the controversy back into the forefront when <a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/mike-pence-leaves-nfl-game-after-about-20-san-francisco-49ers-take-a-knee-during-anthem/article/2636883" target="_blank">he left</a> the Indianapolis Colts-San Francisco 49ers game Sunday when several 49ers kneeled during the anthem.</blockquote>
Even if networks don't show the National Anthem to their viewers, how hard is it for a news organization to send a reporter to a game long enough to find out whether any players are kneeling? Any network that does that would still have a responsibility to their public.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Highly-questionable journalism standards</h3>
It is now the right time to discuss the biased reporting of this issue by CNN. These are the fourth and fifth paragraphs of <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/10/news/companies/nfl-roger-goodell-national-anthem/index.html" target="_blank">the October 10, 2017 CNN story</a> which I quoted earlier on this page.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The National Anthem protest began in 2016 when 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee rather than stand as the song played. He used the demonstration as a way to speak out against the treatment of black Americans, particularly by police.<br />
<br />
Since then more players have joined the protest.</blockquote>
These are the next three paragraphs of the same story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
President Trump decried the kneeling protests during a campaign-style rally in Alabama in September. Trump said that any players who refused to stand should be fired. <br />
<br />
"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He's fired. He's fired!'" the president said at a rally for Republican senator Luther Strange, who went on to lose. <br />
<br />
After Trump's attack, hundreds of players joined the protest and the NFL promoted the message that it was unified. Several owners released statements criticizing the president's comments and some locked arms with their players during the anthem. </blockquote>
If the opinion of one man, even the U.S. President, is CNN's way of showing a balanced view of this issue, their journalistic standards are very low. I frequently saw a very different terminology in use by mainstream news organizations like CNN when Barak Obama was the President. They referred to his opinions as coming from "the White House", "The President", or "the Administration", but in the October 10, 2017 story, the President is referred to by his given name, not by his title or by any generic term such as "The White House".<br />
<br />
For example, these are the first four paragraphs of <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/06/22/general.mcchrystal.obama.apology/index.html" target="_blank">a June 22, 2010 CNN story</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
<b>(CNN)</b> -- The fate of the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan hinges on his meeting Wednesday with President Barack Obama, who was "angry" after reading the general's remarks about colleagues in a magazine profile to be published Friday.<br />
<br />
Gen. Stanley McChrystal will likely resign, a Pentagon source who has ongoing contacts with the general said.<br />
<br />
The "magnitude and graveness" of McChrystal's mistake in conducting the interview for the article were "profound," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said McChrystal had "made a significant mistake and exercised poor judgment."<br />
<br />
McChrystal apologized Tuesday for the profile, in which he and his staff appear to mock top civilian officials, including the vice president. Two defense officials said the general fired a press aide over the article, set to appear in Friday's edition of Rolling Stone.</blockquote>
Please notice that although Obama is called "angry" in the story, the expected firing of General McChrystal is not being announced at a Presidential news conference, where he would have to accept the responsibility for his own action (firing the general). Instead, the personnel action was announced by "a Pentagon source", an anonymous and a very generic term. Please also note that Obama's reaction was communicated to the public by the White House Press Secretary, another level of distance between Obama and the public. I wrote about this two years ago in my essay titled <a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-gap-between-obama-and-america.html" target="_blank">The gap between Obama and America</a> on my main blog.<br />
<br />
These are the first two paragraphs of <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/08/politics/obama-obamacare-apology/index.html" target="_blank">a November 8, 2013 CNN story</a>. The link in the first paragraph was in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
President Barack <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/07/politics/obama-obamacare-apology/index.html">Obama's apology</a> to Americans whose health insurance is being canceled over the
Affordable Care Act raises questions about how to fix that problem -- even as his administration scrambles to overcome a shaky website slowing down those who want to sign up for coverage.<br />
<br />
Obama's now promised to address both issues fully, already putting a website fix in motion with the goal of offering a much smoother shopping and buying experience for consumers by month's end.</blockquote>
Please notice that in the first paragraph, CNN refers to Obama as "President Barack Obama". Please also note that the second paragraph shows him taking action when he was justifiably and widely criticized for the failure of the Obamacare law to reduce the cost of medical care and to allow people to keep their own doctor.<br />
<br />
There are unbalanced journalism standards in other places, too. <a href="http://www.investors.com/politics/columnists/dennis-prager-whos-being-divisive-trump-or-the-nfl-players/" target="_blank">This September 26, 2017 editorial in Investor's Business Daily</a>, written by a nationally-syndicated radio talk-show host named <a href="http://www.dennisprager.com/" target="_blank">Dennis Prager</a>, also fails to mention the fans who are boycotting the games and refusing to buy N.F.L. merchandise.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Two N.F.L. fans speak truth to power</h3>
This section was added on October 16, 2017.<br />
<br />
These are the last four paragraphs of <a href="https://www.armytimes.com/opinion/2016/08/30/an-open-letter-to-colin-kaepernick-from-a-green-beret-turned-long-snapper/" target="_blank">an August 30, 2016 open letter to Colin Kaepernick</a> that was published on the Army Times website.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
I’m not judging you for standing up for what you believe in. It’s your inalienable right. What you are doing takes a lot of courage, and I’d be lying if I said I knew what it was like to walk around in your shoes. I’ve never had to deal with prejudice because of the color of my skin, and for me to say I can relate to what you’ve gone through is as ignorant as someone who’s never been in a combat zone telling me they understand what it’s like to go to war.<br />
<br />
Even though my initial reaction to your protest was one of anger, I’m trying to listen to what you’re saying and why you’re doing it. When I told my mom about this article, she cautioned me that "the last thing our country needed right now was more hate." As usual, she’s right.<br />
<br />
There are already plenty people fighting fire with fire, and it’s just not helping anyone or anything. So I’m just going to keep listening, with an open mind.<br />
<br />
I look forward to the day you're inspired to once again stand during our national anthem. I'll be standing right there next to you. Keep on trying … De Oppresso Liber.</blockquote>
This is the description of the author that appears on the Army Times web page. The text was italicized. The links were included on the page.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Former Staff Sgt. Nate Boyer made multiple war-zone deployments as a Green Beret, including during the college football offseason while a student-athlete at the University of Texas. After long-snapping for the Longhorns, he was signed as a free agent by the Seattle Seahawks before the 2015 season. He is involved in multiple charitable causes, including <a class="" href="http://vetsandplayers.org/" target="_blank" title="Link: http://vetsandplayers.org/">Merging Vets and Players</a> with Jay Glazer and <a class="" href="http://waterboys.org/kili" target="_blank">Waterboys</a>, founded by New England Patriots defensive end Chris Long.</blockquote>
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/09/26/fl-stop-self-destructive-grandstanding-and-just-play-football-james-robbins-column/701472001/" target="_blank">a September 27, 2017 column on the U.S.A. Today website</a>. The link in these paragraphs were in his column.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Remember when you could enjoy pro football without getting lectured on politics? Not any more.<br />
<br />
The NFL is on a politically correct suicide course, alienating fans and <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2017/09/25/sunday-night-football-ratings-down-amid-national-anthem-protests.html">wrecking ratings</a>. It can thank former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who last year started the fad of refusing to stand for the pre-game national anthem because he did not want to “stand up to <a href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/08/colin-kaepernick-49ers-national-anthem-sit-explains">show pride in a flag</a> for a country that oppresses black people and people of color."<br />
<br />
This year the flag protests are a mass phenomenon, with <a href="http://nypost.com/2017/09/24/about-100-protest-national-anthem-in-loud-nfl-statement/">more than 200 players taking a knee</a> last week. Members of the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars appearing at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/24/donald-trump-defied-wembley-jaguars-ravens-nfl-kneel-anthem">London’s Wembley Stadium</a> even chose to dishonor the U.S. flag on foreign soil. But they stood for <i><a href="http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/09/24/nfl-players-kneel-anthem-stand-british-god-save-queen">God Save the Queen</a></i>, the anthem that was playing when most of Africa was placed under British colonial rule. These jocks probably were not history majors.<br />
<br />
Defenders of the kneelers say the protest is itself an expression of Americanism, invoking the First Amendment and tradition of dissent. But this is not a First Amendment issue. Employers are allowed to <a href="https://www.hklaw.com/publications/politics-in-the-workplace-what-must-employers-allow-07-19-2016/">regulate speech in the workplace</a>. The NFL's personal conduct policy says all employees “must refrain from conduct detrimental to the integrity of and <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000441758/article/nfl-owners-endorse-new-personal-conduct-policy">public confidence in the NFL</a>,” which these protests surely are. The league regularly clamps down on social messaging, such as wearing cleats commemorating the <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxBusiness/status/776080679419252736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportingnews.com%2Fnfl%2Fnews%2Fnfl-fines-players-911-tribute-cleats-colin-kaepernick-national-anthem%2F1sailhz6h4ofk1idf2qva0rnz6">heroes of the 9/11 attacks</a> or decals honoring <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-wont-let-cowboys-wear-decals-supporting-dallas-police-in-regular-season/">slain Dallas law enforcement officers</a>. Taking a knee for God can also be problematic, just ask <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/sports/football/in-tebow-debate-a-clash-of-faith-and-football.html?mcubz=1">Tim Tebow</a>. But the anthem protests are explicitly league-sanctioned activities.</blockquote>
<br />
<h3>
A preview of the annual N.F.L. meeting</h3>
This section was added October 18, 2017.<br />
<br />
These are the first two paragraphs of <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/roger-goodell-players-stand-respects-protests-article-1.3554326" target="_blank">an October 10, 2017 New York Daily News story</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The NFL is clearly getting a little too uncomfortable with national anthem protests.<br />
<br />
In a letter to NFL presidents and chief executives Tuesday, commissioner Roger Goodell said the protests, started last year to raise awareness about racial injustice, will be a discussion point at next week's owner's meeting. He did not ask them to prevent their players from demonstrating.</blockquote>
The next two paragraphs of this story quoted the letter that was sent by Commissioner Goodell to the owners and players. The section on this page that deals with the Commissioner shows his bias in favor of the players and against the wishes of a very large cross-section of America, which wants to be able to watch a football game without seeing any political statements.<br />
<br />
Similar stories were reported the same day by <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2017/10/10/nfl-owners-will-decide-whether-a-team-can-force-its-players-to-stand-for-the-national-anthem/?utm_term=.2a42ec73efd4" target="_blank">the Washington Post</a>, <a href="http://deadline.com/2017/10/nfl-roger-goodell-memo-national-anthem-guidelines-1202185880/" target="_blank">Deadline Hollywood</a>, <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2737939-nfl-owners-to-consider-rule-change-for-conduct-during-national-anthem" target="_blank">The Bleacher Report</a>, <a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots/2017/10/nfl_owners_considering_rule_change_requiring_players_to_stand_for_national" target="_blank">The Boston Herald</a>, and <a href="http://www.nbcsports.com/boston/patriots/goodell-nfl-owners-we-believe-everyone-should-stand-anthem" target="_blank">NBC Sports</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ajc.com/sports/football/nfl-commissioner-roger-goodell-wants-players-stand-during-national-anthem-rule-change-may/fXXdxnPK8Q48ZNZVXLjOnK/" target="_blank">The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/oct/17/nfl-owners-players-meeting-anthem-protests" target="_blank">The Guardian (U.K.)</a> reported a similar story the next day.<br />
<br />
As correctly reported by the Daily News reporter, Roger's October 10 statement shows Roger's unwillingness to use the power of his office to force any of the players to live up to the standards of the game.<br />
<br />
"He did not ask them to prevent their players from demonstrating."<br />
<br />
Why should any protesting player offer to end his protest if the Commissioner won't even <u>ask</u> him to end it? The Commissioner's lack of a request to end the protest is a clear sign that the Commissioner doesn't <u>want</u> the protest to end. As I explained earlier on this page, when Roger Goodell says that he wants the league to "move past this controversy", he's actually saying that he wants <u>the fans</u> to "move past this controversy" by buying tickets, jerseys, and other items that produce income for the league and the players<i> even if many of the players are kneeling for the National Anthem</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Colin's legal action against the N.F.L.</h3>
These are the first three paragraphs of <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/10/16/colin-kaepernick-nfl-grievance-collusion-cba-lawsuit" target="_blank">an October 16, 2017 E.S.P.N. story</a>. The links in these paragraphs were in the story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Free-agent quarterback <a href="http://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/14001/colin-kaepernick" target="_blank">Colin Kaepernick</a> has <a href="http://a.espncdn.com/pdf/2017/1015/KaepernickGrievance_r.pdf" target="_blank">filed a grievance</a> under the latest collective bargaining agreement against NFL owners for collusion, according to his attorney, Mark Geragos.<br />
<br />
Kaepernick is not going through the NFL Players Association but has instead hired Geragos, who has represented several high-profile clients, including Michael Jackson, former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield and musician Chris Brown.<br />
<br />
The filing, which demands an arbitration hearing on the matter, says the NFL and its owners "have colluded to deprive Mr. Kaepernick of employment rights in retaliation for Mr. Kaepernick's leadership and advocacy for equality and social justice and his bringing awareness to peculiar institutions still undermining racial equality in the United States."</blockquote>
These are the first two paragraphs of <a href="http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21035352/colin-kaepernick-files-grievance-nfl-owners-collusion" target="_blank">an October 16, 2017 Sports Illustrated story</a>. The links in these paragraphs were in the story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
According to <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/10/15/colin-kaepernick-files-greivance-owner-collusion-cba?utm_campaign=sinow&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&xid=socialflow_twitter_si" target="_blank">multiple sources</a>, free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick has filed a grievance against the NFL for collusion. In March, I wrote a <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/03/24/colin-kaepernick-protest-nfl-collusion-free-agency" target="_blank">legal analysis</a> of this scenario occurring and explained how it would work for Kaepernick and the NFL. The March article details the relevant procedures at play and how they are governed by the collective bargaining agreement. Yesterday, <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/10/15/colin-kaepernick-collusion-lawsuit-against-nfl" target="_blank">I wrote an update, detailing 16 key points</a>.<br />
<br />
Another update: According to <i>Pro Football Weekly</i>’s Mike Florio, a source with knowledge of the situation tells him that Kaepernick would like to use his grievance to <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/10/15/kaepernick-hopes-to-invalidate-the-cba-through-collusion-grievance/">terminate the CBA</a>. It would be a jaw-dropping outcome for Kaepernick’s grievance to lead to the termination of the CBA, which is set to run through the 2020 season. It is also unlikely to happen.</blockquote>
The Sports Illustrated reporter then quotes parts of <a href="https://nfllabor.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/collective-bargaining-agreement-2011-2020.pdf" target="_blank">the 316-page Collective Bargaining Agreement</a> to show why Colin is unlikely to terminate it. For example, collusion by a minimum of 14 teams is necessary to terminate the agreement. It is unlikely that clear and convincing evidence will be presented in a court of law that 14 teams were guilty of it.<br />
<br />
In addition, according to the reporter, who seems to have done his homework, the agreement itself states that in order to terminate the agreement, the N.F.L. Player's Association must file the grievance, not one individual player, so the terms of the agreement seem to prevent Colin (one individual player) from getting his wish granted.<br />
<br />
People who are required to "do their homework" in the legal field are called lawyers. These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2017/10/16/colin-kaepernick-collusion-grievance-nfl-owners/769500001/" target="_blank">an October 16, 2017 U.S.A. Today story</a>. The link in the first paragraph was in their story. The word "baseball" was misspelled in the third paragraph. I don't correct misspelled words in other people's articles when I copy them and paste them onto these blog pages.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
In order to win his <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2017/10/15/colin-kaepernick-collusion-claim-against-nfl-owners/766348001/">collusion grievance against NFL owners</a>,
Colin Kaepernick will need to prove a pattern of communication with and between teams that led to his current unemployment, a labor law expert told USA TODAY Sports.<br />
<br />
“He’s going to have to show some kind of pattern -- of dealings with the clubs, where clubs were aware that he was willing and able to work, where there was some sort of communication with him and then unexplained reasons went elsewhere,” said William Gould, the Charles A. Beardsley Professor of Law, Emeritus, at Stanford University.<br />
<br />
Gould is the former chairman of the National Labor Relations Board and a former salary arbitrator for Major League Basebal, as well as the author of the book <i>Bargaining in Baseball</i>.<br />
<br />
He called Kaepernick’s collusion grievance, which was filed by the quarterback’s lawyers over the weekend, a “landmark development” not just for the NFL, but for professional sports in general. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching effects beyond what it means for Kaepernick individually.</blockquote>
Let's see. Colin failed to show superior skill on the football field, so this aging activist has now decided to fail at being a self-appointed lawyer. What will he decide to fail doing tomorrow?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.sarahpalinnews.com/2017/11/04/colin-kaepernick-just-made-desperate-last-ditch-move-stay-relevant/?ref=Ads" target="_blank">Link to a page about Colin on the personal web page of Sarah Palin</a>. This page is dated <nobr>November 4,</nobr> 2017.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The annual N.F.L. meeting (before before it starts)</h3>
These are the first three paragraphs of <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/10/16/nfl-anthem-protests-roger-goodell-owners-meetings-players-mmqb" target="_blank">ab October 16, 2017 Sports Illustrated story</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The NFL meets every fall for a day and a half to discuss league business. This week, on Tuesday in New York, owners will gather and hear from players and NFL Players Association representatives on the contentious matter of players standing at attention for the national anthem. <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/10/11/nfl-roger-goodell-memo-national-anthem-protests-themmqb-peter-king-mailbag" target="_blank">The league has said</a> it will try to devise a plan that would build a bridge with players and assist on their social-justice causes so they’ll stand as one.
Advertisers getting major guff from their customers don’t want to continue to take a hailstorm of criticism from those who don’t like anything but what they perceive to be a show of total loyalty toward the flag.<br />
<br />
What I learned in the past few days:<br />
1. This could be a seminal moment for the tenure of commissioner Roger Goodell. There’s no sense his job will be in trouble if he doesn’t come out of this meeting with a strong proposal that the players and clubs will adopt. But if there is no significant progress toward an endgame here, I believe some owners could ask by meeting’s end, <i>Are we sure we want to extend Goodell’s contract five years?</i> That’s the current length of the extension Goodell is discussing with the league’s compensation committee—and they’re far down the road in the contract talks.<br />
<br />
2. Goodell doesn’t have the kind of political capital with the players, or the players union, to call in any favors to get a deal done that will compel every player in the league either to stand
for the national anthem or to not protest while it’s being played.</blockquote>
Let me paraphrase the last paragraph. N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell can't force any of the players to stand for the National Anthem. I shouldn't need to tell anyone how the fans will react when they see the bottom line - some players continuing to disrespect our veterans, our flag, and our country by kneeling, sitting, or being absent in large numbers when.the National Anthem plays.<br />
<br />
<h3>
The annual N.F.L. meeting (after the first day)</h3>
These are the first three paragraphs of <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/17/news/nfl-owners-meeting/index.html" target="_blank">an October 16, 2017 C.N.N. story</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
They're gathering in New York for two days of meetings, with the league convulsed by player protests during the National Anthem -- and by opposition to the protests, led by President
Trump himself. <br />
<br />
Team owners are expected to discuss the protests. But an NFL spokesman says the league does not expect to change its policy, which says only that players should stand during the Anthem, not that they must.<br />
<br />
After Tuesday's meeting, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that players were not asked to commit to standing for the anthem. </blockquote>
<u>Similar stories on other websites.</u> These stories are arranged in chronological order, oldest first.<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2017/10/17/nfl-players-owners-meeting-protests-national-anthem/772690001/" target="_blank">U.S.A. Today, October 17, 2017</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/10/17/nfl-meeting-kicks-off-in-new-york-as-protesters-kneel-outside/23245995/" target="_blank">Reuters, October 17, 2017</a>, published on the A.O.L. News website</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-anthem-policy-unchanged-after-lengthy-meeting-between-players-owners/" target="_blank">CBS Sports, October 17, 2017</a></td>
<td><a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/nfl-players-owners-meet-to-talk-issues-trump-weighs-in-on-twitter/" target="_blank">Chicago Sun-Times, October 18, 2017</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nfl-players-huddle-owners-over-national-anthem-protests-n811651" target="_blank">NBC News, October 18, 2017</a></td>
<td><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/protests-hotel-nfl-owners-open-fall-meetings-50539065" target="_blank">ABC News, October 18, 2017</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
During this meeting, which began on October 17, 2017 and will continue on October 18th, the team owners can show up in person to speak up for their best interests. Representatives of the N.F.L. Player's Association are also present at this meeting, to represent the best interests of the players, as a group, but there aren't any representatives of the fans and ex-fans.<br />
<br />
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/national-anthem-protest-wisconsin-scott-walker-roger-goodell/" target="_blank">an October 16, 2017 C.B.S. News story</a>. The link in the first paragraph was in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
<b>MADISON, Wis. --</b> Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says he thinks NFL players should <span class="link"><a data-invalid-url-rewritten-http="" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nfl-players-continue-national-anthem-protests/" target="_blank">stop protesting during the national anthem</a></span> and instead speak out against domestic violence.<br />
<br />
The Republican former presidential hopeful sent a letter Monday to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith saying he believes players are showing disrespect for the flag and veterans. Players should drop the "divisive political sideshow" and speak out against domestic violence instead, the governor wrote.<br />
<br />
NFL league meetings Tuesday offer an opportunity to strongly condemn domestic violence, Walker added.<br />
<br />
"My request is simple: stand for the American flag and the national anthem out of respect for those who risk their lives for our freedoms, and then take a stand against domestic violence to keep American families safe," Walker wrote. "That's something we can all agree on, and that just might help the NFL reunite with many of its devoted fans."</blockquote>
Scott Walker is the formal representative of the people of Wisconsin whenever that state interacts with businesses who want to move into or out of that state, even if the incoming businesses are located in other countries.<br />
<br />
This is the last sentence of the October 16, 2017 C.N.N. story, which is also the last paragraph of that story.<br />
<br />
"After Tuesday's meeting, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that players were not asked to commit to standing for the anthem."<br />
<br />
... which means that the public will continue to spend large amounts of their money outside of N.F.L. stadiums and stores that sell N.F.L.-licensed merchandise. Fans do not have a representative at the N.F.L. meeting, so if the N.F.L. Commissioner chooses to ignore the wishes of Governor Walker and other N.F.L. fans and ex-fans, he can, but that foolish decision will continue to cost the league some of its' economic benefits.<br />
<br />
N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell has already proven that he listens to and cares for the N.F.L. players much more than the fans. He has already granted the players a big wish. These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-to-formally-endorse-criminal-justice-legislation-finance-activism-boot-camp/" target="_blank">an October 16, 2017 C.B.S. News story</a>. The links in these paragraphs were in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Protests around professional sports have been nothing if not polarizing, especially considering President Donald Trump's persistent war of words with athletes who use the national anthem as a platform for activism, but player demonstrations may have fueled NFL support for legislative change at the federal level.<br />
<br />
CBS Sports <a data-is-autolink="true" href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl">NFL</a> Insider Jason La Canfora reported two weeks ago that Roger Goodell has maintained a steady dialogue since this summer with many civic-minded players, including <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/563623/malcolm-jenkins">Malcolm Jenkins</a> of the Eagles, <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/559771/michael-bennett">Michael Bennett</a> of the Seahawks and <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/395928/anquan-boldin">Anquan Boldin</a>, who abruptly retired before the season. Goodell and the players have been working on ways that the NFL can assist them in their community endeavors, an effort that began well before the president made remarks critical of NFL players.<br />
<br />
And, now, it appears those efforts have grown into formal league action.<br />
<br />
ESPN's Jim Trotter <a href="https://twitter.com/JimTrotter_NFL/status/919934649467588608">reported via Twitter Monday</a> that "the NFL is going to formally endorse criminal justice legislation" that surfaced early in October and has garnered support from several players "lobbying for" reformed sentencing guidelines. NFL Network's Judy Battista <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000862308/article/national-anthem-protest-nfl-owners-players-meeting-tuesday">later confirmed via league spokesman Joe Lockhart</a> that the NFL would do so.</blockquote>
This is the second sentence in the second paragraph.<br />
<br />
"Goodell and the players have been working on ways that the NFL can assist them in their community endeavors, an effort that began well before the president made remarks critical of NFL players."<br />
<br />
If there aren't any representatives from the Governors, members of Congress, or any representatives of the fans who buy game tickets and N.FL.L-licensed merchandise, then nobody has any standing (a legal term that means a right to be represented) to speak up for the public at these meetings. This means that nobody can tell the N.F.L. Commissioner that paying for liberal (or even radical) social justice advertising is a bad idea.<br />
<br />
This tweet was posted on October 22, 2017 by a reporter for NFL.com and the Twitter account @NFLNetwork. If you click on the date at the end of the tweet, you will be able to see it on his Twitter account.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Plane circling Lambeau Field flying banner: "Real men and NFL owners should stand for our country!" <a href="https://t.co/gHFO43cDm8">pic.twitter.com/gHFO43cDm8</a></div>
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/922083890419945472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
The tweet included a photo of the stadium and the airplane. Thank you to the Twitter account @Conservative_Tribune for writing about it and for retweeting Tom's tweet..<br />
<br />
<h3>
A February 2020 update on Colin</h3>
These are the 8th through the 14th paragraphs of <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2020/02/02/super-bowl-colin-kaepernick-nfl-absence-49-ers/4635121002/" target="_blank">a February 2, 2020 U.S.A. Today story</a>. Note 1: I added a space in the 8th paragraph. Note 2: The Super Bowl will be played later today.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Ahead of the San Francisco 49ers' showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, the man who last quarterbacked the team to a Super Bowl appearance — and also the one who inspired NFL
players to use their platforms to fight racial and social injustices — still is without a place in the league.<br />
<br />
Three seasons have passed since Colin Kaepernick last played an NFL game. In that time, four different players have started at quarterback for San Francisco. More than 100 quarterbacks contracts have been signed, many of them by players whose talent can't measure up to Kaepernick's.<br />
<br />
November’s <a class="gnt_ar_b_a" data-t-l="|inline|intext|n/a" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/11/21/colin-kaepernick-nfl-workout-waiver-teams-quarterback/4259272002/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">badly botched, long-overdue workout opportunity</a> seemingly cemented what we’ve always suspected: the former star will never play again in this league.<br />
<br />
The show rolls on, as it always does in the NFL.<br />
<br />
So, too, does the work that Kaepernick helped launch.<br />
<br />
Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the national anthem to bring awareness to police brutality against people of color and other racial and social injustices also led to the founding of the Players Coalition.<br />
<br />
Despite a fallout with Kaepernick because disagreements over the money secured from NFL owners, and how those resources would be used, the remaining players in the group committed to the cause. Members have worked to get legislation passed in the area of criminal justice reform and voters rights. They have donated resources for education. And they’ve served as bridges through community and police relations.</blockquote>
<br />
<h2>
Other voices</h2>
This section has tweets and quotes from online news stories and informal articles about the issue of N.F.L. players making a protest about a political issue during the time when they are contract employees of their teams.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Neil McCoy adds his musical voice</h3>
This section was added November 18, 2017.<br />
<br />
These are the first three paragraphs of <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/361001-country-singer-mocking-nfl-protests-goes-viral" target="_blank">a November 17, 2017 story in The Hill</a>. The link in the second paragraph was in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
A country music singer is taking aim at the NFL protests in a new song called “Take a Knee, My Ass (I Won’t Take a Knee).”<br />
<br />
Neal McCoy performed the song for an audience earlier this month and recorded it on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nealmccoymusic/videos/1560279557359040/">Facebook Live.</a> The video of the performance has garnered nearly 70,000 reactions.<br />
<br />
“When I see someone on TV take their stand by bending their knee, whether it be on astro turf or grass," McCoy sings. "I think of those whose freedom was not free, and I say: ‘Take a knee – my ass!’”
</blockquote>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8oY74hOK_iQ/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8oY74hOK_iQ?feature=player_embedded" style="clear: left; float: left;" width="320"></iframe></div>
</td>
<td>This YouTube video was uploaded by Neal McCoy on November 14, 2017 (four days before I wrote this section).<br />
<br />
This video has already been watched almost 50,000 times as of the date that I wrote this section.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Herschel Walker adds his Heisman-Trophy-winning voice</h3>
This section was added November 20, 2017.<br />
<br />
These are the first five paragraphs of <a href="https://nypost.com/2017/11/19/ex-nfl-star-takes-stand-against-national-anthem-protests/" target="_blank">a November 19, 2017 New York Post story</a>. The link in the second paragraph was in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Herschel Walker, the ex-NFL luminary, is firing on all cylinders for America’s military heroes and first responders — hot on the heels of his recent criticism of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for not quelling the national anthem protests.<br />
<br />
Walker’s latest patriotic fervor comes with a super prize for a hero of the US uniformed and emergency services: a free customized, hand-painted, American-made 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, worth
$80,000.<br />
<br />
“I absolutely think the protests are so upsetting, and I blame the commissioner,” he said.<br />
<br />
“I know people are going to be angry when I say it, but he should have stopped the protests at the very beginning.”<br />
<br />
The Heisman Trophy winner doesn’t beat around the bush. “Guys, let me tell you this,” he said. “Our flag is very special, and black lives matter, but what we should do is go to Washington after the season and protest there instead. We have young men and women fighting for the flag. And we have to respect the White House.”</blockquote>
Hershel will donate a customized Chevrolet Silverado, worth $80,000, to a military hero or a first-responder.<br />
<br />
This is the third paragraph.<br />
<br />
“I absolutely think the protests are so upsetting, and I blame the commissioner,” he said.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2017/11/20/herschel-walker-takes-stand-against-national-anthem-protests.html" target="_blank">The Fox News website reproduced the New York Post story</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.breitbart.com/sports/2017/11/19/herschel-walker-absolutely-thing-protests-upsetting-blame-commissioner/" target="_blank">This November 19, 2017 Breitbart article</a> includes a link to the New York Post story and a copy of the same 1983 photo of Hershel and Donald Trump that was in the New York Post story.<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/herschelwalker/2503506/profile" target="_blank">Link to Hershel's page on the N.F.L. website</a>. It includes his playing statistics during his 12-year career.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://heisman.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=49" target="_blank">Link to Hershel's page on the Heisman Trophy website</a>. <br />
<br />
The 6-minute YouTube video on the right was uploaded by the Fox News affiliate in Los Angeles on November 17, 2015.</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/shQfDCZ9BvA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/shQfDCZ9BvA?feature=player_embedded" style="clear: left; float: left;" width="320"></iframe></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
David Clarke adds his law enforcement voice</h3>
This section was added December 2, 2017.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Joining <a href="https://twitter.com/foxandfriends?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@foxandfriends</a> this morning 9AMET. Talking about illegal immigration and NFL funding cop hating causes. <a href="https://t.co/iBiyyYwcOH">pic.twitter.com/iBiyyYwcOH</a></div>
— David A. Clarke, Jr. (@SheriffClarke) <a href="https://twitter.com/SheriffClarke/status/936959334797410304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
A retired Marine colonel adds his voice</h3>
This section was added December 6, 2017.<br />
<br />
On September 27, 2016, <a href="https://www.allenwest.com/meet-allen-west/" target="_blank">Allen West</a>, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Army and a former U.S. Representative posted <a href="https://www.allenwest.com/2016/09/17/marine-owns-nfl-brutal-letter-commissioner/" target="_blank">an open letter from a Marine Colonel to the N.F.L. Commissioner</a> verbatim and with only a two-sentence introduction. These are the first five paragraphs of it.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
<i>I’ve been a season pass holder at Yankee Stadium, Yale Bowl and Giants Stadium.<br />
<br />
I missed the ’90-’91 season because I was with a battalion of Marines in Desert Storm. 14 of my wonderful Marines returned home with the American Flag draped across their lifeless bodies. My last conversation with one of them, Sgt Garrett Mongrella, was about how our Giants were going to the Super Bowl. He never got to see it.<br />
<br />
Many friends, Marines, and Special Forces Soldiers who worked with or for me through the years returned home with the American Flag draped over their coffins.<br />
<br />
Now I watch multi-millionaire athletes who never did anything in their lives but play a game, disrespect what brave Americans fought and died for. They are essentially spitting in the faces and on the graves of real men, men who have actually done something for this country beside playing with a ball and believing they’re something special! They’re not! My Marines and Soldiers were! <br />
<br />
You are complicit in this! </i></blockquote>
The following tweet alerted me to a video that included most of this message.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="und">
<a href="https://t.co/8JLDGG0bLy">https://t.co/8JLDGG0bLy</a></div>
— RudiTuesday (@RudiTuesdays) <a href="https://twitter.com/RudiTuesdays/status/938547642447093760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ISD6kifiSoE/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ISD6kifiSoE?feature=player_embedded" style="clear: left; float: left;" width="320"></iframe></div>
</td>
<td>This YouTube video, found in the tweet that is reproduced above, was uploaded on <nobr>September 27,</nobr> 2017.<br />
<br />
Thank you to the person who registered the Twitter account "RudiTuesdays" for bringing it to my attention. </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The Governor of Texas is responsible for a whole state</h3>
This section was added December 11, 2017.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Public Service Announcement: This is how Americans respect the National Anthem. <br />
This is at yesterday’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArmyNavyGame?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArmyNavyGame</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tcot?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tcot</a> <a href="https://t.co/5PA4k8gk27">pic.twitter.com/5PA4k8gk27</a> <a href="https://t.co/PLGSAV03oz">https://t.co/PLGSAV03oz</a></div>
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/939754095627214848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
U.S. Representative Mark Meadows leads the House Freedom Caucus</h3>
This section was added January 5, 2018.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://meadows.house.gov/" target="_blank">Mark's page on the website of the U.S. House of Representatives</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/freedomcaucus/" target="_blank">The Facebook page for the House Freedom Caucus</a>.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
What a powerful scene from the Army-Navy pregame national anthem. And not a single person kneeling on the field or in the stands. <br />
<br />
Perhaps it's time that we kneel to thank God for these brave men and women who sacrifice so much and serve so faithfully. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArmyNavy?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArmyNavy</a> <a href="https://t.co/hTojWwy9Kg">pic.twitter.com/hTojWwy9Kg</a></div>
— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMarkMeadows/status/939927258319507458?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has lost his mind</h3>
This section was added January 23, 2018.<br />
<br />
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/01/22/nfl-rejects-veterans-groups-ad-urging-people-to-stand-for-anthem.html" target="_blank">a January 22, 2018 Opinion, written by columnist Todd Starnes</a>, on the Fox News website. The link in the second paragraph was in their story. So was the clickable link to Todd's subscription service.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The National Football League has rejected a Super Bowl advertisement from American Veterans urging people to stand for the national anthem.<br />
<br />
The nation's largest veterans service organization had been invited by the NFL to place an ad in the Super Bowl LII program. AMVET's advertisement included a two-word message - "#PleaseStand." <b><a href="https://www.toddstarnes.com/show/nfl-rejects-pro-national-anthem-ad-veterans-group/" target="_blank">Click here to see the ad.</a></b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://toddstarnes.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=e0507c4c1980fd9357fa63803&id=92d26c77ee" target="_blank"><b>Click here for a free subscription to Todd's newsletter: a must-read for Conservatives! </b></a><br />
<br />
"It's a simple, polite request that represents the sentiment of our membership, particularly those whose missing or paralyzed limbs preclude standing," wrote National Commander Marion Polk in a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.<br />
<br />
American Veterans accused the NFL of outright censorship by rejecting the advertisement.</blockquote>
Later paragraphs say that the NFL Spokesman claims that the ad makes an unacceptable political statement, but as Todd himself points out in his column, the NFL has never objected in any meaningful way to the political statement that was made <i>by the NFL players</i> who knelt down instead of standing when the National Anthem was played.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/amp/Sports/nfl-rejects-military-veterans-stand-super-bowl-program/story?id=52537833&__twitter_impression=true">Link to a similar story on the website of ABC News</a>.<br />
<br />
Please contact the NFL and ask them to change their mind. This ad should be broadcast for the benefit of the entire league, the fans, and even for the ultimate benefit of the players, whose income will be increased if more fans watch the games.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Ben Shapiro's Twitter account has a million followers</h3>
This tweet was added on February 1, 2018.<br />
<br />
Ben is a best-selling author and the host of his own nationally-syndicated radio show.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
If you can't clap for the anthem, you're the divisive one. <a href="https://t.co/IQx9WVjbG7">https://t.co/IQx9WVjbG7</a></div>
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) <a href="https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/958529340395827200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The ESPN Article</h3>
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/page/enterpriseCoalition180126/colin-kaepernick-movement-endures-supporters-more-fragmented-ever" target="_blank">a January 26, 2018 E.S.P.N. article</a>. The links in these paragraphs were in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Forty-niners safety Eric Reid's instincts were buzzing as if he were anticipating a screen pass. Increasingly, they were telling him to expect the worst. For weeks during the fall of 2017, tension had been brewing within the Players Coalition, a collection of NFL players committed to addressing issues of social justice. Under scrutiny from fans, owners and even the president of the United States over recent protests during the singing of the national anthem, the players found themselves fluctuating between solidarity and fracture as they struggled to unify their message and leverage their position for change.<br />
<br />
On Nov. 29, Reid received a text from one of the leaders of the coalition, Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, about Jenkins' discussions with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the league's player liaison, Troy Vincent. At issue was how the players could partner with owners on initiatives within the African-American community. The two sides had discussed the league making a huge donation to social justice causes. Jenkins' text to the group concluded with: "If they were to agree to this, do you think you'd be more comfortable with ending the demonstrations?" Reid believed that Jenkins -- without consent of the group -- had volunteered to end their protest in exchange for a financial commitment from the NFL. <br />
<br />
"My head was ready to explode," Reid recalls. "I was already drifting from the coalition, and this confirmed why."<br />
<br />
To Jenkins, financial commitment from the owners was a positive step, a pathway to putting real resources toward fighting the injustice that fueled their demonstrations. But to Reid, who had been kneeling during the national anthem since the protests began in September 2016, alongside former teammate Colin Kaepernick, the deal felt like a payoff to stop kneeling -- the final betrayal in what had been a tense season. Not long after receiving Jenkins' text, feeling sold out, Reid released a statement that he was quitting the coalition.</blockquote>
<br />
<h3>
For your information</h3>
These tweets were added February 5, 2018, the day after football's Super Bowl.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
This is the Pro-America Ad the NFL Rejected. Here's your chance to make sure America sees it. Retweet this for America. <a href="https://t.co/8QUtVlxxra">pic.twitter.com/8QUtVlxxra</a></div>
— Oliver McGee PhD MBA (@OliverMcGee) <a href="https://twitter.com/OliverMcGee/status/960267268218343424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WINNING?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WINNING</a> <br />
Thank You <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> Trump <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> <br />
Beautiful Rendition <a href="https://twitter.com/Pink?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pink</a> <br />
Making America Great Again<br />
POTUS asked the <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFL</a> Thugs to Respect Our <br />
Flag and Our Anthem... 💯Participation Reported <br />
🇺🇸Stand For Our Flag🇺🇸<br />
✝️Kneel at Our Cross✝️<a href="https://t.co/tNN2LuIQ01">pic.twitter.com/tNN2LuIQ01</a></div>
— Michael💛🇺🇸Donald J. Trump is my POTUS🇺🇸 (@Trump45Michael) <a href="https://twitter.com/Trump45Michael/status/960513492360073217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Yes, my Twitter account did retweet them.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Tom Brady is the quarterback of the New England Patriots</h3>
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Blk041rkcFI/Wuo9jRA1GWI/AAAAAAAAIks/pSyKg-vN65sHQoas1yTRgJm9v7ZIStSlwCLcBGAs/s1600/Tom-Brady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1480" height="112" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Blk041rkcFI/Wuo9jRA1GWI/AAAAAAAAIks/pSyKg-vN65sHQoas1yTRgJm9v7ZIStSlwCLcBGAs/s200/Tom-Brady.jpg" width="200" /></a>This section was added May 2, 2018.<br />
<br />
These are the last four paragraphs of <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/tom-brady-on-nfl-ratings-slump-i-dont-follow-it-like-i-used-to" target="_blank">a May 2, 2018 Fox Business story</a>. The Reuters photo came from <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/report-bradys-body-coach-feud-tearing-new-england-patriots-apart">a different website</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
<div data-v-55573ee2="">
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said the NFL can trace its ratings decline in recent years to the sheer amount of entertainment options that are now available to the public.<br />
<br />
“There’s so much for us to consume, as we all know,” Brady said during an interview with journalist Jim Gray at the Milken Institute Global Conference on Monday. “There’s so much happening. The amount that I’m doing – I hate to say it, I don’t follow [the NFL] like I used to, because there’s so many other things to follow. It’s just what can grab your attention. There’s a lot more competition today than there’s ever been, I think. Especially with social media — for people to consume information or to consume content.”<br />
<br />
While the NFL brought in a projected record $14 billion in revenue in 2017, the league has contended with a ratings slump dating back to 2016. The NFL’s television audience sank 9.7% to 14.9 million viewers per game during the 2017 regular season after dropping 8% to 16.5 million viewers per game in 2016, according to Nielsen data.<br />
<br />
Critics have offered various potential reasons for the decline, including national anthem protests that rankled some fans and led to a feud with President Donald Trump, player safety concerns, a diluted product stemming from too many NFL games per week and the rise of the “cord-cutting trend” that has reduced television audiences.</div>
</blockquote>
This is the last quoted paragraph.<br />
<br />
"Critics have offered various potential reasons for the decline, including national anthem protests that rankled some fans and led to a feud with President Donald Trump, player safety concerns, a diluted product stemming from too many NFL games per week and the rise of the “cord-cutting trend” that has reduced television audiences."<br />
<br />
During the N.F.L. Championship game between the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles, Tom Brady threw completed passes for a total of over 500 yards. That's the equivalent of five foot ball fields. <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/tom-brady-tops-super-bowl-passing-mark-all-17-records-broken-in-eagles-patriots/" target="_blank">Link to a February 5, 2018 C.B.S. News story about the records that were broken</a>. Tom broke many of them himself.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The National Football League finally listens to their fans</h3>
This section was added May 23, 2018.<br />
<br />
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2018/05/23/nfl-national-anthem-policy-kneeling-protest/637050002/" target="_blank">a May 23, 2018 U.S.A. Today story</a> about a new policy. This policy was still being discussed as of 24 hours ago.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Amid repeated protests during the playing of the national anthem over the past two seasons, the NFL on Wednesday passed a revised policy that mandates players and team personnel present on the sideline “shall stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.”<br />
<br />
The revision allows players who would not wish to stand to remain in the locker room. Also under the revision, each franchise will have the power to issue their own policies, which could include fines for players protesting the anthem, under the conduct detrimental provision of the league’s personal conduct policy.<br />
<br />
The league also now has the power to fine any franchise that has representatives who do not stand or "show respect" while present on the sideline for the anthem.<br />
<br />
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the agreement was reached unanimously by owners at the league meeting in Atlanta, but Jed York of the 49ers said his team abstained.</blockquote>
<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D-1CwqM8GSo/WwXYpgrNfII/AAAAAAAAIsI/Asev-sU4hIIfPZHaIpyydOury5qqLlP6gCLcBGAs/s1600/Statement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D-1CwqM8GSo/WwXYpgrNfII/AAAAAAAAIsI/Asev-sU4hIIfPZHaIpyydOury5qqLlP6gCLcBGAs/s320/Statement.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
</td>
<td>This is the official statement of the N.F.L. Commissioner. I found it on the N.F.L.'s Twitter account.<br />
<br />
This is one complete paragraph.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times, new roman; font-size: Large;">
"It is unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic. That is not and was never the case."</div>
<br />
He's right. It was only a few hundred NFL players who were unpatriotic.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Glad the NFL listened to the millions of fans who are proud to stand for our national anthem <a href="https://t.co/1DZidtgcQK">https://t.co/1DZidtgcQK</a></div>
— Rep. Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveScalise/status/999375053555892224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
This was unanimously adopted by the teams, Roger Goodell said. “We want people to stand. We do believe that moment is important to focus on.” Also added he wanted to give players options. <a href="https://t.co/iUCYamJZco">https://t.co/iUCYamJZco</a></div>
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/999324153344942081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
[N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell] wanted to give players options.<br />
<br />
Here are the options. If any player wants to show disrespect to the flag and the national anthem of the United States, he can do it in the locker room. He can also leave the National Football League and then show his disrespect using any legal method that he wants, including burning the flag itself. I hate it when it happens, but <a href="https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/inside-the-supreme-courts-flag-burning-decision/" target="_blank">the Supreme Court has said that it's legal</a>.<br />
<br />
Similar stories in other publications, all published the same day:<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/23/nfl-bans-on-field-kneeling-during-the-national-anthem.html" target="_blank">C.N.B.C.</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/23/sports/nfl-anthem-kneeling.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nfl-announces-new-national-anthem-policy-fines-teams-if-players-n876816" target="_blank">N.B.C. News</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nfl-owners-approve-new-policy-on-kneeling-during-national-anthem/" target="_blank">C.B.S. News</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nfl-penalty-kneeling-national-anthem_us_5b052eb7e4b05f0fc8431d64" target="_blank">The Huffington Post</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2018/05/23/nfl-adopts-policy-to-fine-teams-if-players-and-personnel-dont-stand-for-national-anthem.html" target="_blank">Fox News</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/23/sport/nfl-spring-league-meeting-national-anthem/index.html" target="_blank">C.N.N.</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44230772" target="_blank">The British Broadcasting Corporation</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/23582533/nfl-owners-approve-new-national-anthem-policy" target="_blank">E.S.P.N.</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/23/nfl-kneeling-anthem-policy-trump-604497" target="_blank">Politico</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/05/23/the-nfl-just-took-this-stand-on-players-who-kneel-during-the-national-anthem/" target="_blank">The Military Times</a></td>
<td><a href="http://variety.com/2018/biz/news/nfl-national-anthem-fine-kneeling-1202819820/" target="_blank">Variety</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-football-nfl-anthem/nfl-to-fine-teams-if-players-on-field-refuse-to-stand-for-anthem-idUSKCN1IO2MI" target="_blank">Reuters</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nfl-fine-teams-players-kneel-national-anthem-1114336" target="_blank">The Hollywood Reporter</a></td>
<td><a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/nfl-owners-adopt-new-policy-address-anthem-protests" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/news/nfl-national-anthem-kneeling-penalty-owners-consider/" target="_blank">National Review</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2018/05/23/nfl-owners-leaning-towards-requiring-players-to-stand-for-national-anthem-or-remain-in-locker-room/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/nfl-to-fine-players-who-kneel-on-field-during-national-anthem/" target="_blank">Us Magazine</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<h3>
Nick King is a sports reporter in California</h3>
This tweet was added to the page on June 13, 2018.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
So the entire Clovis & Buchanan fan bases just sung the National Anthem together before the softball D-I Valley Title game. <br />
PA announcer said there would be no anthem (because it was played before the earlier game), and everyone started booing. Then the singing started. <a href="https://t.co/hlI2bLgfYo">pic.twitter.com/hlI2bLgfYo</a></div>
— Nick King (@KingKMPH) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingKMPH/status/1000207602775613440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Conclusions</h3>
As long as CNN and other widely-read news organizations treat Donald Trump differently than they treated Barak Obama, by referring to Donald by his name instead of his title, CNN and these other organizations will lose credibility and readers.<br />
<br />
As long as these news organizations consider Dona'd's opinions and Governor Walker's opinions to be the only opposition to NFL players who kneel during the National Anthem, then they will, by definition, ignore the opinions of the fans who used to buy game tickets, jerseys, and other NFL merchandise.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/R1PSwIRZIUk/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R1PSwIRZIUk?feature=player_embedded" style="clear: right; float: right;" width="320"></iframe>This ignorance of a majority of America's opinions will inevitably result in an inability to explain why the National Football League has less income than it did last year.<br />
<br />
The 4:31 minute video on the right was sent to YouTube September 27, 2017. It shows some of the people who have publicly destroyed their N.F.L. jerseys since the players began their protests.<br />
<br />
When more news stories about the player protests and the fan's counter-protests are published, they may be added to this page.
</div>
</div>
David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-13563096150068028462017-10-06T15:51:00.002-07:002018-05-23T14:58:15.256-07:00Boycott the National Football League on Veteran's Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
These are the first five paragraphs of <a href="http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2017/09/25/alejandro-villanueva-national-anthem/" target="_blank">a September 25, 2017 story on the Pittsburgh affiliate of CBS-TV</a>, The link in the second paragraph and the tweet after the fourth paragraph were both included in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Alejandro Villanueva jersey sales are skyrocketing after he was the lone member of the Pittsburgh Steelers to stand for the national anthem before Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.<br />
<br />
On Fanatics.com Villanueva’s jersey is <a href="http://www.fanatics.com/NFL_Pittsburgh_Steelers_Jerseys/pg/1/ps/72/so/top_sellers" rel="noopener" target="_blank">now the top selling Steelers jersey</a>, and one of the top selling jerseys in the entire NFL.<br />
<br />
The rest of the Steelers remained in the locker room and tunnel behind Villanueva during the national anthem.<br />
<br />
NFL fans were moved by Villanueva’s decision to emerge from the tunnel and stand for the anthem with his hand over his heart.<br />
<div class="embed-twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="420">
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Proud Veteran Ex-Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva Stands alone while his teammates hide in the locker room 🇺🇸🇺🇸👍🏻👍🏻<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TakeAKnee?src=hash">#TakeAKnee</a> <a href="https://t.co/51ybPZubZW">pic.twitter.com/51ybPZubZW</a></div>
— 🌸Jillian 🇺🇸 💕 👢 (@Jillibean557) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jillibean557/status/912126192043642880">September 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
</div>
Villanueva is an ex-Army Ranger who served three tours in Afghanistan and is a bronze star recipient.</blockquote>
<br />
I found the photo below with a search for photos of him standing when his teammates were hiding.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--XXYb05yEfk/Wei9CXqefTI/AAAAAAAAHQg/-VEbnjtsJ0QSA7f14m5-WNCkQq4n1ZXdwCLcBGAs/s1600/Villanueva.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="750" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--XXYb05yEfk/Wei9CXqefTI/AAAAAAAAHQg/-VEbnjtsJ0QSA7f14m5-WNCkQq4n1ZXdwCLcBGAs/s400/Villanueva.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
These other websites have similar stories, all dated the same day (September 25, 2017). Every website name is a clickable link to their story.<br />
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<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/20815108/alejandro-villanueva-pittsburgh-steelers-top-selling-gear-standing-national-anthem" target="_blank">ESPN</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/alejandro-villanueva-has-highest-selling-jersey-in-nfl/" target="_blank">CBS Sports</a></td>
<td><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/25/news/companies/alejandro-villanueva-jersey-sales-steelers/index.html" target="_blank">CNN - Money</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/09/25/alejandro-villanueva-jersey-sales-national-anthem" target="_blank">Sports Illustrated</a></td>
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<td><a href="http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/09/25/see-what-happened-to-alejandro-villanuevas-jersey-sales-after-he-boldly-stood-for-national-anthem" target="_blank">The Blaze</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2017/09/25/alejandro-villanueva-is-nfls-top-selling-jersey-since-standing-for-anthem.html" target="_blank">Fox Business</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/steelers/2017/09/25/alejandro-villanueva-steelers-merchandise-becomes-top-seller-nfl-anthem/700601001/" target="_blank">USA Today</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/alejandro-villanueva-jersey-sales-boom-national-anthem-stance/10v2iya21gg8m1kfapqmtu7tg4" target="_blank">The Sporting News</a></td>
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<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.dailywire.com/news/21478/alejandro-villanueva-jersey-sales-skyrocket-after-emily-zanotti" target="_blank">The Daily Wire</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/alejandro-villanueva-jersey-best-seller-anthem-article-1.3520234" target="_blank">New York Daily News</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.pennlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2017/09/steelers_villanueva_jersey_sales.html" target="_blank">Penn Live</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/jersey-sales-soar-for-pittsburgh-steelers-player-who-stood-for-the-national-anthem/article/2635486" target="_blank">The Washington Examiner</a></td>
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<td><a href="https://townhall.com/tipsheet/christinerousselle/2017/09/25/topselling-nfl-jersey-is-alejandro-villanueva-n2386187">Town Hall</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/alejandro-villanueva-national-anthem-standing-jersey-2017-9" target="_blank">Business Insider</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.redstate.com/kiradavis/2017/09/25/villanueva-jersey-sales-skyrocket-takes-stand-flag/" target="_blank">Red State</a></td>
<td><a href="https://nypost.com/2017/09/25/villanuevas-nfl-jersey-becomes-a-best-seller/" target="_blank">The New York Post</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GAkXFcf_PNc/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GAkXFcf_PNc?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
</td>
<td>This is the title of the video on the left.<br />
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<br />
<div style="font-size: Large;">
"Fans boo kneeling New Orleans Saints players during tribute to fallen New Orleans Police Department officer"</div>
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<br />
The news story quoted above mentions a website that sells his jersey. <a href="http://www.fanatics.com/NFL_Alejandro_Villanueva">This is one place where you can buy it</a>, for men or women. You can also buy his jersey (for men) on <a href="http://www.nflshop.com/Alejandro_Villanueva_Pittsburgh_Steelers_Jerseys" target="_blank">the NFL Shop</a>, <a href="http://www.steelersteamofficialshop.com/black-alejandro-villanueva-steelers-jersey/" target="_blank">the Pittsburbh Steelers Fan Shop</a>, <a href="https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/nike-mens-home-game-jersey-pittsburgh-steelers-alejandro-villanueva-78-17nikmnflstlrsvllapta/17nikmnflstlrsvllapta">Dick's Sporting Goods</a>, and on <a href="https://www.fansedge.com/nfl-alejandro-villanueva/o-25+a-197" target="_blank">Fan's Edge</a>.<br />
<br />
Women and children can buy his jersey on <a href="http://www.steelersnflofficialproshop.com/WOMENS_YOUTH_ALEJANDRO_VILLANUEVA_JERSEY.html">this page of the Steeler's Store</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j9urw9HFM9s/Wei6es5se8I/AAAAAAAAHQQ/UjCiWs6qxYkmL0lUJZWIkVNVlSgo37BkwCLcBGAs/s1600/Jersey1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j9urw9HFM9s/Wei6es5se8I/AAAAAAAAHQQ/UjCiWs6qxYkmL0lUJZWIkVNVlSgo37BkwCLcBGAs/s1600/Jersey1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_dYt_MMmoMI/Wei6jQXqtFI/AAAAAAAAHQU/IJo3BoE0sdUVEIiOMvhNV_IpG3yy9DxIgCLcBGAs/s1600/Jersey2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_dYt_MMmoMI/Wei6jQXqtFI/AAAAAAAAHQU/IJo3BoE0sdUVEIiOMvhNV_IpG3yy9DxIgCLcBGAs/s1600/Jersey2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w1URlcfFUuw/Wei9ZRvyx2I/AAAAAAAAHQk/zPdhtK9pvhIA-7WQNbHuT50HozGcejqTACLcBGAs/s1600/Jersey3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="340" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w1URlcfFUuw/Wei9ZRvyx2I/AAAAAAAAHQk/zPdhtK9pvhIA-7WQNbHuT50HozGcejqTACLcBGAs/s200/Jersey3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t7cBh1to-PY/Wei-jvnZeLI/AAAAAAAAHQo/hHFKm3NQyyASSzIOYao3dFxEG6x_KytmQCLcBGAs/s1600/Jersey4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t7cBh1to-PY/Wei-jvnZeLI/AAAAAAAAHQo/hHFKm3NQyyASSzIOYao3dFxEG6x_KytmQCLcBGAs/s320/Jersey4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
The first of these two videos, uploaded by CBS This Morning in May 2014, shows the military background of Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva. The second video shows him at a <nobr>September 25,</nobr> 2017 press conference.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GISUBiMnOVM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GISUBiMnOVM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EJubf3o_YCo/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EJubf3o_YCo?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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The photo below appears on <a href="https://www.barstoolsports.com/chicago/steelers-left-tackle-and-army-ranger-alejandro-villanueva-explains-why-he-was-awarded-a-bronze-star-with-valor/" target="_blank">the January 20, 2017 page of Barstool Sports</a>, which is titled, "Steeler's Left Tackle And Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva Explains Why He Was Awarded A Bronze Star With Valor".<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2J6r6fhoJc/Wfdk3cWE_xI/AAAAAAAAHZk/mcs-ysr6oNE_6iqmEOernSFHtDQnyEDsQCLcBGAs/s1600/Villanueva.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2J6r6fhoJc/Wfdk3cWE_xI/AAAAAAAAHZk/mcs-ysr6oNE_6iqmEOernSFHtDQnyEDsQCLcBGAs/s640/Villanueva.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
These are the first five paragraphs of <a href="http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/13464479/former-army-ranger-alejandro-villanueva-chasing-nfl-dream-pittsburgh-steelers-nfl" target="_blank">an August 20, 2015 E.S.P.N. story</a>,<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The text came just after noon.<br />
<br />
<i>We have a late practice today and I think we get done at 1930, could I call you then or would that be too late?</i><br />
<br />
You can take the man out of the military -- and improbably put him inside the locker room of one of the NFL's most storied franchises -- but not the military out of the man. To Alejandro Villanueva, a West Point graduate and former Army Ranger who served three tours in Afghanistan, 7:30 p.m. will always be 1930, military time.<br />
<br />
"That's him," said Mike Munchak, the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive line coach and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "You'd love to have 50 guys like him."<br />
<br />
By next month, Villanueva hopes to be one of Pittsburgh's final 53. To hear those inside the Steelers' organization tell it, the 26-year-old has a legitimate shot at making the opening-day roster despite not having played in a football game since 2009, his senior year at Army.</blockquote>
This is the fourth paragraph.<br />
<br />
"That's him," said Mike Munchak, the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive line coach and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "You'd love to have 50 guys like him."<br />
<br />
This photograph of Alejandro Villanueva, and the caption below it, were in the <nobr>September 25,</nobr> 2017 ESPN story, one of 16 news stories that are linked earlier on this page.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xpJvATMdPaY/WdezjiyxqfI/AAAAAAAAHF8/iLrNwS6JbtIelQSXNgVmoapPqKnEMYUegCLcBGAs/s1600/Villanueva.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="570" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xpJvATMdPaY/WdezjiyxqfI/AAAAAAAAHF8/iLrNwS6JbtIelQSXNgVmoapPqKnEMYUegCLcBGAs/s640/Villanueva.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: Small; text-align: Center;">
Alejandro Villanueva stood outside the tunnel for the national anthem while his Steelers teammates remained in the locker room. <cite>AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh</cite></div>
<br />
This is the complete text of <a href="http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2017/09/27/nfl-boycott-veterans-day-weekend/" target="_blank">a September 27, 2017 story on the Pittsburgh affiliate of CBS-TV</a>, The link in the second paragraph was in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Tens of thousands upset over NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem are planning a boycott of the NFL.<br />
<br />
A <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Boycott-The-NFL-119285205413259/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Facebook group</a> now has more than 70,000 members calling for a boycott of all NFL games on Veterans Day weekend, Nov. 12-13. <br />
<br />
The group is encouraging people to avoid watching football on both Sunday and Monday to show support for veterans.<br />
<br />
The Facebook event states: “We will be not be watching or listening to NFL games on November 12th in solidarity with veterans around the country, as football players have continued to disrespect the national anthem, the American flag, and everything our nation stands for.”</blockquote>
<br />
The following videos show the protests by NFL fans of NFL players. All of these players have the advantage and the privilege of being American citizens, protected, as we all are, most of the time, from the world's worst tyrants and terrorists.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OdRCoSPckJQ/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OdRCoSPckJQ?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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This video was uploaded by Inside Edition on September 12, 2016</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UZbZARI8xwI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UZbZARI8xwI?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="font-size: Small; text-align: Center;">
This video was uploaded by the Associated Press on September 27, 2017</div>
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This video was uploaded by Breaking News Today on September 29, 2017</div>
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<td style="font-size: Small;">Being an American citizen means that the entire U.S. Military does a good job of protecting you (and the players) from the world's worst tyrants and terrorists.<br />
<br />
The flag of the United States represents a country whose Bill of Rights, part of the U.S. Constitution, gives all Americans the right to practice our religion, the right to express our political thoughts, and many other rights.<br />
<br />
These players have privileges that most of the world doesn't have, but they don't know it.</td>
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<h3>
These are a few of the veterans that Alejandro is honoring</h3>
The following news stories are arranged in chronological order, oldest first.<br />
<br />
These are the first five paragraphs of <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/23/AR2007032301665.html" target="_blank">a March 24, 2007 Washington Post story</a>. The two photographs after the story were found with a search.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Under a brilliant midday sun, hundreds of mourners gathered at the grave of Spec. Ross Andrew McGinnis yesterday to pay their respects to a teenager who, in accepting death, saved the lives of four men.<br />
<br />
The 19-year-old Army gunner from the outskirts of Pittsburgh was on patrol in Baghdad's Adhamiyah neighborhood Dec. 4 when a grenade sailed through his hatch and into the Humvee, according to official military accounts.<br />
<br />
When he realized the four soldiers inside would not be able to escape in time, he leapt into the vehicle and covered the grenade with his body, taking the full brunt of the explosion.<br />
<br />
"He had the opportunity to escape," his father, Thomas McGinnis, said in an interview before the funeral. "He chose not to."<br />
<br />
Ross McGinnis was posthumously promoted from private first class to specialist and awarded the Silver Star. He has also been nominated for the Medal of Honor.</blockquote>
The promotion that he received postumously (after he died) means that his family will be able to receive more financial benefits as a result of his sacrifice. <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/military/family-based-survivor-benefits/survivor-benefits-relatives-us-citizen-military-members" target="_blank">Link to a U.S. Government website that explains this</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o7W37iKZr0Q/WdfhjqZ9pmI/AAAAAAAAHGQ/Hkc0VhrL08EUTPVvxiK9QPbU6OSUdnfqgCLcBGAs/s1600/McGinness2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="600" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o7W37iKZr0Q/WdfhjqZ9pmI/AAAAAAAAHGQ/Hkc0VhrL08EUTPVvxiK9QPbU6OSUdnfqgCLcBGAs/s320/McGinness2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The photograph of his gravestone is <a href="http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/ramcginnis-02.htm" target="_blank">on the website of Arlington National Cemetery</a>.</div>
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These are the first seven paragraphs of <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/03/hero-u-s-soldier-gives-life-to-save-afghan-girl/" target="_blank">a March 29, 2012 ABC News story</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
It is a compelling war-zone story of heroism of a U.S. soldier who gave his own life to save an Afghan girl from certain injury.<br />
<br />
Sgt. Dennis Weichel, 29, died in Afghanistan last week as he lifted an Afghan girl who was in the path of a large military vehicle barreling down a road.<br />
<br />
Weichel, a Rhode Island National Guardsman, was riding along in a convoy in Laghman Province in eastern Afghanistan when some children were spotted on the road ahead.<br />
<br />
The children were picking up shell casings lying on the road. The casings are recycled for money in Afghanistan. Weichel and other soldiers in the convoy got out of their vehicles to get them out of the way of the heavy trucks in the convoy.<br />
<br />
The children were moved out of the way, but an Afghan girl darted back onto the road to pick up some more casings that lay underneath a passing MRAP, or Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle. The huge armored trucks can weigh as much as 16 tons and are designed to protect the troops they carry from roadside bombs.<br />
<br />
Weichel spotted the girl and quickly moved toward her to get her out of the way. He succeeded, but not before he was run over by the heavily armored truck. The girl was safe, but Weichel later died of his injuries. He had arrived in Afghanistan a few weeks ago and had been a member of the Rhode Island National Guard since 2001.<br />
<br />
Lt. Col. Denis Riel, a spokesman for the Rhode Island National Guard, said Weichel embodied values that can't be taught. "I have heard nothing but incredible stuff about this kid, selfless beyond our core values that we live up to," Riel said. "As I hear more from family and others, he was the living embodiment of the Army's core values: courageous, selfless and loyal. All values we expect from our soldiers. We mourn all combat deaths, but this one is a significant loss."</blockquote>
"... he was the living embodiment of the Army's core values: courageous, selfless and loyal."<br />
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The photograph of his casket being carried to the cemetery is included in <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2124194/Funeral-U-S-soldier-dad-Dennis-Weichel-killed-saving-Afghan-boy-hit-truck.html" target="_blank">this April 2, 2012 Daily Mail story</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XGrfQm3M4lM/Wdfm74ZPsmI/AAAAAAAAHGg/kix61H6X8K0pGMQw3m_2hud5nkjBuTGZQCLcBGAs/s1600/Weichel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XGrfQm3M4lM/Wdfm74ZPsmI/AAAAAAAAHGg/kix61H6X8K0pGMQw3m_2hud5nkjBuTGZQCLcBGAs/s320/Weichel1.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>
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The Daily Mail story was updated on August 13, 2012 because of a reporting error in April. The child he saved was a boy, not a girl.<br />
<br />
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-navy-seal-killed-iraq-charles-keating-20160504-story.html" target="_blank">a May 4, 2016 Chicago Tribune story</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Charlie Keating IV was famous for his family but made a name for himself as a star distance runner at his Phoenix high school and then as a Navy SEAL.<br />
<br />
He was shot and killed Tuesday in Iraq during a gunbattle that involved more than 100 Islamic State fighters, Army Col. Steve Warren said. The Navy Petty Officer 1st Class was part of a quick reaction force that moved in to help American military advisers who came under attack.<br />
<br />
He's the third American serviceman to die in combat in Iraq since the U.S.-led coalition launched its campaign against the Islamic State group in summer 2014, military officials said.<br />
<br />
"Like so many brave Americans who came before him, Charlie sacrificed his life in honorable service to our nation for a cause greater than self-interest, which we can never truly repay," U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said in a statement.</blockquote>
"Like so many brave Americans who came before him, Charlie sacrificed his life in honorable service to our nation for a cause greater than self-interest, which we can never truly repay," U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said in a statement.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mI7TPpQIG6k/WdfzAQ_As6I/AAAAAAAAHHM/_I2VlDeNQyoPwd5u8NyAGJL_JSIiEX8UwCLcBGAs/s1600/Keating2a.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="566" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mI7TPpQIG6k/WdfzAQ_As6I/AAAAAAAAHHM/_I2VlDeNQyoPwd5u8NyAGJL_JSIiEX8UwCLcBGAs/s200/Keating2a.PNG" width="188" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JZpn0JwCIZU/WdfyLvhznpI/AAAAAAAAHG8/rBEMJbP3Dq8MnIoOt3jGZT2j84CQe7LsQCLcBGAs/s1600/Keating3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="534" height="204" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JZpn0JwCIZU/WdfyLvhznpI/AAAAAAAAHG8/rBEMJbP3Dq8MnIoOt3jGZT2j84CQe7LsQCLcBGAs/s320/Keating3.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="http://www.10news.com/news/coronado-based-navy-seal-killed-in-iraq-to-be-laid-to-rest" target="_blank">a May 13, 2016 story on the website of the ABC-News affiliate in San Diego, California</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
SAN DIEGO - A San Diego-based Navy SEAL killed in action in Iraq last week was laid to rest at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery Friday following an enormous display of support from grateful members of the public.<br />
<br />
Petty Officer First Class Charles H. Keating IV, 31, was fatally shot in a May 3 battle with Islamic State forces in Tall Usquf, Iraq. According to the Navy, ISIS broke through the front lines north of the city of Mosul, and Keating's SEAL team and air support were called in to repel the attack.<br />
<br />
A funeral service was held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Coronado, after which a hearse carrying his body and a long procession of vehicles wound their way through the city and across the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge.<br />
<br />
Thousands of people -- including students let out from Coronado schools -- lined the route to pay tribute to the fallen SEAL.</blockquote>
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This one-minute video was uploaded by<br />
The Associated Press on May 13, 2016</div>
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<td style="font-size: Large; text-align: Center;">"Thousands of people -- including students let out from Coronado schools -- lined the route to pay tribute to the fallen SEAL."</td>
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"Thousands of people -- including students let out from Coronado schools -- lined the route to pay tribute to the fallen SEAL."<br />
<br />
... but the millionaires shown in the following photos don't know and don't want to know what our nation, represented by our flag, does for them every single day. <br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QEMiwgjtrLo/Wdf5JCCpqdI/AAAAAAAAHHc/exjq7AElPLQD9N0nhuVcatT9Rl7tqsPnACLcBGAs/s1600/Kneel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QEMiwgjtrLo/Wdf5JCCpqdI/AAAAAAAAHHc/exjq7AElPLQD9N0nhuVcatT9Rl7tqsPnACLcBGAs/s320/Kneel1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<td>Ungrateful Miami Dolphins on the left and ungrateful Cleveland Browns on the right.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gohjPj7euIk/Wdf5WAm5BcI/AAAAAAAAHHg/Ypb5ymVLbB41tE7HYjwUJwEif34JZBhGgCLcBGAs/s1600/Kneel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="612" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gohjPj7euIk/Wdf5WAm5BcI/AAAAAAAAHHg/Ypb5ymVLbB41tE7HYjwUJwEif34JZBhGgCLcBGAs/s320/Kneel2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xhh4pMgoT0w/Wdf6DDy0DEI/AAAAAAAAHHo/QluHfBJRU2k21k2L40qr7SlS56OWu8gdwCLcBGAs/s1600/Kneel3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="992" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xhh4pMgoT0w/Wdf6DDy0DEI/AAAAAAAAHHo/QluHfBJRU2k21k2L40qr7SlS56OWu8gdwCLcBGAs/s320/Kneel3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<td style="font-size: Large;">Ungrateful New Orleans Saints kneel because they're deliberately ignorant of the sacrifices that the U.S. military has made for people all over the world.</td>
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<td style="font-size: Large;">These ungrateful players may play for New England, but they're definitely not patriots.</td>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2rXjRmY1ekc/Wdf7Cubr8GI/AAAAAAAAHH0/ngSzDctGmigJRh5s1GGnRtiY1ihbcPBtQCLcBGAs/s1600/Kneel4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="885" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2rXjRmY1ekc/Wdf7Cubr8GI/AAAAAAAAHH0/ngSzDctGmigJRh5s1GGnRtiY1ihbcPBtQCLcBGAs/s320/Kneel4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The ungrateful players shown below are on the Baltimore Ravens team, which ignores the contribution of the team called the U.S. military.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QRrbSm04A5o/Wdf-3Wx557I/AAAAAAAAHIA/nRjZSun6wZUkYyacNV32FwIm8yAOSrRcgCLcBGAs/s1600/Kneel5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="750" height="392" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QRrbSm04A5o/Wdf-3Wx557I/AAAAAAAAHIA/nRjZSun6wZUkYyacNV32FwIm8yAOSrRcgCLcBGAs/s640/Kneel5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
These are the first two paragraphs of <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000862308/article/nfl-owners-players-meeting-tuesday-to-discuss-protests" target="_blank">an October 16, 2017 article published on the N.F.L. website</a> and written by an N.F.L. reporter. The links in these paragraphs were in the article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The letters and emails have poured into team offices -- angry ones, some from military veterans -- and then there are the boxes of returned team merchandise and tickets and the worried calls from local sponsors about what they are hearing from their own customers. In the three weeks since the president <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000849517/article/nfl-nflpa-respond-to-president-trumps-anthem-comments">first attacked NFL players</a> who have protested racial inequality and injustice by not standing for the national anthem before games -- it has felt much longer to
practically everyone in the league -- the controversy has overwhelmed virtually everything else this season.<br />
<br />
On Tuesday, before a regularly-scheduled meeting of the league's owners in New York, players, their union's leaders and owners will gather to try to find a way to move on. Players have been meeting with a handful of owners and league executives since August, discussing ways the league could support players' efforts on social issues. But while a joint statement released last week by the league and the union emphasized that there has been <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000860248/article/roger-goodell-no-policy-change-on-national-anthem">no change to the league's current policy</a>, which does not require players to stand for the anthem, the hope for this meeting is that players and owners might at least move toward a solution that will bring most of the protests to an end, while also advancing the players' goals.</blockquote>
The previous article still fails to show the connection between the player protests and the fan's anger, shown by videos like these.<br />
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The photo below is the U.S.S. Constellation. The quote next to it is on <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Baltimore" target="_blank">this page of Encyclopedia Britannica</a>. Their word "harbour" is spelled correctly in the British version of the English language.<br />
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The U.S. Navy’s first ship, the <i><a class="idxref" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" id="ref230447" name="ref230447"></a>Constellation</i>, was launched in Baltimore in 1797, and its namesake, the last all-sail warship built (1854) for the navy, has been moored in the city’s harbour since 1955;</div>
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Armed ships in the U.S. Navy, like armed soldiers in the U.S. Army, and later, armed U.S. Marines and Airmen who fly armed warplanes, all contribute to the safety and the security of the most powerful nation in the world.<br />
<br />
Even though the United States could use its' military power to claim land from Mexico at any time in the near future, we haven't done that in over 150 years, and we've never taken any land away from Canada since America became a country in 1776. If we wanted to, we could take control over Mexico and all central America, including the Panama Canal, but we want peace with our neighbors, unlike Germany in the late 1910s and again in the late 1930s. Russia has had many episodes of hunger for land that was close to it. That's why they took over eastern Europe in the 1920s and renamed it the Soviet Union.<br />
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The ungrateful football players mentioned above are deliberately ignorant of the proud history of our country, which has been protecting people all around the world from tyrants and terrorists even when it costs servicemen and women their own lives. <br />
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<td style="font-size: Small;">Show these ungrateful players, their ungrateful coaches, and the ungrateful NFL Commissioner that you appreciate the sacrifice of the U.S. military and the nation that our flag represents.<br />
<br />
Don't go to any NFL game on Veteran's Day, the day before it, or either of the two days after it.</td>
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The following tweet includes a graphic that said that more than half of the current players in the N.F.L. have been convicted of felonies. If you click on the date at the end of the tweet, you will see the tweet and the graphic, as they appeared on his timeline.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Not FOOTBALL<br />
its FELONBALL <a href="https://t.co/GeADd7ZLei">pic.twitter.com/GeADd7ZLei</a></div>
— marc haig (@marchaig) <a href="https://twitter.com/marchaig/status/914926085384622085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<a href="http://www.dailywire.com/news/21476/who-needs-rules-nfl-player-arrested-every-7-days-joseph-curl" target="_blank">Link to a September 25, 2017 Daily Wire article on this subject</a>.<br />
<br />
Link to <a href="http://www.arrestrecords.com/the-15-worst-crimes-committed-by-nfl-players/" target="_blank">an undated page that gives detailed information</a> about 15 N.F.L. players who have committed very serious crimes, including murder. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-size: X-Large; text-align: Center;">
Boycott the NFL on Veteran's Day!!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PVHfOIXarZQ/WdgGcxh4r2I/AAAAAAAAHIk/o0tGifmS87gTN1eBfUTaI96TSmv5AIsBACLcBGAs/s1600/Kennedy%2BQuote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PVHfOIXarZQ/WdgGcxh4r2I/AAAAAAAAHIk/o0tGifmS87gTN1eBfUTaI96TSmv5AIsBACLcBGAs/s640/Kennedy%2BQuote.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="color: red;">
Important notes:</div>
<br />
This page included some news stories that were published after this blog page was published. Those stories, and a few others, have been moved to <a href="https://conserving-the-mobile-nation.blogspot.com/2017/10/boycott-national-football-league-updates.html" target="_blank">a blog page</a> that was published on <nobr>October 11,</nobr> 2017. That new page is devoted to updates and a quick look at CNN's journalism standards. Their news stories describe President Trump very differently than their past stories described President Obama.<br />
<br />
By the way, I'm not a fan of either person, and there are different reasons for each of them. Please read <a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/05/why_im_voting_for_a_writein_presidential_candidate.html" target="_blank">my May 26, 2016 article in American Thinker</a>, which explains why I wrote the name "Ted Cruz" on my ballot in November 2016.<br />
<br />
Another related page was published October 14, 2017 called <a href="https://conserving-the-mobile-nation.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-economics-of-nfl-boycott.html" target="_blank">The Economics of the N.F.L. Boycott</a>. This page has information about the revenue sources of the league and the teams. It also has information about the reduced audience for N.F.L. games that are broadcast on television.<br />
<br />
These tweet were all added on May 23, 2018.</div>
</div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Steelers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Steelers</a> restructured LT Alejandro Villanueva’s contract, creating $4M in cap space.</div>
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/973671364040290305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
GIVING BACK: <a href="https://twitter.com/steelers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@steelers</a>’ Alejandro Villanueva makes special delivery to veterans -- <a href="https://t.co/J34ETEYrr8">https://t.co/J34ETEYrr8</a></div>
— KDKA (@KDKA) <a href="https://twitter.com/KDKA/status/982422710918828032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Alejandro Villanueva and <a href="https://twitter.com/heinzfield?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@heinzfield</a> teamed up to drop-off televisions and refrigerators at Veterans Place Washington Boulevard.<br /><br />MORE: <a href="https://t.co/IxGTivhT83">https://t.co/IxGTivhT83</a> <a href="https://t.co/fYzkNcezZi">pic.twitter.com/fYzkNcezZi</a></div>
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) <a href="https://twitter.com/steelers/status/983496532178677760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Steelers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Steelers</a>' Alejandro Villanueva donates royalty check earned from newfound popularity to AFC North cities <a href="https://t.co/pWiPTYRffZ">https://t.co/pWiPTYRffZ</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/USATODAY?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@usatoday</a></div>
— Mike Jones (@ByMikeJones) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByMikeJones/status/989572644184961024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Steelers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Steelers</a> LT Alejandro Villanueva just took page out of a Nashville Predators celebration playbook —-stripped off his shirt and covered himself with beer. Got crowd going. 1-1 after 2</div>
— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) <a href="https://twitter.com/KDPomp/status/993652678122188801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Alejandro Villanueva is now a GOD in this city. Just poured a beer over his shirtless body with Ben Roethlisberger laughing behind him.</div>
— Matty Sunday (@mattsunday) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattsunday/status/993650426233937920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/steelers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@steelers</a> lineman and <a href="https://twitter.com/USArmy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USArmy</a> veteran Alejandro Villanueva discussing transition from active service to civilian during the <a href="https://twitter.com/Shell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Shell</a> Military Petrochemical Day with <a href="https://twitter.com/CCBCedu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CCBCedu</a>! <a href="https://t.co/M7jsQPy5Nc">pic.twitter.com/M7jsQPy5Nc</a></div>
— Kolt Codner (@KoltCodner) <a href="https://twitter.com/KoltCodner/status/999350084998520832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</div>
David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-5320438188882876892017-09-13T10:03:00.000-07:002017-09-14T07:14:37.775-07:00Good-bye, Kenyan-born Bam-Bam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
Don't let too many doors hit you in your rear end. You might need to see a doctor, and now that you aren't the President any more, you're going to have to live with the same Obamacare rules that the rest of us have to live with.<br />
<br />
Start kneeling on your Muslim prayer rug. Pray that the Republicans in the House of Representatives and the Senate, the ones that <u>you</u> put there because of your incompetence as a president, will be able to fix the mess that you and your party created when your party had all of the political power that the Republicans have now.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, you gray-haired old fool, just go away.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YGF1OnZZ6_c/WblPEwhpAWI/AAAAAAAAG4Q/I8hkpZZlvnIQNJVYasu7El5cLDY5FnL9ACLcBGAs/s1600/Obama%2BGray%2BHair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="750" height="476" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YGF1OnZZ6_c/WblPEwhpAWI/AAAAAAAAG4Q/I8hkpZZlvnIQNJVYasu7El5cLDY5FnL9ACLcBGAs/s640/Obama%2BGray%2BHair.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Far away. I hear that Kenya is a nice place to live. It must be, because that's where you were born. Your brother said so himself.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.infowars.com/malik-obama-shares-photo-of-brother-baracks-kenya-certificate-of-birth/" target="_blank">This March 10, 2017 Infowars article</a> linked to <a href="http://www.theamericanmirror.com/malik-obama-shares-photo-brother-baracks-kenya-certificate-birth/" target="_blank">this March 9, 2017 article on the website American Mirror</a> that reproduced this tweet.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Surely. What's this? <a href="https://t.co/jaczNXTIv0">pic.twitter.com/jaczNXTIv0</a></div>
— Malik Obama (@ObamaMalik) <a href="https://twitter.com/ObamaMalik/status/839917082959613952">March 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
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<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ni8Xymbgv-w/WMlshI2nr7I/AAAAAAAAE3w/lz12gdtAWU0M06_QJffKTv_aITJxmI_FACLcB/s1600/Bam-Bam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ni8Xymbgv-w/WMlshI2nr7I/AAAAAAAAE3w/lz12gdtAWU0M06_QJffKTv_aITJxmI_FACLcB/s1600/Bam-Bam.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
<td style="font-size: X-Large;">Good-bye, Bam-Bam!<br />
<br />
Send us a postcard when you return to your Kenyan hometown!<br />
<br />
Make sure you stay there! </td>
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</tbody>
</table>
<br />
These are the first five paragraphs of <a href="http://www.wnd.com/2016/12/1-in-3-americans-obama-probably-born-in-kenya/" target="_blank">a December 28, 2016 World Net Daily story</a>. The link in the third paragraph was in their article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
It’s been eight years since Barack Obama was elected president amid doubts about his eligibility to hold the office, when dozens of lawsuits challenged him, and even some members of Congress expressed concern.<br />
<br />
It’s been four years since he was re-elected, just as most of those lawsuits were being dismissed by federal judges who mostly claimed the law gave them no authority to even hear the evidence.<br />
<br />
But the latest <a href="https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/ljv2ohxmzj/econTabReport.pdf">Economist/YouGov</a> poll indicates that fully one-third of Americans simply don’t believe the story promoted by the Obama administration, that he was born in Hawaii.<br />
<br />
Specifically, 12 percent of all respondents say the statement “President Obama was born in Kenya” is definitely true, and another 24 percent say it is “probably true.”<br />
<br />
That includes 20 percent of Democrats who place themselves in those two categories, 39 percent of independents and 52 percent of Republicans.</blockquote>
This is the first part of the fourth paragraph.<br />
<br />
"Specifically, 12 percent of all respondents say the statement “President Obama was born in Kenya” is definitely true ...."<br />
<br />
... which means that 88 percent of all of the people who took that poll had some doubt about the truthfulness of Obama's "I was born in Hawaii" statement.<br />
<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="font-size: X-Large;">Hey Stupid!<br />
<br />
<i>Your own wife</i> said that you were born in Kenya!!<br />
<br />
Is she a liar? </td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6M7Rp_Ghv6k/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6M7Rp_Ghv6k?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
</td>
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</table>
<br />
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="https://buzzkenya.com/list-of-roots-and-relatives-of-president-obama-from-kenya-and-beyond/" target="_blank">this page of a website called Buzz Kenya</a>. The photo below was at the top of their page.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zUIcGxWn7Fc/WblUfFjRJGI/AAAAAAAAG4g/yrf1tkLtYdk__kvNqdmpd5cI2PmdtQ3LwCLcBGAs/s1600/Buzz%2BKenya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="964" height="422" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zUIcGxWn7Fc/WblUfFjRJGI/AAAAAAAAG4g/yrf1tkLtYdk__kvNqdmpd5cI2PmdtQ3LwCLcBGAs/s640/Buzz%2BKenya.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
President Barack Obama’s family tree stretches from his father’s small Kenyan village to the White House in one generation. The president’s grandfather Hussein Onyango Obama was born in Kendu Bay, western Kenya, in 1895 (the family grave in the village of Kogelo says 1870). He was called Hussein after he converted to Islam. He served as a porter in Britain’s colonial-era King’s African Rifles during World War I and as a cook for a British officer during World War II. He got married to several women and then had a son in 1936 with his second wife Akumu. The son was name Barrack Obama (Senior). Barrack Obama’s father, Barack Obama Senior, a Luo from Nyang’oma Kogelo, born to Hussein’s second wife Akumu came of age during Kenya’s independence and won a scholarship to study in Hawaii in 1959.<br />
<br />
While away for his study as a foreign student on scholarship, he met Obama’s (Junior) mother Ann Dunham in 1960 in a Russian language class at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. They got married in Wailuku – Maui on February 2, 1961 but the relationship did not last as they were separated in late August 1961 same time Obama was born when Obama’s mother moved with their newborn son to attend the University of Washington in Seattle for one year.<br />
<br />
Obama Sr. completed his undergraduate economics degree in Hawaii in June 1962, then left to attend graduate school at Harvard University on a scholarship. His parents were ripped apart by divorce in March 1964 and his father, Obama Sr. came back to Kenya the same year they divorced and then remarried. He died in an automobile accident in 1982, when Obama was 21 years old.<br />
<br />
Prior to his death, he visited Barack Obama ( Junior ) in Hawaii for the first time in 1971 when Obama was only 10-years-old. Barack Obama Jr grew up and built his career and became the 44th and the sitting president of the United States and also the first African-American to serve as U.S. president.</blockquote>
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<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UaP7AKU8LIk/WblZne_tqtI/AAAAAAAAG4w/LtvZpm3XHFYHgqkAnHH7YwjpD8nnSWZLgCLcBGAs/s1600/barrack-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="616" height="271" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UaP7AKU8LIk/WblZne_tqtI/AAAAAAAAG4w/LtvZpm3XHFYHgqkAnHH7YwjpD8nnSWZLgCLcBGAs/s400/barrack-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</td>
<td style="font-size: Large;">The photo on the left, showing 10-year-old Barak Jr. with his father Barak Sr. was also on the same page.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
These are three photographs of Barak Jr.'s mother, Ann Durham. The photo below and the first photo below it show her with her son.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zxf2Fikniew/Wblg2LMDQ3I/AAAAAAAAG5Y/nbWkYYkeMv4j7_-E89mTaFsKiMbABwX0QCLcBGAs/s1600/Ann%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="600" height="386" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zxf2Fikniew/Wblg2LMDQ3I/AAAAAAAAG5Y/nbWkYYkeMv4j7_-E89mTaFsKiMbABwX0QCLcBGAs/s640/Ann%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Even people who believe in the concept of race and the related concept of a pure race cannot call him a pure black after you see what his mother looks like.<br />
<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u3bZqFp7jGs/WblhfoNO3GI/AAAAAAAAG5g/5GFcVFtefG8_lfBopGhYuN-AFqF-Vv-EwCLcBGAs/s1600/Ann%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="310" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u3bZqFp7jGs/WblhfoNO3GI/AAAAAAAAG5g/5GFcVFtefG8_lfBopGhYuN-AFqF-Vv-EwCLcBGAs/s1600/Ann%2B1.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_kmpyFTYsQo/Wblh4JNEwcI/AAAAAAAAG5k/FgRVxNGKbvIRD43X5b7oPywGFzS28o-nwCLcBGAs/s1600/Ann%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="500" height="218" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_kmpyFTYsQo/Wblh4JNEwcI/AAAAAAAAG5k/FgRVxNGKbvIRD43X5b7oPywGFzS28o-nwCLcBGAs/s320/Ann%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: Large; text-align: Center;">
<br />
<a href="http://www.theobamafile.com/_family/anna.htm" target="_blank">Link to the website where you can see the above image</a>.</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<br />
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="http://www.wnd.com/2016/12/1-in-3-americans-obama-probably-born-in-kenya/" target="_blank">a December 28, 2016 World Net Daily story</a>. The link in the third paragraph was in their article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Breitbart News has obtained a promotional booklet produced in 1991 by Barack Obama’s then-literary agency, Acton & Dystel, which touts Obama as “born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii.”<br />
<br />
The booklet, which was distributed to “business colleagues” in the publishing industry, includes a brief biography of Obama among the biographies of eighty-nine other authors represented by Acton & Dystel.<br />
<br />
It also promotes Obama’s anticipated first book, <i>Journeys in Black and White</i>–which <a class=" x5l" href="http://www.gq.com/news-politics/politics/200911/barack-obama-writing-books-writer-robert-draper?printable=true" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Obama abandoned</a>, later publishing <i>Dreams from My Father </i>instead.<br />
<br />
Obama’s biography in the booklet is as follows (image and text below):</blockquote>
<table cellspacing="10">
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<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KBP4EVH7SxA/WblaiyZv92I/AAAAAAAAG44/SrmZDbHgoN4PYmFgRf-rifwMIMPEkzKxwCLcBGAs/s1600/Booklet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="710" height="254" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KBP4EVH7SxA/WblaiyZv92I/AAAAAAAAG44/SrmZDbHgoN4PYmFgRf-rifwMIMPEkzKxwCLcBGAs/s320/Booklet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4IGPsYb9WHA/WblbBrS4WpI/AAAAAAAAG5A/z_xRQAVv3tERA5c3telEz4RuoGzRf8i6ACLcBGAs/s1600/Kenya.%2BFlag.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4IGPsYb9WHA/WblbBrS4WpI/AAAAAAAAG5A/z_xRQAVv3tERA5c3telEz4RuoGzRf8i6ACLcBGAs/s320/Kenya.%2BFlag.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: Large; text-align: Center;">
This is the Kenyan Flag</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
"Barack Obama, the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review, was born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii."<br />
<br />
Hey Stupid! <u>Your own literary agent</u> said that you were born in Kenya!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F6bSShf2Nw0/WMlmNXmybUI/AAAAAAAAE3o/7ljXvYBu6fow5EzORhTuJx06osJmm9MBACLcB/s1600/Crayons.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F6bSShf2Nw0/WMlmNXmybUI/AAAAAAAAE3o/7ljXvYBu6fow5EzORhTuJx06osJmm9MBACLcB/s640/Crayons.png" width="514" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uslO-mI9WIw/WbldiwOxlXI/AAAAAAAAG5M/hyUoolecHFksWAw88HzWZ_TGBExGNpqFQCLcBGAs/s1600/Obama%2BMuslim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="550" height="494" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uslO-mI9WIw/WbldiwOxlXI/AAAAAAAAG5M/hyUoolecHFksWAw88HzWZ_TGBExGNpqFQCLcBGAs/s640/Obama%2BMuslim.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Just go away .............</div>
</div>
David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-26040855563210589732017-05-21T13:54:00.001-07:002019-05-15T13:09:29.213-07:00My literary fiction<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
I'm using the word "fiction" the same way that librarians use it. Every novel is fiction, including Margaret Mitchell's book "Gone with the Wind", even though her inspiration was an oral history of the real events of the Civil War in America. All of the Sherlock Holmes stories that I loved as a young man were fiction, even though the author might have known a real person who had the skills of a detective.<br />
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<td>All of the stories that parents read to small children are fiction.<br />
<br />
Parents have been reading stories like these to their children for a very long time.<br />
<br />
A very long time.</td>
<td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jvnms4WHSbM/WR4HyLUROVI/AAAAAAAAFMw/bZkoVAKC-soQ8Kim5iyIgy-Pq63F4f97gCLcB/s1600/Read-to-Kid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jvnms4WHSbM/WR4HyLUROVI/AAAAAAAAFMw/bZkoVAKC-soQ8Kim5iyIgy-Pq63F4f97gCLcB/s320/Read-to-Kid.jpg" width="320" /></a></td>
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I have written some fiction, too, but because my main interest is politics and political science, my stories include some names that might be familiar to you. One story, for instance, includes a character named Obama.<br />
<br />
As the author of literary fiction, I can invent characters and give them whatever personality traits I choose, even if a real person, with the same name, has a different personality. This literary character, named Obama, is out-of-touch with reality. Even though he's the American President, he doesn't feel the suffering of other people as long as he doesn't suffer personally. I chose the character's name and his personality, and I'm perfectly within my legal rights to do so.<br />
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Another fictional story takes place at a press conference where Jan, an Arizona Governor, tells the small crowd that Christians can be discriminated against in her state. During this event, one of her aides is standing next to her and talking to her while she speaks, the low-technology equivalent of having a news anchor reporting an on-camera story while wearing an electronic earpiece.<br />
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In 2013, a Saudi Arabian cleric said that female infants should wear
the head-to-toe covering called a burka. I wrote about this in <a href="http://conserving-the-mobile-nation.blogspot.com/2013/02/burkas-for-babies.html" target="_blank">a short essay on this blog</a>. No matter
how ridiculous this story sounds, it is not fiction, because the cleric
is a real person, and he really did make this ridiculous determination, according to <a href="http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/02/03/264031.html" target="_blank">this February 2013 story</a>, which is linked in my essay.<br />
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All of the stories, including the next three, that were written by the late Tom Clancy (my current favorite author) <u>are</u> fiction. <br />
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<br />
... although he also wrote some non-fiction books about various types of military units, including the following books.<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">These are my fictional stories.</span><br />
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The name of each story is a clickable link to that page. They are arranged in chronological order, oldest first.<br />
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<td style="font-size: Large;"><u>Name of the page</u></td>
<td style="font-size: Large;"><u>Publication Date</u></td>
<td style="font-size: Large;"><u>Summary</u></td>
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<td><a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2012/08/larrys-visitor.html" target="_blank">Larry's Visitor</a></td>
<td>August 16, 2012</td>
<td>A U.S. Senator refuses a bribe offered by a disguised FBI agent. A real U.S. Senator named Larry really did turn down a bribe offered by a real FBI agent.</td>
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<td><a href="http://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2013/05/i-am-your-new-president.html" target="_blank">I am Your New President</a></td>
<td>May 5, 2013</td>
<td>A dictator peacefully takes over America</td>
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<td><a href="http://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2013/09/i-regret-to-inform-you.html" target="_blank">I regret to inform you</a></td>
<td>September 21, 2013</td>
<td>A character named Obama talks to people in Colorado from a helicopter, while their towns are suffering from a flood.</td>
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<td><a href="http://deity-dialog.blogspot.com/2014/03/please-pray-for-governor-jan-brewer.html" target="_blank">Please pray for Governor Jan Brewer</a></td>
<td>March 2, 2014</td>
<td>The Arizona Governor talks at a press conference and an aide, standing next to her, quietly responds to her comments.</td>
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<td><a href="http://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2014/12/if-i-had-son.html" target="_blank">If I had a son</a></td>
<td>December 22, 2014</td>
<td>Two members of President Obama's cabinet paraphrase the President's famous line, "If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon Martin".</td>
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There is some literary fiction on other blog pages, including <a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-tricky-treaty-trap.html" target="_blank">The Tricky Treaty Trap</a>, written in November 2013 as a sequel to a Marchl 2013 page called <a href="https://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2013/03/three-bad-united-nations-treaties.html" target="_blank">Three Bad United Nations Treaties</a>. The sequel explains the ratification process, then it shows how President Obama used deceit to try to get a treaty ratified, and then it has a fictional speech by a hypothetical President who wanted to get a U.N. treaty ratified.<br />
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<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ISC0F63MzVI/WSH99QPCMHI/AAAAAAAAFOA/66A9RJBMa6MPIle-BujsWW8p72n20ou_gCLcB/s1600/Empire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ISC0F63MzVI/WSH99QPCMHI/AAAAAAAAFOA/66A9RJBMa6MPIle-BujsWW8p72n20ou_gCLcB/s200/Empire.jpg" width="150" /></a>I have written blog pages that have titles that sound like a fiction book, but these pages have factual news articles in them. An example is a page, published in September 2015 called <a href="http://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-clinton-empire-strikes-back.html" target="_blank">The Clinton Empire Strikes Back</a>.<br />
<br />
This page includes this link to <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-timothy-sedlak-charity-hack-jihadist-20150915-story.html" target="_blank">a September 2015 story that was published in the Orlando Sentinel</a>. This news story mentions "a charitable foundation" that could be the Clinton Foundation.<br />
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<h3>
Notes</h3>
I finished writing "I Am Your New President" on May 3, 2013, but I delayed publishing it until May 5th, because that date is an important date in world history. The story is in the form of an open letter to America dated May 5th.<br />
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Colorado had real floods while I was writing the second fiction piece. The page includes real photos of real flooding in that state.<br />
<br />
Governor Jan Brewer really did veto a law that was passed by her state legislature. This law would have protected the right of Christians and others to operate their businesses in accordance with the principles of their religions.<br />
<br />
No florist, baker, or photographer should be forced to participate in a gay wedding by providing their professional services, when other florists, bakers, and photographers in that same geographic area are willing to service that wedding.<br />
<br />
Do you want to be the photographer who is ordered, by some civil rights commission, to photograph this group of children attending a gay wedding, especially if all of the people who attend this wedding, including these children, are also <i>nudists</i>?<br />
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Remember, if you say 'yes', you will be taking pictures of naked children.<br />
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Photographers, bakers, florists, and other professionals <u>must</u> have the right to say 'no' to any request.<br />
<br />
Please excuse my passion for a blog page that <u>isn't</u> fiction. </div>
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David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-80392378608244042792016-11-12T13:19:00.000-08:002016-11-14T09:32:55.358-08:00What you are and what you aren't<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h3>
Learning a language, piece by piece</h3>
Every young child, as he grows up, learns to pronounce words and he learns what they mean. Sometime later, he learns that some words are the opposite of other words. For example, "male" and "female" are opposites for each other. Each of these words are called an "antonym" for each other, as opposed to a synonym, which is one word that has the same meaning as another word.<br />
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Here are some other antonyms.<br />
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<td style="font-size: Large;">tall</td>
<td style="font-size: Large;">short</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="font-size: Large;">in</td>
<td style="font-size: Large;">out</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="font-size: Large;">happy</td>
<td style="font-size: Large;">sad</td>
</tr>
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<td style="font-size: Large;">fat</td>
<td style="font-size: Large;">thin</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="font-size: Large;">light</td>
<td style="font-size: Large;">dark</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="font-size: Large;">open</td>
<td style="font-size: Large;">closed</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="font-size: Large;">fast</td>
<td style="font-size: Large;">slow</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="font-size: Large;">wet</td>
<td style="font-size: Large;">dry</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="font-size: Large;">hot</td>
<td style="font-size: Large;">cold</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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<h3>
More pieces of the language</h3>
Later, the child learns that the world isn't all black and white. A building that he thought was tall, just because it had 10 stories, is now not as tall when he finds out that another building has 30 stories.
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Some children will continue to describe a 10-story building as tall and then use another word, such as "super-tall" or "gigantic" to describe a 30-story building. Other children will say that both buildings are tall, without judging one building against the other one. Still later, the child will learn various ways of measuring the height of a building, either by counting the number of stories or by using words like "feet", "yards", or "kilometers".<br />
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<h3>
More pieces</h3>
Still later, the child will learn that some words, used by a person who describes himself as a member of a group, describe people who aren't in that group. Some of the following words are meant to express negative emotions, ranging from mild distaste to outright hatred, while other words in the following list simply help to define one's own group by naming the people who aren't in it.<br />
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<tbody>
<tr>
<td>sailor</td>
<td>land-lover (sometimes pronounced "landlubber")</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>person in military service</td>
<td>civilian</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Muslim</td>
<td>infidel (a synonym of the Christian word "heretic")</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jew</td>
<td>Gentile</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>heterosexual</td>
<td>homosexual (see Note 1 below)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>law-abiding citizen</td>
<td>felon (if the person is in prison)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>law-abiding citizen</td>
<td>ex-con (if the person is out of prison)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>farmer</td>
<td>cowboy (see Note 2 below)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>rancher</td>
<td>sod-buster (Note 2 applies here also)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>U.S. Citizen</td>
<td>foreigner (if they're not in the country)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>U.S. Citizen</td>
<td>alien (used to describe a foreigner who <u>is</u> in the country)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SAllpbew0Ro/WCdSg3Wh7pI/AAAAAAAAElQ/ec0qzEWehaM8pMCZSMroXoXap8Pj5-c8ACLcB/s1600/Cooper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SAllpbew0Ro/WCdSg3Wh7pI/AAAAAAAAElQ/ec0qzEWehaM8pMCZSMroXoXap8Pj5-c8ACLcB/s200/Cooper.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Note 1.</b> The word "homosexual" is an accurate description of someone who has a sexual attraction exclusively for someone of the same sex. The word "gay", which is often used to describe someone who is not heterosexual, is often inaccurate.<br />
<br />
In the photo on the right, Anderson Cooper is sad, but he is still a homosexual.<br />
<br />
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<td><b>Note 2.</b> The 1955 movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048445/" target="_blank">Oklahoma</a> had a scene that included a description of the rivalry between "the farmer and the cowman".<br />
<br />
This 6-minute video shows that scene. The description is in the form of a song that is sung during a community dance.<br />
<br />
The rivalry was more-or-less settled when barbed wire was invented in the second half of the 19th century.</td>
<td><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Vg5cwSBnyQU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vg5cwSBnyQU?feature=player_embedded" style="clear: right; float: right;" width="320"></iframe></td>
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<br />
This is the third paragraph of <a href="http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/joseph-glidden-applies-for-a-patent-on-his-barbed-wire-design" target="_blank">the page on the History Channel website that shows its' invention in 1873</a><br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The effect of this simple invention on the life in the Great Plains was huge. Since the plains were largely treeless, a farmer who wanted to
construct a fence had little choice but to buy expensive and bulky wooden rails shipped by train and wagon from distant forests. Without the alternative offered by cheap and portable barbed wire, few farmers would have attempted to homestead on the Great Plains, since they could not have afforded to protect their farms from grazing herds of cattle and sheep. Barbed wire also brought a speedy end to the era of the open-range cattle industry. Within the course of just a few years, many ranchers discovered that thousands of small homesteaders were fencing over the open range where their cattle had once freely roamed, and that the old technique of driving cattle over miles of unfenced land to railheads in Dodge City or Abilene was no longer possible.</blockquote>
<br />
<h3>
Another inaccurate antonym - "Never-Trumper"</h3>
The inspiration for this page were these words, which were spoken (I'm paraphrasing) by <a href="http://www.dennisprager.com/dennis-prager-biography/" target="_blank">radio talk-show host Dennis Prager</a> last night.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SOw3fwo7hSU/WCd5rmNkAuI/AAAAAAAAElg/Dv37TKYqgqA3KkhvS0A7r4gfAmSmllkUQCLcB/s1600/Never_Trump.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SOw3fwo7hSU/WCd5rmNkAuI/AAAAAAAAElg/Dv37TKYqgqA3KkhvS0A7r4gfAmSmllkUQCLcB/s200/Never_Trump.jpeg" width="200" /></a>"I don't know the Never-Trumpers very well. I want to know the Never-Trumpers."<br />
<br />
In contrast to the list of antonyms above, the hyphenated word "Never-Trumper" is sometimes used by people to describe <i>themselves</i>.<br />
<br />
My own Twitter account (@BennyTheKite) has these words superimposed on them: "Never Trump", yet I do not consider myself part of either of these violent anti-Donald-Trump protest groups.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hO8rNNHNT2o/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hO8rNNHNT2o?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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10-minute video</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/70DP44KJPl4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/70DP44KJPl4?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: Center;">
20-minute video</div>
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<br />
<h3>
Attention, Dennis Prager</h3>
If Mr. Prager is reading this page, I would like to tell him more about my own personal form of the opposition.<br />
<br />
Link to the Google account for <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/110633634080431874914" target="_blank">+The Dennis Prager Show</a> <br />
<br />
Unlike any of these people, my reasons for opposing Donald's candidacy were expressed on Twitter and on a couple of blog pages, not during any of his campaign events.<br />
<br />
The term "Never-Trumper" is a bit misleading, and I apologize for it. A more accurate description of my political philosophy would include this statement.<br />
<br />
"I am a supporter of U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Ted Cruz."<br />
<br />
Link to the Google account for <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/117494330202833664959" target="_blank">+Ted Cruz</a><br />
<br />
The Senator has two Twitter accounts @tedcruz and @SenTedCruz. Both of them followed my Twitter account (@BennyTheKite) in early 2014, and they still follow my account today. Later, after he became a presidential candidate, my account was also followed by other accounts that were part of his campaign to become president. <a href="http://conserving-the-mobile-nation.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-twitter-info.html" target="_blank">Link to a blog page</a>, on this blog, that lists my VIP Twitter followers.<br />
<br />
I have had multiple conversations on Twitter with other well-known people, including Montel Williams and Missouri State Senator Eric Schmitt, who is now the winner of a campaign to become the Missouri State Treasurer. Unfortunately, I have not had any conversations, on Twitter or anywhere else, with the Senator from Texas, so I cannot be certain why those two Twitter accounts followed my Twitter account. My best guess is that the reason why he did is because he read some of my early blog pages and some of my early Twitter remarks.<br />
<br />
These are three tweets, part of a set of six, that Mr. Prager, who is Jewish, posted on his account. The person he references in the first tweet is Hillary Clinton. If you click on the link at the end of each of these tweets, you will be able to see them, as they appeared on his Twitter account.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
(2/6)...defending her on the grounds that we shouldn’t judge people on the basis of private remarks… <a href="https://t.co/3qEYx5XFIF">https://t.co/3qEYx5XFIF</a></div>
— Dennis Prager (@DennisPrager) <a href="https://twitter.com/DennisPrager/status/785245349011075072">October 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
(3/6) I also gave the example of Richard Nixon, who made anti-Jewish remarks in private – and then saved Israel’s life in the Yom Kippur War</div>
— Dennis Prager (@DennisPrager) <a href="https://twitter.com/DennisPrager/status/785245516904792064">October 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
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(4/6)...Same criteria should be applied to Donald Trump and his gross sexual comments said in private 11 years ago. Note to conservatives:..</div>
— Dennis Prager (@DennisPrager) <a href="https://twitter.com/DennisPrager/status/785245571057496064">October 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<br />
<b>Note to Mr. Prager</b>. I had two reasons to be opposed to the candidacy of Donald Trump. One is based on my reading of history. When political candidates have a large and dedicated group of followers and a lack of humility, then if they get elected, their arrogance often becomes a force that hurts their own city or country. Adolph Hitler's election as Germany's Chancellor, and later, its' President, was a complicated process, judging by <a href="http://www.dw.com/en/fact-or-fiction-adolf-hitler-won-an-election-in-1932/a-18680673" target="_blank">this page that explains the process</a>, but after he was elected, during a world-wide economic depression, he blamed Jews (and a few other groups of people) for Germany's poor economic health, and he then severely punished all of those groups by killing large numbers of them. In China during the 1950s, Mao Tse-Tung killed large numbers of <u>his</u> own country. In fact, Mao killed more than twice as many people as Hitler.<br />
<br />
Donald Trump allowed and sometimes encouraged actual undemocratic behavior in his followers and supporters. They were often verbally abusive to other Republican presidential candidates and <i>their</i> supporters. I saw this abusive behavior first-hand in April 2016 when I tried to be elected as a delegate to the Republican National Convention. Whether you think that America is a democracy or a republic, one of the features of our system is a willingness to listen to other people's ideas. This concept was missing that day when I tried to participate in America's political process. The room was filled with many people who liked or even loved Donald. None of them were willing to listen to the ideas of anyone who wasn't a Trump supporter.<br />
<br />
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<td style="font-size: Large;">Donald's reaction to the undemocratic behavior of his supporters is shown in this 48-second video.<br />
<br />
He <u>knows</u> that he can depend on them to hurt any opposition that he has. </td>
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America has a very powerful military force, backed up by a set of political principles that are the envy of many other political leaders. America would also have a strong economy if we didn't give away so much of our national wealth to other countries, many of which do not thank us with America-friendly policies.<br />
<br />
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Senator Cruz demonstrated a commitment to the principles that I believe a president should have. Those principles are in the Oath of Office that every president swears to obey.<br />
<br />
B. Hussein Obama took that oath twice and broke both of those promises. Donald Trump is scheduled to take the same oath in a little over two months from now. I wanted Senator Cruz to be elected and to take the oath, for many reasons.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ewwk-rrQfC0/WCeEtf3KJ2I/AAAAAAAAElw/dj1cL6gyZ04ZjcsDwfG5kVshlQpGPCOXQCLcB/s1600/Head-to-head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ewwk-rrQfC0/WCeEtf3KJ2I/AAAAAAAAElw/dj1cL6gyZ04ZjcsDwfG5kVshlQpGPCOXQCLcB/s640/Head-to-head.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
There's one more big difference between Donald Trump and Senator Cruz.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/npxGx7ADJfg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/npxGx7ADJfg?feature=player_embedded" style="clear: right; float: right;" width="320"></iframe></div>
The words that Donald said in the cartoon above are similar to the actual words that he said about the Senator <i>during the campaign</i>, but the Senator <u>never</u> called Donald a sniveling coward.<br />
<br />
The Senator <u>did</u> say that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell lied to Senator Cruz and a group of other Republican Senators. <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/ted-cruz-says-mitch-mcconnell-lies-export-import-bank-120583" target="_blank">Link to a July 24, 2015 Politico story</a>. However, telling one lie doesn't make a person a liar. Senator Cruz knew this important distinction and was very careful in his use of his words.<br />
<br />
The Senator is a gentleman. This personal quality would have been one of the many reasons why he would have been a better president than Donald Trump, whose personal qualities are horribly abusive, judging by many of his very public statements during his own campaign.<br />
<br />
I <u>am</u> an American citizen who loves his country.<br />
<br />
I <u>was</u> a "Never-Trumper", but I cannot change the result of the election that took place last week, and I will not participate in any mass-protest against his election.<br />
<br />
I <u>still am</u> a big fan of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz. If he does not become a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court or a high-ranking member of the new government, I will do what I can to help him be reelected as a U.S. Senator in 2018.<br />
<br />
That's what I am, and that's what I am not.</div>
</div>
David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-7892538611047575552016-07-26T11:45:00.001-07:002016-07-28T12:28:44.693-07:00Water Economics for students<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="color: green; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<h2>
For older students and adults</h2>
This is the link to my essay <a href="http://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2012/08/water-economics.html" target="_blank">Water Economics</a>, which was published in a different one of my blogs in August 2012. That page has been read more than 170,000 times, and that is more than half of the readership of that blog.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Chapter 1. The Wet Planet.</h2>
The earth is very wet.<br />
<br />
Three-quarters of the surface of the earth is covered in water. The amount of water in all the world's oceans, lakes, rivers, and the clouds in the sky is about 330 cubic miles (1.38 billion cubic kilometers).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthhowmuch.html" target="_blank">Click here to see more information on the amount of water in the earth.</a><br />
<br />
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<td style="color: green;">This is what the earth looks like from space.<br />
<br />
After you see North and South America, you will see a large area of blue.</td>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GkYTNInlrxM/V5NwelHHKTI/AAAAAAAAD-E/H6adncEx-GM0VzHo_U7GseesBm7EEL5ggCLcB/s1600/Animated-Globe.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GkYTNInlrxM/V5NwelHHKTI/AAAAAAAAD-E/H6adncEx-GM0VzHo_U7GseesBm7EEL5ggCLcB/s320/Animated-Globe.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="font-size: Large;">
That large blue area is the Pacific Ocean, the largest ocean in the world.</div>
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<br />
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<td style="color: green;">This is a map of the Pacific Ocean.<br />
<br />
It is the largest ocean in the world.<br />
<br />
North America is next to it in the upper-right part of this map.<br />
<br />
Three states are right next to this ocean.<br />
<br />
They are California, Oregon, and Washington. Hawaii, another state, is a group of islands in this ocean. </td>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s9NNDzekKKY/V5PKwBaHr6I/AAAAAAAAD_0/8XakBOQRF3sphZjGkArwubJUfH7TBzrzwCLcB/s1600/Pacific-Globe.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s9NNDzekKKY/V5PKwBaHr6I/AAAAAAAAD_0/8XakBOQRF3sphZjGkArwubJUfH7TBzrzwCLcB/s320/Pacific-Globe.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<h2>
Chapter 2. Drought kills.</h2>
<br />
Some parts of the earth that people live on doesn't have enough water to drink. This is called a drought. This paragraph is on <a href="http://water.usgs.gov/ogw/drought/" target="_blank">the drought page of the United States Geological Service</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="color: black; font-family: Times, new roman;">
<b>A drought is a period of drier-than-normal conditions that results in water-related problems.</b> When rainfall is less than normal for several weeks, months, or years, the flow of streams and rivers declines, water levels in lakes and reservoirs fall, and the depth to water in wells increases. If dry weather persists and water-supply problems develop, the dry period can become a drought.</blockquote>
People and animals need water to stay alive. Every plant also needs water to stay alive, so the amount of water that is in the ground is important to plants. If there is too much water, which can be caused by a flood, the health of the plant will suffer. The plant may even die. If there is not enough water, which can be caused by drought, it also hurts the ability of a plant to stay alive. Plants, animals, and people can also die from the lack of water.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-size: X-Large;">
<u>Drought in India</u></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--mA3CutHuDQ/V5ZnFZKI3MI/AAAAAAAAEDo/IGXHH_xW5U40TWODFV0nvMrvgIlJ0oXpQCLcB/s1600/Indian-Drought.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--mA3CutHuDQ/V5ZnFZKI3MI/AAAAAAAAEDo/IGXHH_xW5U40TWODFV0nvMrvgIlJ0oXpQCLcB/s320/Indian-Drought.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1aUjvzxt650/V5bRIIEtmZI/AAAAAAAAEGo/_Phdx5XyAn4Fe6Il6qK4UHm8HGHRo9zAwCLcB/s1600/Sugar-Plants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1aUjvzxt650/V5bRIIEtmZI/AAAAAAAAEGo/_Phdx5XyAn4Fe6Il6qK4UHm8HGHRo9zAwCLcB/s320/Sugar-Plants.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: green; font-size: Small; text-align: Center;">
The plants above are sugarcane plants,<br />
but they died from the lack of water.<br />
<br />
Many Indian farmers have killed themselves.</div>
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<td style="color: green; font-size: Small;">In the photo below, each of these containers holds water. These women are carrying it so their families won't go thirsty.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F5DsEYWozhs/V5ZsbYrGCAI/AAAAAAAAEEI/b8qKDxxDEHsPtT9q0-nf6XefvBIdHHdkACLcB/s1600/Indian-Drought5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F5DsEYWozhs/V5ZsbYrGCAI/AAAAAAAAEEI/b8qKDxxDEHsPtT9q0-nf6XefvBIdHHdkACLcB/s320/Indian-Drought5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5z5ic5Jq96E/V5ZsAYWVegI/AAAAAAAAEEE/Q9LVjNGb3u0VpWQD_q1fC_UOXuJzCsS3wCLcB/s1600/Indian-Drought3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5z5ic5Jq96E/V5ZsAYWVegI/AAAAAAAAEEE/Q9LVjNGb3u0VpWQD_q1fC_UOXuJzCsS3wCLcB/s320/Indian-Drought3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Their families have to make this trip every day, so that they can have water to drink, water to cook their food, and water to wash themselves and their clothes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6XcZhbBMNvI/V5ZnIaXeMEI/AAAAAAAAEDs/AtBJ_2jdOccdkvHJPRioDGe8oiPiv4tBwCLcB/s1600/Indian-Drought2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6XcZhbBMNvI/V5ZnIaXeMEI/AAAAAAAAEDs/AtBJ_2jdOccdkvHJPRioDGe8oiPiv4tBwCLcB/s640/Indian-Drought2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
In the photo below, this water isn't clean, but it is the only water that his family has, so this boy has to carry it to his family, and they have to drink it and cook with it. Carrying water to a family is done every day because families need water every day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S-L-fGg6mhM/V5ZqINfG3qI/AAAAAAAAED4/Q5bSn5qsfu0K4Y29131hFCKZRNFTclHXACLcB/s1600/Indian-Drought4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S-L-fGg6mhM/V5ZqINfG3qI/AAAAAAAAED4/Q5bSn5qsfu0K4Y29131hFCKZRNFTclHXACLcB/s640/Indian-Drought4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div style="font-size: X-Large;">
<u>Drought in Africa</u></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-muPeAp1UoaM/V5ZuNt3mAZI/AAAAAAAAEEU/w4W9oQsH90QLLzlM7NAqi1zfcvgt2vVPACLcB/s1600/Africa_famine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-muPeAp1UoaM/V5ZuNt3mAZI/AAAAAAAAEEU/w4W9oQsH90QLLzlM7NAqi1zfcvgt2vVPACLcB/s320/Africa_famine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: green; font-size: Small; text-align: Center;">
This photo was taken in eastern Africa in 2011.<br />
These animals died of thirst. </div>
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<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M4vTtKwRaG8/V5bJc7Q6b8I/AAAAAAAAEGY/pB6_7mJlqHMHKN5Cume6bvlRJLsGOy7xgCLcB/s1600/Oasis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M4vTtKwRaG8/V5bJc7Q6b8I/AAAAAAAAEGY/pB6_7mJlqHMHKN5Cume6bvlRJLsGOy7xgCLcB/s1600/Oasis.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BCtsnwi_FkY/V5ZzJtYOsdI/AAAAAAAAEEk/JaGUTKjfwkAFseQGeal6xxqIw962zp5_wCEw/s1600/Africa-Drought1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BCtsnwi_FkY/V5ZzJtYOsdI/AAAAAAAAEEk/JaGUTKjfwkAFseQGeal6xxqIw962zp5_wCEw/s320/Africa-Drought1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<td style="color: green;">The photo above shows a woman collecting water in a cup. Each cup of water goes into the large plastic bottle, which she will carry back to her home.<br />
<br />
This boy's family doesn't have much water, so when he needs a bath, they put him in this.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qMOUXSzqobw/V5Z5uXfQb8I/AAAAAAAAEE0/ODMxYFgk7GofttSa3oROzMmOQz8lm1DeACLcB/s1600/Africa-Drought3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qMOUXSzqobw/V5Z5uXfQb8I/AAAAAAAAEE0/ODMxYFgk7GofttSa3oROzMmOQz8lm1DeACLcB/s320/Africa-Drought3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</td>
<td style="color: green;">This animal hasn't had food or water in so long, you can see where all of its' bones are.<br />
<br />
The lack of water means that the plants that it wants to eat are dead or dying,</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
These are the first four paragraphs of a story that was published December 4, 2015 in the Irish Times.<br />
<blockquote style="color: black; font-family: Times, new roman; font-size: Large;">
I am sitting here in Malawi wishing it would rain. I am sure many of you reading this back in Ireland are wishing the exact opposite.<br />
<br />
In Malawi the coming of the rains means as much as a warm sunny day in Ireland. Everyone is in better form, everyone makes the most of it. The only difference is that Malawians need the rain to
survive - literally.<br />
<br />
The rain pattern in Malawi has been changing so much over the past number of years that farmers are confused. I am passing fields every day at the moment that are prepared and waiting to be
planted. But the rural farmers tell me that in the past, the planting would be done by now and the rains would have already begun. And they could feel confident that they would be able to feed their families for another year. This is no longer the case.<br />
<br />
One day two weeks ago, it did rain for a bit and you could sense the sheer joy and relief everywhere. But then it stopped and hasn’t come back. And after eight years living in Zimbabwe and
Malawi I think the heat this year is the worst.</blockquote>
<div style="font-size: Small;">
<a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/generation-emigration/i-am-sitting-here-in-malawi-wishing-it-would-rain-1.2452953" target="_blank">This is a clickable link to the whole story.</a><br />
<br />
This is a clickable link to a story that was published by Reuters on December 23, 2015 titled <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-africa-drought-idUSKBN0U619W20151223" target="_blank">Southern Africa faces food shortages as El Nino drought worsen.</a></div>
<br />
<br />
Three quarters of the earth's surface is water, so if some of this water can be sent to India and the African countries, their drought can end.<br />
<br />
This can be done with the Water Cycle. <br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Chapter 3. The Water Cycle.</h2>
This four-step process is for elementary school students.<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="color: green; font-size: Small;"><ol>
<li>Evaporation of the water from lakes, rivers, and the oceans</li>
<li>Condensation of the water into a cloud</li>
<li>Precipitation of the cloud (it's raining!)</li>
<li>Collection (rainwater goes back into lakes, rivers, and the oceans</li>
</ol>
</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9XYJ4ngl0lA/V5NzdFw5kfI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/RrlB8PUSp1gbMiJRIylpWrAx4JZlhoEpgCLcB/s1600/Water-Cycle1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9XYJ4ngl0lA/V5NzdFw5kfI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/RrlB8PUSp1gbMiJRIylpWrAx4JZlhoEpgCLcB/s400/Water-Cycle1.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
5. Go back to Step 1.<br />
<br />
<br />
This diagram is for middle school students. It is a more complete diagram because it shows water going into the ground (infiltration) and water going from the ground, through plants, into the air (transpiration).<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="color: green;"><ol>
<li>Condensation</li>
<li>Precipitation</li>
<li>Surface Runoff and Subsurface Outflow</li>
<li>Evaporation and Transpiration</li>
<li>The migraton of the clouds because of wind currents.</li>
</ol>
</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_wpka-ubpvc/V5N2tYpO4CI/AAAAAAAAD-k/jJ8_ZjvLpSUslM8uCDx99FxlBPGKiNDawCLcB/s1600/Water_Cycle3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_wpka-ubpvc/V5N2tYpO4CI/AAAAAAAAD-k/jJ8_ZjvLpSUslM8uCDx99FxlBPGKiNDawCLcB/s400/Water_Cycle3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
6. Go back to Step 1.<br />
<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="color: green;">This is the Water Cycle from the point of view of a plant.<br />
<br />
The precipitation can be either rain or snow.<br />
<br />
The roots take water from the soil.<br />
<br />
The leaves send the water into the air. </td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FVZeMYjwaGk/V5N1zC2Kz2I/AAAAAAAAD-c/-KR0VBLS0NwyeORxcnr02HCGbRDI5mbcQCLcB/s1600/Water-Cycle2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FVZeMYjwaGk/V5N1zC2Kz2I/AAAAAAAAD-c/-KR0VBLS0NwyeORxcnr02HCGbRDI5mbcQCLcB/s1600/Water-Cycle2.gif" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
These are the parts of a Water Cycle.<br />
<ol>
<li>When clouds pass over a mountain, they leave small drops of moisture at the top of the mountain.</li>
<br />
<li>These small drops of moisture combine into big drops, which combine into small streams of water that go down the mountain.</li>
<br />
<li>Two or three small streams combine to form a small river. Two or three small rivers combine to form a big river. The map below shows how six different rivers add their water to the Mississippi River.</li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4b2pQiDJdmM/V5PBHrOWsQI/AAAAAAAAD_Q/_0BKjIHV10AsUO4poTtoqYBpOASKdgt7QCLcB/s1600/Tributaries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4b2pQiDJdmM/V5PBHrOWsQI/AAAAAAAAD_Q/_0BKjIHV10AsUO4poTtoqYBpOASKdgt7QCLcB/s640/Tributaries.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<ol start="4">
<li>The water in all of these rivers, as well as the water in ponds. lakes, and wetlands, is always evaporating. The earth's heat and the sun's heat is turning all of this water into steam. The roots of plants also collect moisture from the water that is in the ground. This moisture is transpired through the leaves of the plant into the air, and it also becomes steam.</li>
<br />
<li>All of this steam rises into the air, and when it is high enough, the steam condenses. We call this condensed moisture "clouds".</li>
<br />
<li>Wind currents move the clouds to other parts of the earth.</li>
<br />
<li>Start over again at Step 1.</li>
</ol>
<br />
<h2>
Chapter 4. The Water Cycle isn't being used in California!</h2>
There are parts of the world that do not have enough water, even though almost three-quarters of the earth's surface is covered in water. This is even true in California.<br />
<br />
This is recent information on the drought in California. In the diagram on the left, the yellow areas have bad drought. The red area has even worse drought. The dark red area in the southwestern part of California has the very worst drought. This is surprising, because the Pacific Ocean is right next to this state, as you can see in the diagram on the right.<br />
<br />
The State Government doesn't manage its' water very well. <br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_5gtTNqrbj0/V5N8xnIuNbI/AAAAAAAAD-4/Q5n0meAv6NsXHAB6vxeGzSoQxg_ZG5pXACLcB/s1600/CA-Drought.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_5gtTNqrbj0/V5N8xnIuNbI/AAAAAAAAD-4/Q5n0meAv6NsXHAB6vxeGzSoQxg_ZG5pXACLcB/s320/CA-Drought.png" width="320" /></a></div>
</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-68yS7QXO7b4/V5N9phlRkXI/AAAAAAAAD_A/NBmcmRRoFOAUbLGbxzcZOZb5ZXQUTLuaACLcB/s1600/CA-Map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-68yS7QXO7b4/V5N9phlRkXI/AAAAAAAAD_A/NBmcmRRoFOAUbLGbxzcZOZb5ZXQUTLuaACLcB/s200/CA-Map.png" width="233" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The state of California doesn't have enough water for its' people, animals, and plants, even though it is right next to the largest ocean in the world.<br />
<br />
Not enough rain is falling in that state to allow the farmers to grow the plants that produce food. Many different kinds of fruit and vegetables used to grow there, but now, the land is so dry, the food plants are starving for water. Some of these plants have already died.<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w8ptuskTWQE/V5PFNbjH5GI/AAAAAAAAD_g/QsUPHPvrrYg-AwzyEWg_DD1pO0lXSMJbgCLcB/s1600/Dry%2BLand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w8ptuskTWQE/V5PFNbjH5GI/AAAAAAAAD_g/QsUPHPvrrYg-AwzyEWg_DD1pO0lXSMJbgCLcB/s320/Dry%2BLand.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--yQ7S3MtT2Y/V5PESyKTbuI/AAAAAAAAD_c/GJYbCB8tni8CVi079R3Lg10jSE7TRHacgCEw/s1600/Pray-for-Rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--yQ7S3MtT2Y/V5PESyKTbuI/AAAAAAAAD_c/GJYbCB8tni8CVi079R3Lg10jSE7TRHacgCEw/s200/Pray-for-Rain.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The photo of a farmer standing next to dead trees and the paragraph immediately below were copied from a web page on the Food and Environment Reporting Network that is dated <nobr>March 25, 2015.</nobr> The clickable link to that page is right after the paragraph.<br />
<blockquote style="color: black; font-family: Times, new roman; font-size: Large;">
Fourth-generation Fresno Co. farmer Chris Hurd isn’t sure his farming operation will survive a fourth year of California’s historic drought. “”I stayed alive last year,” he says,” but I’m not sure I’ll make it this year. It’s a treacherous, sickening situation.</blockquote>
<div style="font-size: Small;">
<a href="https://thefern.org/2015/03/how-one-california-farmer-is-battling-the-worst-drought-in-1200-years/" target="_blank">Link to the March 25, 2015 page of the Food and Environment Reporting Network</a>.</div>
<br />
The sign on the fence in the other photo says, "Pray for Rain". We should all pray that rain falls in California, so that farmer Chris Hurd and many others like him can stay alive.<br />
<br />
These are the third and fourth paragraphs of a story on the website Think Progress that was published May 5, 2015.<br />
<blockquote style="color: black; font-family: Times, new roman; font-size: Large;">
Agriculture requires water, and large-scale agriculture, like that in California, requires large amounts of water. So when Governor Brown came under fire for exempting farmers from the mandatory cuts — farmers use 80 percent of the state’s available water — he was unmoved.<br />
<br />
“They’re not watering their lawn or taking long showers,” he told ABC’s “The Week” the Sunday after he announced the restrictions. “They’re providing most of the fruits and vegetables of America to a significant part of the world.”</blockquote>
<div style="font-size: Small;">
<a href="http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/05/05/3646965/california-drought-and-agriculture-explainer/" target="_blank">Link to the May 5, 2015 story on the Think Progress website.</a></div>
<br />
The Governor of California says that farmers in his state are providing most of the fruits and vegetables of America to a significant part of the world, but this will end unless his state can get more rain than it has had recently.<br />
<br />
There is another reason to pray for rain in California. Rain will help to put out the wildfires that are killing people, animals, and plants.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lBt22vZuMw0/V5ZGJrkSG6I/AAAAAAAAEDY/xC54vsrW5B0Q9stHv0vG73THriE2CBxxgCLcB/s1600/Wildfire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lBt22vZuMw0/V5ZGJrkSG6I/AAAAAAAAEDY/xC54vsrW5B0Q9stHv0vG73THriE2CBxxgCLcB/s640/Wildfire.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
When there are more clouds over California, they can produce more rain. The rain will help to end these fires. Rain is part of the Water Cycle.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="color: green; font-size: X-Large;">Chapter 5.<br />
<br />
Let's cook the recipe for the Water Cycle!</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mecUKy7_x0c/V5YzEVknmuI/AAAAAAAAEDI/Qq1CqIQPZBsusepl9UUOjQ2Kyyf2Jb3YACLcB/s1600/Cooking2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mecUKy7_x0c/V5YzEVknmuI/AAAAAAAAEDI/Qq1CqIQPZBsusepl9UUOjQ2Kyyf2Jb3YACLcB/s320/Cooking2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="color: green; font-size: X-Large;">
<u>List of Ingredients</u></div>
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="color: green;"><br />
<ul>
<li>mountains</li>
<li>river beds and lake beds</li>
<li>warm ground</li>
<li>cold air</li>
<li>wind currents</li>
<li>water</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_wpka-ubpvc/V5N2tYpO4CI/AAAAAAAAD-k/jJ8_ZjvLpSUslM8uCDx99FxlBPGKiNDawCLcB/s1600/Water_Cycle3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_wpka-ubpvc/V5N2tYpO4CI/AAAAAAAAD-k/jJ8_ZjvLpSUslM8uCDx99FxlBPGKiNDawCLcB/s320/Water_Cycle3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
California has almost all of these ingredients. It has mountains, river beds and lake beds, warm earth, cold air, and it has wind currents, but there is one missing ingredient.<br />
<br />
The missing ingredient is water. There isn't enough water inside California for the people, animals, and plants. All of these living things are starving for water. Some of them are dying. Some of them have already died.<br />
<br />
The inside of California doesn't have enough water, but there is an ocean of water outside of California. Let's send some water from this ocean to a dry valley in eastern California.<br />
<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="color: green; font-size: Large;">A valley is the space between mountains. There are different kinds of valleys.<br />
<br />
This valley has a small river that runs through it. </td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8smj5WzNy-w/V5PNPc3QuiI/AAAAAAAAEAA/HKdb5617u2c5tk3XtnNGPbk3LXXStz_cwCLcB/s1600/Valley2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8smj5WzNy-w/V5PNPc3QuiI/AAAAAAAAEAA/HKdb5617u2c5tk3XtnNGPbk3LXXStz_cwCLcB/s320/Valley2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="color: green; font-size: Large;">This valley has a lake in between the mountains.<br />
<br />
It also has a rainbow over the lake, caused by the refraction of the water. </td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XHF9VuwssA8/V5PNknMiaPI/AAAAAAAAEAE/wfsw1wAJt28ApVbcc9ihECE8K5RDBmKzwCLcB/s1600/Valley3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XHF9VuwssA8/V5PNknMiaPI/AAAAAAAAEAE/wfsw1wAJt28ApVbcc9ihECE8K5RDBmKzwCLcB/s320/Valley3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="color: green; font-size: Large;">Some valleys have no water at all.<br />
<br />
The land is so dry, the sun has baked the earth, just as if it had been placed into a hot oven.</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rT8CeyHXrJQ/V5PPfuOThHI/AAAAAAAAEAU/sHcW_ZhOoZAIfZCjR--P0-dAHGp6Ji3TACLcB/s1600/Valley1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rT8CeyHXrJQ/V5PPfuOThHI/AAAAAAAAEAU/sHcW_ZhOoZAIfZCjR--P0-dAHGp6Ji3TACLcB/s320/Valley1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="color: green;">This valley is called Death Valley.<br />
<br />
It is in between the Pinamint Mountain Range and the Amargosa Mountain Range.<br />
<br />
This valley is 140 miles long, and it is very hot. <br />
<br />
This animal couldn't get enough water to stay alive, so it died.<br />
<br />
Many people, animals, and plants have died there. </td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DtJp8DEvZDo/V5PP_AEA53I/AAAAAAAAEAY/HJlcyNi5ZuIPtcYf1MPlNmDzqKAEo4dKwCLcB/s1600/Death%2BValley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DtJp8DEvZDo/V5PP_AEA53I/AAAAAAAAEAY/HJlcyNi5ZuIPtcYf1MPlNmDzqKAEo4dKwCLcB/s320/Death%2BValley.jpg" width="284" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
Death Valley is the green area in this map. Almost all of it is in California, but a little bit of it is in Nevada.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rkdar0VXsQU/V5eREAGq10I/AAAAAAAAEG4/qskYdZC1kGYZ9uvIvdVy9RrOicK_bKgNgCLcB/s1600/Death_Valley.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rkdar0VXsQU/V5eREAGq10I/AAAAAAAAEG4/qskYdZC1kGYZ9uvIvdVy9RrOicK_bKgNgCLcB/s640/Death_Valley.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This is a map of the geography of Death Valley, showing the two mountain ranges that are its' east and west borders.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lIWuyVWIYrs/V5PRolmOfiI/AAAAAAAAEAo/6xa9AQPl9bEPoz6juhcC6uiI4E1q3fYAwCLcB/s1600/Death-Valley2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lIWuyVWIYrs/V5PRolmOfiI/AAAAAAAAEAo/6xa9AQPl9bEPoz6juhcC6uiI4E1q3fYAwCLcB/s640/Death-Valley2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aR6jPQwo9SM/V5PTotLxCBI/AAAAAAAAEA0/xHWUok_-XXAj12IMHJphmCyaB465aBNIQCLcB/s1600/Badwater-Basin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aR6jPQwo9SM/V5PTotLxCBI/AAAAAAAAEA0/xHWUok_-XXAj12IMHJphmCyaB465aBNIQCLcB/s320/Badwater-Basin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Most of this valley is lower than the level of the Pacific Ocean. At its' lowest point, it is 282 feet lower than the midpoint between that ocean's high tide and low tide.<br />
<br />
Every valley is like a bowl. If the valley has water in it, the mountains hold the water in. The temperature in this valley is very hot, so even when the valley has an occasional flood, the water enters the water cycle. It evaporates, but the rainwater from the clouds always goes somewhere else because the wind moves the clouds to other parts of the area.</div>
<div style="color: green; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Wb1dOceZqc0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wb1dOceZqc0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
</td>
<td style="color: green;">The video on the left shows how hot it can be here.<br />
<br />
The temperature can be 130° F.<br />
<br />
That's 55° Celsius.<br />
<br />
Any time water is in this valley, it quickly evaporates.<br />
<br />
The water becomes steam. </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="color: green;">In most years, there is less than two inches of rainfall in this valley, but in October 2015, there was a flood.<br />
<br />
The video on the right shows it.<br />
<br />
It happened very quickly, so it is called a flash flood.</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pgfpPBOOyo0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pgfpPBOOyo0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0MAOXEDKKXg/V5PXzYQjJbI/AAAAAAAAEBA/kFYVKqhKG-YPib9V2T1IUQGs5cguLZcQACLcB/s1600/Water-Level.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0MAOXEDKKXg/V5PXzYQjJbI/AAAAAAAAEBA/kFYVKqhKG-YPib9V2T1IUQGs5cguLZcQACLcB/s1600/Water-Level.gif" /></a>Since Death Valley is hundreds of feet lower than the Pacific Ocean, if there was a pipe that connected the Pacific Ocean to the valley, water from the ocean would flow through the pipe and fill the valley. This would create a lake in between the two mountain ranges that border this valley.<br />
<br />
The photo on the right shows different containers that hold water. No matter what size or shape of a container is used, if water can flow from any one of these containers to another container, the water level will always be the same.<br />
<br />
The Pacific Ocean is held inside the Pacific Basin. Death Valley is the space between two mountain ranges. It is also a basin. If there was a way to transport water from the Pacific Ocean to Death Valley, it would create a lake that has the same water level as the Pacific Ocean.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g3rWBhihzbM/V5evBWn9XyI/AAAAAAAAEH4/0LGbvxbcbfs3WaWQudrdCoj-LEjLzEiDgCLcB/s1600/Quabbin.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g3rWBhihzbM/V5evBWn9XyI/AAAAAAAAEH4/0LGbvxbcbfs3WaWQudrdCoj-LEjLzEiDgCLcB/s320/Quabbin.GIF" width="320" /></a>A lake was created in 1946 in western Massachusetts. People had to move out of four small towns. After they did, engineers built a dam on the Swift River. All of the land in those towns flooded with water.<br />
<br />
When all this was done, the lake became a reservoir. The Quabbin Reservoir holds drinking water for many of the people in Massachusetts to use in their homes, schools, and businesses.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-size: Small;">
<a href="http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=182" target="_blank">Link to the written history of the Quabbin Reservior.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.foquabbin.org/chronology.html" target="_blank">Link to a very long timeline of events that led to the creation of this reservoir.</a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AMgwgIZBd_A/V5PZKkzC0GI/AAAAAAAAEBI/eQgq-WPmHSoRV2x-rN3R-6eHjiPohuCkgCLcB/s1600/Pipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AMgwgIZBd_A/V5PZKkzC0GI/AAAAAAAAEBI/eQgq-WPmHSoRV2x-rN3R-6eHjiPohuCkgCLcB/s640/Pipe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
A pipe, like the one shown above, could transport water from the Pacific Ocean to Death Valley. The height of the western end of this pipe would be almost 300 feet higher than the height of the eastern end of the pipe, so water would do downhill through the pipe, and if there were some water pumps added to this pipe, water would fill up Death Valley, creating a lake.<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-STD79VkRNnI/V5as201D7OI/AAAAAAAAEGI/UmR2BmaeCD05FAvlGoe5cf4pikeYMHzZACLcB/s1600/Water-Pump.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-STD79VkRNnI/V5as201D7OI/AAAAAAAAEGI/UmR2BmaeCD05FAvlGoe5cf4pikeYMHzZACLcB/s200/Water-Pump.gif" width="200" /></a><br />
On the right is a diagram of a water pump that is used by companies to transport large amounts of water quickly.<br />
<br />
Engineers would decide how many pumps to install so that the valley would fill with water quickly.<br />
<br />
In the beginning of this process, most of the water that enters the valley would become groundwater. This would allow people who live in the area to become farmers, growing food crops that would help many others in the area who are hungry. <br />
<br />
After the valley becomes a lake, the pumps would not need to transport as much water because they would only need to replace the amount of water that would evaporate in a year.<br />
<br />
Start the Water Cycle !! <br />
<ol>
<li>The water will form a lake</li>
<li>Water will evaporate from that valley, forming clouds.</li>
<li>The clouds will migrate to other parts of the area.</li>
<li>Wherever the wind moves the clouds, it will eventually rain. </li>
<li>When the wind moves the clouds over California, it will rain there.</li>
<li>Go back to step 1.</li>
</ol>
The cycle can begin at any one of the steps, because it is a
cycle. Water travels all through the steps of the cycle in many parts
of the world, and so, this process can take place in California, too.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E1Igbzh94co/V5eZ_32rLZI/AAAAAAAAEHI/SJD8SOnGd5Eea35HrDC4elhD9Q1VIdmgwCLcB/s1600/Chef-of-the-Day.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E1Igbzh94co/V5eZ_32rLZI/AAAAAAAAEHI/SJD8SOnGd5Eea35HrDC4elhD9Q1VIdmgwCLcB/s1600/Chef-of-the-Day.gif" /></a>Do you live in California? Do you like eating locally-grown fruit? Tell your friends how much you want to see fruit trees growing in California. You'll be my Chef of the Day!<br />
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<td style="color: green;"><div style="font-size: Large;">
Chapter 6. The Water Cycle begins !</div>
<br />
Step 1. The sun's heat and the earth's heat turns some of this liquid water into water vapor.<br />
<br />
The water vapor rises into the atmosphere.</td>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XOhHgERDY_s/V5UVsNU5dkI/AAAAAAAAEBY/oJ1OfnduMIoVelhwuHl0cf8SgFYgx1UWgCLcB/s1600/Evaporation.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XOhHgERDY_s/V5UVsNU5dkI/AAAAAAAAEBY/oJ1OfnduMIoVelhwuHl0cf8SgFYgx1UWgCLcB/s200/Evaporation.gif" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dqjq9DgNyHw/V5UYpUW7ZPI/AAAAAAAAEBs/-stP85TlAxYPHl9cmO9-enHL6xOXtFT6wCLcB/s1600/Condensation.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dqjq9DgNyHw/V5UYpUW7ZPI/AAAAAAAAEBs/-stP85TlAxYPHl9cmO9-enHL6xOXtFT6wCLcB/s320/Condensation.gif" width="240" /></a></div>
</td>
<td style="color: green;">Step 2. When the water vapor is high enough in the air, it gets cold and it condenses.<br />
<br />
It changes back into liquid, forming clouds.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iXfWuSPcn8Y/V5Ua6W6nWEI/AAAAAAAAEB4/4epziN2pq-42nAP1KUr4zjRujPjJ3ccewCLcB/s1600/Stratus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iXfWuSPcn8Y/V5Ua6W6nWEI/AAAAAAAAEB4/4epziN2pq-42nAP1KUr4zjRujPjJ3ccewCLcB/s320/Stratus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-srFr7ToJHGM/V5UdLHV16NI/AAAAAAAAECE/NqT4SsFGdh4IW9zcFO60LFS5O6KdXpX8QCLcB/s1600/Cumulus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-srFr7ToJHGM/V5UdLHV16NI/AAAAAAAAECE/NqT4SsFGdh4IW9zcFO60LFS5O6KdXpX8QCLcB/s320/Cumulus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: green; font-size: Small; text-align: Center;">
Cumulus = pieces of floating cotton</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VyctVLj1SSg/V5UXj_WttoI/AAAAAAAAEBk/9Ekan7uPhQQgZgQfhZeIXATP5OSIAKTFgCLcB/s1600/Cloud2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VyctVLj1SSg/V5UXj_WttoI/AAAAAAAAEBk/9Ekan7uPhQQgZgQfhZeIXATP5OSIAKTFgCLcB/s320/Cloud2.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jVRarIAFKzs/V5Udo34XtBI/AAAAAAAAECI/KwT7goQC7aAdErWrpgb5fYsUbNFcfIVvgCLcB/s1600/Clouds_Clean_Air.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="560" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jVRarIAFKzs/V5Udo34XtBI/AAAAAAAAECI/KwT7goQC7aAdErWrpgb5fYsUbNFcfIVvgCLcB/s640/Clouds_Clean_Air.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3>
Step 3. The wind blows !!</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sgy9gHh5jFI/V5UfjMCs1xI/AAAAAAAAECU/8EaGpTCgWvYvYav8SfR1O4uRQz5OomszQCLcB/s1600/Windmill.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sgy9gHh5jFI/V5UfjMCs1xI/AAAAAAAAECU/8EaGpTCgWvYvYav8SfR1O4uRQz5OomszQCLcB/s640/Windmill.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h_Q29fONlM8/V5Ul7qXiLtI/AAAAAAAAECk/zfem_ayrt3s9aEMpoq4oQd2pUn3nL7KDQCLcB/s1600/Blowing-Hair.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h_Q29fONlM8/V5Ul7qXiLtI/AAAAAAAAECk/zfem_ayrt3s9aEMpoq4oQd2pUn3nL7KDQCLcB/s320/Blowing-Hair.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gc_F7n6mSrI/V5Upcc3mWdI/AAAAAAAAECw/ZbnoJx6kYfYCxYjsLRwGjohGDkZTCZsgACLcB/s1600/Windy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gc_F7n6mSrI/V5Upcc3mWdI/AAAAAAAAECw/ZbnoJx6kYfYCxYjsLRwGjohGDkZTCZsgACLcB/s320/Windy.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://s1213.photobucket.com/user/Amin555/media/clouds-rolling.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="clouds animated photo clouds-rolling.gif" border="0" height="256" src="https://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc461/Amin555/clouds-rolling.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
</td>
<td style="color: green;">The wind moves the droplets of water through the atmosphere from Death Valley to other parts of the southwest.<br />
<br />
The direction of the wind will change sometimes.</td>
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<br />
<a href="http://www.intellicast.com/National/Wind/Current.aspx?location=USCA0638" target="_blank">Link to a page that shows the direction of wind currents in southern California right now. </a><br />
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<td style="color: green; font-size: Large;">Sometimes, the water droplets in the clouds will go west from Death Valley to the areas of California that have been suffering from drought for years.</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wPhD9rrnB-I/V5Z_r3BRcQI/AAAAAAAAEFE/6A56FDaRkboVvcToTRfd4qI18heE5s_KgCLcB/s1600/California-Drought.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wPhD9rrnB-I/V5Z_r3BRcQI/AAAAAAAAEFE/6A56FDaRkboVvcToTRfd4qI18heE5s_KgCLcB/s320/California-Drought.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The photo below was taken in Rancho Mirage, California. The white area is sand. It is hard to grow anything in sand, and it is impossible to grow orange trees or grape vines in sand, so the food that these people eat must travel a long way from where it is grown to where it is consumed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sHm7dRqHbRo/V5Z_9THZ5vI/AAAAAAAAEFI/yMvoYHRXBIwfvFo5tBygl6I2QVs00rGTgCLcB/s1600/California-Drought2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sHm7dRqHbRo/V5Z_9THZ5vI/AAAAAAAAEFI/yMvoYHRXBIwfvFo5tBygl6I2QVs00rGTgCLcB/s640/California-Drought2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SX8dR9r9cRA/V5UqM_QxB1I/AAAAAAAAEC0/TCqObieq7ekXzMeVRSR-dZiSWBaXsoiJgCLcB/s1600/Precipitation.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SX8dR9r9cRA/V5UqM_QxB1I/AAAAAAAAEC0/TCqObieq7ekXzMeVRSR-dZiSWBaXsoiJgCLcB/s200/Precipitation.png" width="200" /></a></div>
</td>
<td style="color: green;">Step 4. The clouds precipitate their moisture.<br />
<br />
It can be rain, snow, sleet, or hail in most areas of the country, but snow doesn't happen very often in California. </td>
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<tr>
<td style="color: green;">When the moisture falls in California, it will add water to lakes, rivers, and to groundwater.<br />
<br />
This photo shows the Hollywood Walk of Fame during a rainstorm.</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MRy8VXZ9clA/V5aA6gLfBjI/AAAAAAAAEFQ/4llXA8a8iDgZZrnpKo4kgTL_3fXJhpt3gCLcB/s1600/California-Wet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MRy8VXZ9clA/V5aA6gLfBjI/AAAAAAAAEFQ/4llXA8a8iDgZZrnpKo4kgTL_3fXJhpt3gCLcB/s320/California-Wet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BTlEqleSxok/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BTlEqleSxok?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
</td>
<td style="color: green;">This video is a 3-D animation of a growing tree.<br />
<br />
When there is more rainfall in California, you will see more trees growing there.<br />
<br />
Some of these trees will have fruit on them.<br />
<br />
California will also have more grape vines. </td>
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<div style="font-size: Large;">
<br />
California will have lots of juicy fruit for its' families to eat, including oranges and grapes !</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bkIEgLqMS3E/V5aCdqhivEI/AAAAAAAAEFY/ccHJZg6QjH0beKzl6gKMzySKeyWFo9nzwCLcB/s1600/California-Oranges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bkIEgLqMS3E/V5aCdqhivEI/AAAAAAAAEFY/ccHJZg6QjH0beKzl6gKMzySKeyWFo9nzwCLcB/s320/California-Oranges.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: green; text-align: Center;">
I love oranges, especially the juicy ones, and I love grapes, too!<br />
<br />
Farmers can't grow juicy oranges and grapes unless the ground is moist.</div>
</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UvXp8Z1gmoA/V5aDZr5yOXI/AAAAAAAAEFg/R8Fn1xT-ID0Iesed3TsSr3ViCUwbVQidgCLcB/s1600/California-Grapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UvXp8Z1gmoA/V5aDZr5yOXI/AAAAAAAAEFg/R8Fn1xT-ID0Iesed3TsSr3ViCUwbVQidgCLcB/s320/California-Grapes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<h2>
Chapter 7. Transporting water in Ancient Rome</h2>
In 300 B.C. there were already ways to transport water across great distances. The water traveled downhill for miles before it reached the City of Rome, where people were waiting to drink it, cook with it, and take baths in it.<br />
<br />
<br />
Sometimes, the water traveled in man-made tunnels through mountains, and other times, the water traveled across valleys on structures called aqueducts.<br />
<br />
The photo below shows an aqueduct that was built centuries ago.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X0xoofBUkAE/V5edTAGrLtI/AAAAAAAAEHQ/GwZWRLAJkG4BXW0QyAkSVp8g9uSidbHTwCLcB/s1600/Aqueduct.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X0xoofBUkAE/V5edTAGrLtI/AAAAAAAAEHQ/GwZWRLAJkG4BXW0QyAkSVp8g9uSidbHTwCLcB/s640/Aqueduct.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
These two videos tell the history of the heroic engineering achievement that was made so that those ancient people could have water to drink.<br />
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<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jGN-KDH1A34/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jGN-KDH1A34?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AeKpRqjFSHM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AeKpRqjFSHM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<br />
<h2>
Chapter 8. Let's Get Started !</h2>
Let's build an aqueduct, using pipes like this, from the Pacific Ocean to Death Valley.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fi6JWa5GRsI/V5ej5r7UNVI/AAAAAAAAEHc/CpTscAeqUpIfNwzayLoLoRrVoLPDlZ30gCLcB/s1600/Pipe1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fi6JWa5GRsI/V5ej5r7UNVI/AAAAAAAAEHc/CpTscAeqUpIfNwzayLoLoRrVoLPDlZ30gCLcB/s320/Pipe1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z-Y1KLHS6hM/V5ej-a-hldI/AAAAAAAAEHg/xiP7ONVoBU0B9veWnAaP5SchZFZ44TOLQCLcB/s1600/Pipe2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z-Y1KLHS6hM/V5ej-a-hldI/AAAAAAAAEHg/xiP7ONVoBU0B9veWnAaP5SchZFZ44TOLQCLcB/s320/Pipe2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<td style="color: green; font-size: X-Large;">I'm already hungry for a California orange!</td>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PJlGBZ6yORI/V5elraSr7wI/AAAAAAAAEHo/SJNDvKG62SwMxS7xj6E9qpJzcXAZCdNnwCLcB/s1600/Orange%2BCounty.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PJlGBZ6yORI/V5elraSr7wI/AAAAAAAAEHo/SJNDvKG62SwMxS7xj6E9qpJzcXAZCdNnwCLcB/s200/Orange%2BCounty.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
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David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-19804413498405272722016-06-30T09:28:00.001-07:002016-06-30T11:29:11.779-07:00Another reply to a GOP fundraising letter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
This is the third time I have sent a reply to one of these letters and the third time that I transcribed my reply into a blog page.<br />
<br />
This is the letter that was e-mailed to me on June 29, 2016. I copied and pasted it into this blog page.<br />
<br />
It came from an e-mail address called info@Bongino.com, named for Dan Bongino, who is <a href="http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/135123/dan-bongino" target="_blank">a candidate for the U.S. House</a> in the 19th Congressional District in Florida, but the author of the letter is U.S. Senator Mike Lee of Utah.<br />
<br />
Note: The "Donate" button that is included in this letter <u>is</u> clickable, if you're foolish enough to give money to someone who won't thank you by performing <u>one</u> act as a member of Congress to stop an evil man like Barak Hussein Obama.<br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
David<br />
<br />
In 2010, I was elected to the United States Senate by people like you.<br />
<br />
You, the conservative army. You who saw big-government gaining more and more power. You who fought against the abandonment of our Constitution.<br />
<br />
You who banded together and formed the largest movement of grassroots conservatives this country has seen since 1776.<br />
<br />
Dan Bongino was one of you then. He still is. He was with you at the start of this fight and he's never left you since.<br />
<br />
<b>That is why I am proud to endorse his run for United States Congress.</b><br />
<br />
Yesterday, Dan launched a conservative money-bomb. Big-government elites of both parties don't want another no-nonsense, conservative warrior in Congress- and they're doing everything in their power to make sure he loses.<br />
<br />
Conservatives came through- this is no surprise. But Dan is still $11,000 short of the End-of-Quarter deadline, and he must make it up by midnight tomorrow or his entire campaign is in jeopardy.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001oYB8cFaMM-GsE6kPIGNw3ZTkZXWlnpfmz-gIit7n0e3bjJ1WtZwFHMWZCxvfZglFR2l-8n9ZVVXgUi-5N6gMAGfE_BF9oMWb7Hd-aeEwM69Q1Ho5tf35gXbxmz4ReUiABQXIPjGffD9mx8xoUEEqN_Rrp9eZYEhG0HfDzlyHOhWF8NOdubpeW0bRvZlT-QZQN4JiifUGH3U_mKbKcFJIwBa9UZdftJ4iji6J4bxdKSnL8yTT9tBhKX6ZrbtlR63yZEhXFoIRxoZhuIKA4VGHFWTQQUhDigdKHzVH1RvfxkCnCPhcWmMFjQ==&c=XSopcFyg_8X5q9QmVqP6kOtdAKTvgGSS3iGszKD7ji8h5Dulcxy0KA==&ch=Z2p15BtDxkaB9JNyTzgjI2lGKltL7CHR5g-48Hh7xPwMOpuD2dky1Q==" shape="rect" style="color: blue; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">I'm asking you to help me fight back against the Washington Establishment, just as Dan did for me in 2010, when they tried to stop me from winning too.</a><br />
<br />
<b>He must raise $11,000 before the June 30th deadline to show his campaign can continue forward.</b><br />
<br />
Humbly, I ask you join me in supporting a fellow patriot who fights for limited government, personal liberty and a return to Constitutional order:<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="ecxcontent_LETTER.BLOCK22" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" class="ecxContent" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; padding: 8px 0px 9px 0px;" valign="top"><table bgcolor="#E9D407" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="ecxButtonBGColor" style="background-color: #e9d407; border-radius: 5px; width: auto !important;">
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<td align="center" class="ecxButtonContent" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="color: black; padding: 9px 15px 10px 15px;" valign="top"><div style="color: white; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001oYB8cFaMM-GsE6kPIGNw3ZTkZXWlnpfmz-gIit7n0e3bjJ1WtZwFHMWZCxvfZglFR2l-8n9ZVVXgUi-5N6gMAGfE_BF9oMWb7Hd-aeEwM69Q1Ho5tf35gXbxmz4ReUiABQXIPjGffD9mx8xoUEEqN_Rrp9eZYEhG0HfDzlyHOhWF8NOdubpeW0bRvZlT-QZQN4JiifUGH3U_mKbKcFJIwBa9UZdftJ4iji6J4bxdKSnL8yTT9tBhKX6ZrbtlR63yZEhXFoIRxoZhuIKA4VGHFWTQQUhDigdKHzVH1RvfxkCnCPhcWmMFjQ==&c=XSopcFyg_8X5q9QmVqP6kOtdAKTvgGSS3iGszKD7ji8h5Dulcxy0KA==&ch=Z2p15BtDxkaB9JNyTzgjI2lGKltL7CHR5g-48Hh7xPwMOpuD2dky1Q==" shape="rect" style="color: white; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">DONATE</a></span></div>
</td></tr>
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</td></tr>
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<br />
Dan believes in American exceptionalism. He has spent his life defending it, first as a police officer, then as as agent in the United States Secret Service. He is a husband and father- a man of great faith and love of country.<br />
<br />
<b>He is also a standout among a new generation of conservative leaders.</b><br />
<br />
He has fought side-by-side with the grassroots from day one. He helped elect people like me to the Senate when the media and the elites did everything in their power to disparage the Tea Party.<br />
<br />
<div align="left" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001oYB8cFaMM-GsE6kPIGNw3ZTkZXWlnpfmz-gIit7n0e3bjJ1WtZwFHMWZCxvfZglFR2l-8n9ZVVXgUi-5N6gMAGfE_BF9oMWb7Hd-aeEwM69Q1Ho5tf35gXbxmz4ReUiABQXIPjGffD9mx8xoUEEqN_Rrp9eZYEhG0HfDzlyHOhWF8NOdubpeW0bRvZlT-QZQN4JiifUGH3U_mKbKcFJIwBa9UZdftJ4iji6J4bxdKSnL8yTT9tBhKX6ZrbtlR63yZEhXFoIRxoZhuIKA4VGHFWTQQUhDigdKHzVH1RvfxkCnCPhcWmMFjQ==&c=XSopcFyg_8X5q9QmVqP6kOtdAKTvgGSS3iGszKD7ji8h5Dulcxy0KA==&ch=Z2p15BtDxkaB9JNyTzgjI2lGKltL7CHR5g-48Hh7xPwMOpuD2dky1Q==" shape="rect" style="color: blue; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">I want to return the favor. Help me say "thank you" to Dan Bongino and the conservative movement by contributing anything you can to his campaign BEFORE tomorrow's critical deadline.</a></div>
<br />
We need fighters like him in Congress- men of action, not men of words.<br />
<br />
For America,<br />
Mike Lee<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
When I replied, I used a large font, which is replicated here. Every word you see here was sent in my reply to that e-mail address. I can only hope that both House Candidate Dan Bongino and his friend, Senator Mike Lee read my words.<br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
<div style="font-size: Large;">
As a conservative, I hate the fact that<br />
<ul>
<li>Obama thinks like a dictator.</li>
<li>he has politicized nationwide tragedies.</li>
<li>he has increased racial tensions.</li>
<li>he has used his agencies to fine and regulate U.S. businesses so harshly, they don't have any money to grow the U.S. economy.</li>
<li>he has ignored the genocide of Christians in the Middle East.</li>
<li>he has broadcast our military strategy and sometimes our <u>tactics</u> in Syria, Iraq, Libya, and other countries where shooting wars are being fought, so that our <u>enemies</u> will know how to defend themselves against us.</li>
</ul>
<br />
As a conservative, I DEMAND that the Republicans in the House and Senate take action NOW to stop him from hurting our nation even more than he has done already.</div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">If you want our money so badly, EARN IT with your actions, GOD DAMN IT !!!
</span></div>
</div>
David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-71014351651356964192016-06-05T23:19:00.000-07:002016-06-11T16:27:45.133-07:00The A.C.L.U. and the mother<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
For the benefit of my international readers, the A.C.L.U. is an acronym for an advocacy group called <a href="https://www.aclu.org/" target="_blank">the American Civil Liberties Union</a>. This page has <a href="https://www.aclu.org/faqs" target="_blank">frequently asked questions about this organization</a>.<br />
<br />
These are the first nine paragraphs of <a href="https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/state-leader-quits-aclu-after-children-were-visibly-frightened-by-transgend" target="_blank">a May 31, 2016 article on the website Lifesite News</a>. The two links in these paragraphs were in their article.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The African-American woman who leads a state chapter of the ACLU has resigned, citing her own daughters' “frightened” reaction to biological males using the women's restroom.<br />
<br />
The organization's increasing focus on legislating the transgender lobby's concerns pushed Maya Dillard Smith, interim director of the Georgia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, to tender her resignation.<br />
<br />
“I have shared my personal experience of having taken my elementary school age daughters into a women’s restroom when shortly after three transgender young adults, over six feet [tall] with deep voices, entered,” she wrote.<br />
<br />
“My children were visibly frightened, concerned about their safety and left asking lots of questions for which I, like many parents, was ill-prepared to answer,” she continued.<br />
<br />
In a statement, she said that the ACLU has become “a special interest organization that promotes not all, but certain progressive rights.”<br />
<br />
The “hierarchy of rights” the ACLU chooses to defend or ignore, she wrote, is “based on who is funding the organization’s lobbying activities." She did not elaborate on the group's funding.<br />
<br />
Dillard Smith is no conservative. She earned a degree in economics from Berkeley and a masters degree at Harvard, while working for the <a href="https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-ninth-circuit-court-of-appeals-overturns-california-amendment-defe">Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals</a> and the California Supreme Court.<br />
<br />
She is a 2003 <a href="http://www.emergeamerica.org/people/maya-dillard-smith">graduate</a> of the program Emerge America, which states its “goal is clear: to increase the number of Democratic women in public office.”<br />
<br />
But this self-described “progressive” who called herself “unapologetically black” cannot go along with the ACLU's transgender legal agenda.</blockquote>
<br />
This is the link to <a href="https://www.acluga.org/" target="_blank">the Georgia branch of the A.C.L.U.</a><br />
<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1418DIRQcg4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1418DIRQcg4?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
</td>
<td>The video on the left shows Megyn Kelly of Fox News interviewing Maya Dillard Smith, the statewide head of the A.C.L.U. in Georgia.<br />
<br />
Listen to what this mother said after one minute and 35 seconds:<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
My children were visibly frightened.</div>
<br />
This video was uploaded by Fox News to YouTube on June 2, 2016.</td>
</tr>
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A website called <a href="http://www.politicalforum.com/current-events/458851-state-leader-quits-aclu-kids-were-visibly-frightened-men-using-women.html" target="_blank">Political Forum</a> reprinted the Lifesite article. <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/news/comments/4m7yd3/state_leader_quits_aclu_after_daughters_were/" target="_blank">A website called Reddit</a> linked to the Lifesite article and posted hundreds of comments from their subscribers. Most of the clickable websites listed below include a link to the Lifesite article. They are listed in chronological order.<br />
<table cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://thegavoice.com/georgia-aclu-leader-resigns-transgender-bathroom-flap/" target="_blank">May 31, 2016 Georgia Voice</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.womenofgrace.com/blog/?p=50706" target="_blank">June 1, 2016 Women of Grace</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2016/06/aclu-leader-quits-after-daughters-encounter-men-in-the-womens-restroom.php" target="_blank">June 1, 2016 Power Line Blog</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.christianexaminer.com/article/aclu-director-quits-after-daughters-express-fear-at-transgenders-in-restroom/50755.htm" target="_blank">June 1, 2016 Christian Examiner</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://downtrend.com/71superb/aclu-head-resigns-after-trannies-whip-it-out-in-front-of-her-daughters" target="_blank">June 2, 2016 Downtrend</a></td>
<td><a href="http://conservativetribune.com/aclu-leader-gets-justice/" target="_blank">June 2, 2016 Conservative Tribune</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/06/02/transgender-aclu-operative-quits-daughters-intimidated/" target="_blank">June 2, 2016 Breitbart </a></td>
<td><a href="http://nypost.com/2016/06/02/a-principled-progressive-slams-the-aclus-trans-privileging/" target="_blank">June 2, 2016 New York Post</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="font-size: Small;"><a href="http://www.weaselzippers.us/274797-aclu-leader-quits-after-elemtary-school-age-daughters-encounter-men-in-the-womens-restroom/" target="_blank">June 2, 2016 Weasel Zippers</a> reprinted the Powerline Blog</td>
<td style="font-size: Small;"><a href="http://louderwithcrowder.com/aclu-leader-quits-over-transgender-bathrooms/" target="_blank">June 2, 2016 Louder with Crowder</a><br />
(a Podcast link but no written article)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://dailycaller.com/2016/06/02/state-aclu-director-resigns-after-daughters-frightened-by-men-in-womens-restroom/" target="_blank">June 2, 2016 Daily Caller</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2016/06/state-aclu-leader-quits-after-daughers-visibly-frightened-by-men-using-womens-room" target="_blank">June 2, 2016 Conservative Review</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/ACLU-maya-dillard-smith-quits-transgender/2016/06/02/id/731990/" target="_blank">June 2, 2016 NewsMax</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article81374792.html" target="_blank">June 2, 2016 Charlotte (N.C.) Observer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.capoliticalreview.com/capoliticalnewsandviews/aclu-leader-quits-after-daughters-encounter-men-in-the-womens-restroom/" target="_blank">June 2, 2016 California Political Review</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.westernjournalism.com/aclu-leader-resigns-after-transgender-incident-with-her-daughter/" target="_blank">June 2, 2016 Western Journalism</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://rightwingnews.com/gender/aclu-leader-resigns-gender-confused-policies/" target="_blank">June 2, 2016 Right Wing News</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.independentsentinel.com/aclu-state-leader-quits-after-tall-adult-young-men-scare-her-daughters-in-a-bathroom/" target="_blank">June 2, 2016 Independent Sentinel</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://nebraskafamilyalliance.org/aclu-director-resigns-after-daughters-frightened-by-men-in-womens-restroom/" target="_blank">June 2, 2016 Nebraska Family Alliance</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.snopes.com/aclu-director-resigns-over-transgender-bathroom-policy/" target="_blank">June 3, 2016 Snopes</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2016/june/mom-who-quit-aclu-over-transgender-bathroom-incident-creates-website-gets-blowback" target="_blank">June 3, 2016 Christian Broadcast Network</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.christiantimes.com/article/aclu-leader-resigns-when-daughters-were-left-visibly-frightened-by-presence-of-transgenders-in-bathroom/56539.htm" target="_blank">June 4, 2016 The Christian Times</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
On the night of June 5-6, 2016, around 12:45am, I searched the New York Times for "Georgia ACLU". There were no stories in their newspaper about this issue.<br />
<br />
I then searched the Los Angeles Times for "Georgia ACLU". They had no stories about this issue.<br />
<br />
I then searched the Chicago Sun-Times. They also had no stories.<br />
<br />
None of these newspapers had a story about the resignation of the Georgia branch of the ACLU:<br />
<table cell="" spacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>The Denver Post,<br />
The Detroit Free Press,<br />
The Boston Globe,<br />
The Dallas Morning News,<br />
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch,<br />
The Kansas City Star,<br />
The Cleveland Plain-Dealer,<br />
The Cincinnati Inquirer, <br />
The Miami Herald,<br />
The Indianapolis Star,<br />
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,<br />
The Detroit News,<br />
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel,<br />
The Bowling Green Times,<br />
The Arizona Republic, or<br />
The Oklahoman.</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-68FhigKdaX0/V1UUwbjyPdI/AAAAAAAADlw/pv9xxtE-b3oSro67md8oyy9z2Rt1yDayQCLcB/s1600/Man-in-Ladies-Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-68FhigKdaX0/V1UUwbjyPdI/AAAAAAAADlw/pv9xxtE-b3oSro67md8oyy9z2Rt1yDayQCLcB/s320/Man-in-Ladies-Room.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</td>
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</tbody>
</table>
<br />
I even searched the Wall Street Journal on Monday, June 6th, and there were no results of my search for "Georgia ACLU" either.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This cartoon <u>accurately</u> describes what happened to the Chairwoman of the Georgia A.C.L.U. when she took her daughters into a public rest room.</span><br />
<br />
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a newspaper <i>that is headquartered in Georgia</i>, didn't put <a href="http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2016/06/02/georgia-aclu-director-resigns-over-transgender-fight/" target="_blank">a story in their paper</a> until June 4th, and it wasn't even a real story, just a writer's blog, written by Greg Bluestein (@Bluestein on Twitter). He is a political reporter for the paper, but the "story" was in the blog section of the website, <u>not</u> the news section.<br />
<br />
These are the first paragraphs of the June 2, 2016 New York Post story. The link to that story has been provided above.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
Crusading for “gender identity” rights just lost the American Civil Liberties Union its Georgia director.<br />
<br />
Maya Dillard Smith resigned while complaining that the ACLU has become “a special-interest organization that promotes not all, but certain progressive rights.”<br />
<br />
She was one of just three African-Americans running a state chapter. She’s also a mom — which provided her breaking point.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Hello, Target. Your market cap is down 20.8% since you started letting Bruno into Betsy's bathroom. <a href="https://t.co/f6ffHIywbz">https://t.co/f6ffHIywbz</a></div>
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanJFischer) <a href="https://twitter.com/BryanJFischer/status/741237831172001792">June 10, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
These are most of the last three paragraphs of the same story. I will let the New York Post have the last word on this issue, at least for now.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
[The A.C.L.U.] insists on the absolute right to use the restrooms (and locker rooms)
of the gender you “identify” with — no matter how hostile an environment that might create for others.<br />
<br />
The “hierarchy of rights” the ACLU opts to protect, she charges, is “based on who is funding the organization’s lobbying activities.”<br />
<br />
Here’s to one progressive who insists on putting principle ahead of the paymasters.</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-25274018461807601702016-01-01T17:09:00.001-08:002016-11-03T10:59:41.192-07:00The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is mismanaged<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/01/02/us/politics/us-doesnt-know-how-many-foreign-visitors-overstay-visas.html" target="_blank">an article dated January 1, 2016 in the mobile edition of the New York Times</a>. The link in the third paragraph was in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
WASHINGTON — The question from the congressman to the Obama administration official was straightforward enough: How many foreign visitors overstay their visas every year?<br />
<br />
The reply was simple too, but not in a satisfying way. “We don’t know,” the official said.<br />
<br />
The testy exchange during a recent congressional hearing between Representative Mark Meadows, Republican of North Carolina, and Alan Bersin, the assistant secretary for international affairs at the <a class="meta-org" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/h/homeland_security_department/index.html?inline=nyt-org" title="More articles about the Homeland Security Department.">Department of Homeland Security</a>, highlights what some law enforcement officials call a critical weakness in the United States foreign visa program.<br />
<br />
The issue has taken on added urgency as part of a broader examination of immigration policy following the mass shootings in San Bernardino, Calif., that left 14 people dead and 22 wounded. Tashfeen Malik, one of the attackers, was granted entry to the United States under a K-1 visa, also known as a fiancé visa. Her husband, Syed Rizwan Farook, was an American-born citizen. Both died in a shootout with the police. While
Ms. Malik did not overstay her visa, the attack added to fears that a terrorist could exploit gaps in the system.</blockquote>
Picture this. Someone lives in a country where religious violence happens every day, like Syria, Pakistan, or Nigeria. He hates America passionately because he believes that it isn't promoting Islam strongly enough. He is willing to kill Americans, and he is willing to die in the process because he believes that Allah, a god who preaches violence against unbelievers, will continue the fight after he dies. <a href="http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/quran/023-violence.htm" target="_blank">Link to a web page that lists some of the violent passages in the Koran</a>.<br />
<br />
These are the second, third, and fourth paragraphs of <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/01/01/indonesia-police-beat-couple-canes-sharia-crime-alone-together/" target="_blank">a Breitbart article published January 1, 2016</a>. Indonesian police beat a young couple with canes because they violated Shari'a Law by being alone together.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
“The form of Islamic law is enforced in a very strict way in the area, including prohibiting unmarried people of different genders from being alone together,” CNN observes.<br />
<br />
Four other people were caned for gambling at the same public beating in front of a mosque in Banda Aceh.<br />
<br />
The UK Daily Mail adds that the “frisky” couple — whose offense involved merely being “close proximity” to each other — were university students.</blockquote>
<br />
This man applies for a U.S. visa. His application says that he is a tourist. He sells everything he owns, and buys a one-way airplane ticket to an American airport. After he lands, he lives for awhile with other people from his country who help him get a job. He marries a woman who also believes that America isn't promoting Islam. Sometime after his visa expires, he sees people celebrating Christmas, he is outraged, he leaves the party, and he returns home.<br />
<br />
He and his wife put their automatic weapons and their explosive devices in their car. They drive to the site of the party. They kill 14 people and injure another 22 people.<br />
<br />
Link to my December 2015 essay <a href="http://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2015/12/radical-islam-is-dangerous-mental.html" target="_blank">Radical Islam is a dangerous mental illness</a>, which documents these circumstances, except for the visa overstay.<br />
<br />
If she had taken a different path, 14 people would be alive today. They and 22 other people would have enjoyed a peaceful Christmas party at their workplace.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aMWK7WdUZcg/VoccRdhZtdI/AAAAAAAADJM/1II3FUKvQd8/s1600/Tashfeen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aMWK7WdUZcg/VoccRdhZtdI/AAAAAAAADJM/1II3FUKvQd8/s320/Tashfeen.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
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Tashfeen Malik. She hated Christians.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TpU4VobE1d0/VoccWhaAR0I/AAAAAAAADJU/4trPlfmgWRM/s1600/Nun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TpU4VobE1d0/VoccWhaAR0I/AAAAAAAADJU/4trPlfmgWRM/s320/Nun.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
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A Catholic nun. She loves everybody.</div>
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<br />
Verse 002.191 in the Koran, copied from <a href="http://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious-texts/quran/verses/002-qmt.php#002.191" target="_blank">a page on the website of the University of Southern California</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have Turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith.</blockquote>
The Islamic faith is the only possible faith in the eyes and hearts of intolerant people.<br />
<br />
Everyone else must be killed, says the messenger of Allah.<br />
<br />
These are the first three paragraphs of <a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/5aa83cad5521484296a629863b068964/more-800-immigrants-mistakenly-granted-citizenship" target="_blank">a September 19, 2016 Associated Press story</a>.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
The U.S. government has mistakenly granted citizenship to at least 858 immigrants from countries of concern to national security or with high rates of immigration fraud who had pending deportation orders, according to an internal Homeland Security audit released Monday.<br />
<br />
The Homeland Security Department's inspector general found that the immigrants used different names or birthdates to apply for citizenship with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and such discrepancies weren't caught because their fingerprints were missing from government databases.<br />
<br />
The report does not identify any of the immigrants by name, but Inspector General John Roth's auditors said they were all from "special interest countries" — those that present a national security concern for the United States — or neighboring countries with high rates of immigration fraud. The report did not identify those countries.</blockquote>
A similar story was published by: (listed in chronological order, oldest first)<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/09/19/more-than-800-immigrants-mistakenly-granted-citizenship.html" target="_blank">Fox News on September 19, 2016</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/more-than-800-immigrants-accidentally-granted-u-s-citizenship/" target="_blank">CBS News September 19, 2016</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/immigrants-mistakenly-granted-citizenship-228355" target="_blank">Politico, September 19, 2016</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/watchdog-feds-wrongly-granted-citizenship-to-hundreds-facing-deportation/vp-BBwlHTR" target="_blank">MSN, September 19, 2016</a> This web page includes a Fox News video. </li>
<li><a href="http://ktla.com/2016/09/19/hundreds-ordered-deported-removed-from-u-s-after-wrongly-being-granted-citizenship-federal-govt/" target="_blank">KTLA, Los Angeles, California, September 19, 2016</a></li>
<li><a href="http://kdwn.com/2016/09/19/feds-wrongly-granted-citizenship-to-hundreds-facing-deportation/" target="_blank">KDWN, Las Vegas, Nevada, September 19, 2016</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dailywire.com/news/9253/oops-850-illegal-immigrants-granted-citizenship-michael-qazvini#" target="_blank">A blog called the Daily Wire, September 19, 2016</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/09/20/494730559/u-s-accidentally-grants-citizenship-to-more-than-850-immigrants" target="_blank">National Public Radio, September 20, 2016</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/298038-dhs-head-only-750-immigrants-granted-accidental-citizenship" target="_blank">The Hill, September 27, 2016</a></li>
</ul>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jbgPF6zogK0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jbgPF6zogK0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Fox News video</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/f0ZRXXL-BRw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f0ZRXXL-BRw?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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CNN video</div>
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<br />
These are the first four paragraphs of <a href="http://www.wnd.com/2016/09/800-plus-accidental-citizens-expert-doesnt-believe-it/" target="_blank">a September 19, 2016 World Net Daily story</a>. The link in the first paragraph was in their story.<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
It was a single word in Monday’s reports about how the federal government had given citizenship to 858 illegal immigrants from various countries that cause concern over national security – or “with high rates of immigration fraud who had pending deportation orders,” that caught the attention of William Gheen, of <a href="http://www.alipac.us/"> the Americans for Legal Immigration PAC.</a><br />
<br />
It was the word that the government “mistakenly” took the action.<br />
<br />
As in AP’s report that, “The U.S. government has mistakenly granted citizenship to at least 858 immigrants…”<br />
<br />
“The main issue was the claim in the article, the assumption that this was accidental,” Gheen told WND on Monday. “Don’t believe this is accidental. There’s no reason we should believe any of this is accidental. They are intentionally letting people in this country who are dangerous.”</blockquote>
I agree with the statement in the fourth paragraph. Giving citizenship to these people was not an accident.<br />
<br />
"They are intentionally letting people in this country who are dangerous.”<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/264252/weaponized-immigration-michael-cutler" target="_blank">This September 22, 2016 article in Front Page Mag</a> takes the position that some immigrants come here with the goal of becoming weapons in a jihad against the United States. Their article is long, detailed, and documented. It is hard to disagree with their conclusion, expressed in the subtitle of the article.<br />
<br />
"Suicide is not an act of compassion."<br />
<br />
The Department of Homeland Security is mismanaged, and B. Hussein Obama must be arrested and prosecuted for his crimes. </div>
</div>
David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-90695565649005953182015-12-07T16:32:00.003-08:002015-12-07T16:32:30.456-08:00To blame or not to blame, that is the question<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The right answer is a consistent policy.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xhVaWNEZvcw/VmYTKcw3s-I/AAAAAAAADF0/pgGRFECkoFQ/s1600/Blame-all.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="634" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xhVaWNEZvcw/VmYTKcw3s-I/AAAAAAAADF0/pgGRFECkoFQ/s640/Blame-all.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Consistency is often a necessary ingredient when solving complex issues.<br />
<br />
If President Obama believes that wealthy people should pay more in taxes, then he should ensure that wealthy members of his own party (including the two wealthiest Americans, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett) also pay more.<br />
<br />
If, on the other hand, Obama believes that wealthy people (like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett) should pay a more moderate tax rate, then <i>that</i> tax rate should also be available to wealthy Republicans, America's other party.<br />
<br />
This policy represents consistency, which in turn represents the fairness that Obama has said, repeatedly, that he wants in many of his policies. Fairness was implicit in the speech he made last night (December 6, 2015) when he said that people who are too dangerous to become airplane passengers should also be legally considered too dangerous to buy a gun.<br />
<br />
Any consistently fair policy regarding the identification of terrorists would either include Muslims or else, it would exclude uniformed police officers, as shown in the photo above.<br />
<br />
Thank you to Dr. Marty Fox, whose Twitter account provided the above photo on December 7, 2015. His account is <complete id="goog_1969633982">@DrMartyFox</complete><br />
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<td style="font-size: Small;">The words "To be or not to be" are part of a Shakespeare play called Hamlet.<br />
<br />
This video is part of a movie that is based on the play.<br />
<br />
Lawrence Olivier plays the Danish king in this movie.<br />
<br />
He was chosen to be a member of Great Britain's House of Lords, but he preferred to be known for his knighthood, as Sir Lawrence Olivier.</td>
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<br />
<a href="http://www.britannica.com/biography/Laurence-Olivier-Baron-Olivier-of-Brighton" target="_blank">The entry for him in Encyclopedia Britanica</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.biography.com/people/laurence-olivier-9428279" target="_blank">The entry for him on the Biography Channel</a>.<br />
<br />
Fairness also means that when a British man has accomplished as much as he has, there <i>should</i> be an entry for him in the Encyclopedia Britannica and on the Biography Channel.<br />
<br />
Fairness <u>also</u> means that when a large percentage of the Muslims in any country violently demands the world-wide acceptance of Sharia Law and other aspects of Muslim culture, then that nation's elected government should consider them to be trouble-makers, not members of a peaceful religion.<br />
<br />
Link to my January 2013 essay <a href="http://ihadtowritethis.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-religion-of-peace-is-not-peaceful.html" target="_blank">The religion of peace is not peaceful or tolerant</a>.<br />
<br />
If the set of photos that are re-printed at the top of this page is an accurate portrayal of President Obama's inconsistent policies, then he is being unfair, either by criticizing the police unfairly or by <u>not</u> criticizing violent Muslims when they <i>should</i> be criticized.<br />
<br />
To blame or not to blame. That is the question he <u>must</u> answer if he is to be truly called a fair president. The only alternative is to be called a biased president and unfair by the very definition of the word.</div>
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David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-29502488931673997522015-12-03T09:37:00.003-08:002015-12-03T09:40:53.102-08:00Refugee roulette<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iZD45pxljE0/VmB5a0SHtpI/AAAAAAAADFk/etkH49fU40U/s1600/Refugee-Roulette.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iZD45pxljE0/VmB5a0SHtpI/AAAAAAAADFk/etkH49fU40U/s640/Refugee-Roulette.jpeg" width="588" /></a></div>
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<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
This is the headline of a story dated September 5, 2015 in the U.K. Daily Mail.<br />
<br />
<h3 id="ext-gen214">
More violent clashes in Lesbos as police struggle to cope with thousands of desperate migrants rushing to Greek Island before entering mainland Europe </h3>
<div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
Read more: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3223558/More-violent-clashes-Lesbos-police-struggle-cope-thousands-desperate-migrants-rushing-Greek-Island-entering-mainland-Europe.html#ixzz3tHPnVey9" style="color: #003399;">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3223558/More-violent-clashes-Lesbos-police-struggle-cope-thousands-desperate-migrants-rushing-Greek-Island-entering-mainland-Europe.html#ixzz3tHPnVey9</a><br />
<br />
Follow us: <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bBOTTqvd0r3Pooab7jrHcU&u=MailOnline" target="_blank">@MailOnline on Twitter</a> | <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bBOTTqvd0r3Pooab7jrHcU&u=DailyMail" target="_blank">DailyMail on Facebook</a></div>
<br />
<br />
The news story says that 15,000 people have already arrived in that Greek island (Lesbos), hoping to leave there and enter Europe, where they will, I'm sure, cause more trouble with every law enforcement agency <i>there</i>.<br />
<br />
Thousands of these invaders, masquerading as "Syrian refugees", have already arrived in America, thanks to the determined efforts of our Muslim President Barak Obama, who is hiding their religious status and even their travel plans from the Governors of our states.<br />
<br />
Link to <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/16/world/paris-attacks-syrian-refugees-backlash/" target="_blank">a story dated November 19, 2015 on the CNN website</a> that says that more than half of our 50 Governors will refuse to admit any of these "refugees". </div>
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David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-75205011778684608072015-11-15T13:06:00.003-08:002015-11-15T13:06:42.260-08:00President Obama recognizes a higher power<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AYkUI0X-Y9U/Vkjpl320VJI/AAAAAAAAC-w/6bpHK4pc1T0/s1600/Putin-phone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AYkUI0X-Y9U/Vkjpl320VJI/AAAAAAAAC-w/6bpHK4pc1T0/s640/Putin-phone.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">... and some people wonder why so many Americans want to see him replaced.</span><br />
<br />
Link to my July 2012 essay <a href="http://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2012/07/sample-articles-of-impeachment.html" target="_blank">Sample Articles of Impeachment</a>, found on my main blog. It mentions and documents unconstitutional nominations to questionable agencies, larceny, economic sabotage, and treason, but the page wasn't large enough to include the negligent homicide that was committed by him and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at Benghazi, Libya.<br />
<br />
Link to <a href="http://conserving-the-mobile-nation.blogspot.com/2013/05/summary-of-sample-articles-of.html" target="_blank">the summary of this list of impeachable offenses</a>, found on <i>this</i> blog. <br />
<br />
Link to my June 2013 essay <a href="http://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2013/06/an-inconvenient-truth.html" target="_blank">An inconvenient truth</a>, which explains, in detail, a Constitutional (and thus legal) procedure to remove any U.S. President from the White House.<br />
<br />
Link to my May 2014 essay <a href="http://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2014/05/mister-president-it-is-time-to-leave.html" target="_blank">Mister President, it is time to leave</a>. It shows why being the U.S. President is a difficult job, and it shows why someone with a mental illness (like Obama's narcissism) is unfit for presidential duty. The essay mentions Gaby Giffords, who wisely resigned her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after she was shot in the head.<br />
<br />
Link to my September 2014 essay <a href="http://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2014/09/presidents-must-be-accountable-to-their.html" target="_blank">Presidents must be accountable to their people</a>. It states a truth that is hard for some people to accept. Mental illness can happen to anybody, even the U.S. President.<br />
<br />
Link to my November 2014 essay <a href="http://conservingthenation.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-letter-from-veteran-to-his-commander.html" target="_blank">A letter from a veteran to his Commander-in-Chief</a>. The letter was copied, verbatim and complete, from the Facebook page of a man who lost three limbs during his military service in Iraq. He wrote a very eloquent letter condemning President Obama for his failure as a leader of combat troops. My essay also includes a reminder that any U.S. president can be legally removed from the White House if he is declared unfit for duty using the Constitutional procedure that was mentioned in previous essays named on this page.</div>
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David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-35272070061858451532015-11-14T17:58:00.003-08:002015-11-14T17:58:43.344-08:00President Obama is unfit for presidential duty<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
Both of these videos were uploaded to YouTube yesterday by <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/" target="_blank">ABC News</a>, and both of these videos are hosted by George Stephanopoulos.<br />
<br />
Starting at 1 minute in the first video:<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times, new roman;">
George: But ISIS <i>is</i> gaining strength, aren't they?<br />
<br />
The clueless president: I don't think they're gaining <i>strength</i>. What is true is that our goal has been, first, to contain, (he makes direct eye contact) and we <i>have</i> contained them, they have not gained ground in Iraq, and in Syria, they'll come in, they'll leave, but you don't see the systematic march by ISIL across the terrain.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PdszHXn_fHY/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PdszHXn_fHY?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<br />
This man is more than incompetent. He is a clear and present danger to the United States.<br />
<br />
It is one of his primary duties to <i>protect</i> the safety and the security of the United States and its' people, and when possible, the safety and security of the people of other countries, especially countries that have signed appropriate treaties with us, including the treaties that make us a member of the NATO organization.<br />
<br />
France is a member of NATO. They signed the treaties that made them a full member, and they expect us to help them fight murderous Muslims.<br />
<br />
Since President Obama is doing <i>nothing</i> to help France fight murderous Muslims, he has now failed to fulfill his primary duty as president.<br />
<br />
He should be removed <i>immediately</i> from the White House, either through impeachment or through the process in Article 25, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution.</div>
</div>
David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-33998693079886120352015-11-11T08:06:00.018-08:002023-06-06T16:56:41.910-07:00Facebook doesn't believe in freedom of speech<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-19JZJyvh7xY/VkNjcsXjeQI/AAAAAAAAC9c/zYWmnV_-nlU/s1600/ISIS-toilet-paper.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-19JZJyvh7xY/VkNjcsXjeQI/AAAAAAAAC9c/zYWmnV_-nlU/s640/ISIS-toilet-paper.jpeg" width="555" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
<br />
I reprinted this photo for three reasons.<br />
<ol>
<li>I believe in freedom of speech.</li>
<br />
<li>I hate the Daesh, sometimes called ISIS.</li>
<br />
<li>I hate anyone, including Facebook, who cares more about ISIS than about their victims.</li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="Font-size: Small;">(This space had a photo of a child being hung. Google deleted the whole page because they claimed that it violated their community guidelines. Guidelines can be ignored, so they aren't guidelines.)</div>
<br />
Any executions that are done by a mob are an offense against humanity.<br />
<br />
ANY executions.<br />
<br />
<div style="Font-size: Small;">(This space had a photo of two people being hung from a tree.)</div>
</div>
</div>
David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-56988976591657463132015-07-10T09:18:00.001-07:002015-07-10T09:18:55.951-07:00I did it, Mom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
This photo was posted on the Twitter account @RealMad_Humor June 2, 2015.<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BKIF5XUQ-nE/VZ_vhiJ-w_I/AAAAAAAAC1E/oaaNswZT6vc/s1600/I-did-it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BKIF5XUQ-nE/VZ_vhiJ-w_I/AAAAAAAAC1E/oaaNswZT6vc/s640/I-did-it.jpg" width="490" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: X-Large;">Yes, you did. Good job, girl.</span>
</div>
</div>
David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-62174637994336669082015-07-03T18:00:00.001-07:002015-07-07T22:33:47.528-07:002016 Presidential Candidates<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Bernie Sanders, former Governor of Vermont<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: Large;">
<h2>
Republicans</h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Note: All of the following people are either declared candidates or else, they have formed a Presidential Exploratory Committee.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">An exploratory committee is registered with the Federal Election Commission. It allows a potential candidate to do fundraising and polling, but the income and expenses don't have to be reported to the F.E.C. until the person becomes a formally-declared candidate. Exploratory Committees have limits on the amount of money that can be raised from one person or group, but the actual amount of money that is raised can be confidential to the candidate and his advisors.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">When a person becomes an official candidate, their Exploratory Committee becomes a Campaign Committee with many reporting requirements. </span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Governors</h3>
Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana<br />
<br />
Chris Christie, Governor of New Jersey<br />
<br />
Scott Walker, Governor of Wisconsin<br />
<br />
John Kasich, Governor of Ohio<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
United States Senators</h3>
Ted Cruz, representing Texas<br />
<br />
Rand Paul, representing Kentucky<br />
<br />
Marco Rubio, representing Florida<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
others</h3>
Donald Trump, self-made multi-billionaire entrepreneur<br />
<br />
Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard <br />
<br />
Rick Santorum, former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania<br />
<br />
Rick Perry, former Governor of Texas (and a 2012 candidate)<br />
<br />
George Pataki, former Governor of New York<br />
<br />
Michael "Mike" Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas<br />
<br />
Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
<h2>
Democrats</h2>
<br />
<h3>
Governors</h3>
(none)<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
United States Senators</h3>
(none)<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
others</h3>
Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Senator and Secretary of State<br />
<br />
Jim Webb, former U.S. Senator from Virginia<br />
<br />
Martin O'Malley, former Governor of Maryland<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: Small;">Note: Vice-President Joe Biden is ahead of many other Democrats in polls, but he is not a declared candidate. He was born in 1942 and will turn 73 on November 20th.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
<h2>
Independents</h2>
Bernie Sanders, former Governor of Vermont</div>
</div>
David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-71816378196782660302015-06-11T12:41:00.000-07:002017-09-30T10:17:20.693-07:00A message for Kevin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<div style="font-size: X-Large;">
I sure hope Kevin is listening.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jkiXJ6IFHWA/VXneILFUp8I/AAAAAAAACxI/muUzqPWjmFM/s1600/Pledge-Cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jkiXJ6IFHWA/VXneILFUp8I/AAAAAAAACxI/muUzqPWjmFM/s640/Pledge-Cartoon.jpg" width="576" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
These men also defended your right to sit down, Kevin.<br />
<br />
They defended it even though it cost them a lot. </div>
<br />
<br />
Major General Harold Greene was <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/14/arlington-greene-afghanistan-general/14051491/" target="_blank">killed in Afghanistan August 5, 2014 and buried at Arlington National Cemetery</a>.<br />
(clickable link to a story dated August 15, 2014 in USA Today)<br />
<br />
President Barak Obama didn't go to his funeral, but he did go to Michael Brown's funeral.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PCzXMtthmVs/VXnfSsIkmNI/AAAAAAAACxQ/P3g6amDpJ2I/s1600/General.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PCzXMtthmVs/VXnfSsIkmNI/AAAAAAAACxQ/P3g6amDpJ2I/s640/General.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h-dxmh9nQ1g/VXniHAR3HaI/AAAAAAAACxc/97XOJgRJ0yU/s1600/Salute2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h-dxmh9nQ1g/VXniHAR3HaI/AAAAAAAACxc/97XOJgRJ0yU/s320/Salute2.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eAzZ7OYY8rE/VXniNs6od8I/AAAAAAAACxk/4nhqbmCL9f4/s1600/Salute1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eAzZ7OYY8rE/VXniNs6od8I/AAAAAAAACxk/4nhqbmCL9f4/s320/Salute1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: Large; text-align: Center;">
God bless the United States Military.<br />
They kill our enemies<br />
and keep us safe. </div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<br />
Even if it costs them their lives.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dQ-HQWSQzL0/VXnjP0KCCgI/AAAAAAAACxs/jiEussNZoVM/s1600/Ft-Hood-Boots-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dQ-HQWSQzL0/VXnjP0KCCgI/AAAAAAAACxs/jiEussNZoVM/s640/Ft-Hood-Boots-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VN0nhYsgH_U/VXnjd5stcCI/AAAAAAAACx0/pb_KzuMEJPA/s1600/ft-hood-coffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VN0nhYsgH_U/VXnjd5stcCI/AAAAAAAACx0/pb_KzuMEJPA/s640/ft-hood-coffin.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
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David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92583144684776222.post-7091895599085482872015-05-24T19:03:00.000-07:002019-01-25T09:15:15.443-08:00Memorial Day 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: Large;">
This is what the Democrat Party posted on its' official Twitter account (@TheDemocrats) on Friday, May 22nd (two days ago).<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Happy Memorial Day weekend, everyone! <a href="http://t.co/TMBSu187Pb">pic.twitter.com/TMBSu187Pb</a></div>
— The Democrats (@TheDemocrats) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDemocrats/status/601820580678082561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
This is the photo that came with the tweet.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zYNG6upQOq8/VWJ0MSIQyUI/AAAAAAAACug/FFS0Vp9P_uw/s1600/Obama-Ice-Cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zYNG6upQOq8/VWJ0MSIQyUI/AAAAAAAACug/FFS0Vp9P_uw/s400/Obama-Ice-Cream.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Did he visit Arlington National Cemetery? No.<br />
<br />
Did he visit <u>any</u> cemetery? No.<br />
<br />
Does he think about the sacrifices made by our veterans?<br />
<br />
No, he was thinking about his ice-cream cone.</div>
<br />
<hr />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
The Commander of Fort Hood, Texas, the place where an Army psychiatrist named Nidal Malik Hasan, who is <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/us/10inquire.html?_r=0" target="_blank">a member of the "religion of peace"</a>, killed 13 soldiers and wounded 30 others, ordered that its' soldiers would commemorate Memorial Day this year not with an ice-cream cone, but with a pair of boots on the ground for every one of their soldiers who was killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fn3zlG2n4-g/VWJ5ha7ePmI/AAAAAAAACuw/OBjIrN3zuZ4/s1600/Ft-Hood-Boots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fn3zlG2n4-g/VWJ5ha7ePmI/AAAAAAAACuw/OBjIrN3zuZ4/s640/Ft-Hood-Boots.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-fort-hood-shooter-islamic-state-20140830-story.html" target="_blank">Link to a 8/30/14 story in the Los Angeles Times</a> about Nidal Malik Hasan's request to join "the Islamic State", made from Death Row.<br />
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<table>
<tbody>
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<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--mtsNVAsUCs/VWJ5skd0EVI/AAAAAAAACu4/IafLnEcNm0g/s1600/Ft-Hood-Boots-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--mtsNVAsUCs/VWJ5skd0EVI/AAAAAAAACu4/IafLnEcNm0g/s1600/Ft-Hood-Boots-2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: Small; text-align: Center;">
Every pair of boots represents a life taken<br />
by a murderous Muslim named Nidal Hasan<br />
at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009.</div>
</td>
<td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AyeWjuP0ccg/VWJ7ajbMm_I/AAAAAAAACvE/Sn8QpTjA7Fk/s1600/ft-hood-coffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AyeWjuP0ccg/VWJ7ajbMm_I/AAAAAAAACvE/Sn8QpTjA7Fk/s320/ft-hood-coffin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: Small; text-align: Center;">
This was someone's husband<br />
and someone else's father.<br />
He should not have died.</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<br />
The soldiers who died at Fort Hood are now eligible to receive Purple Hearts for the injuries, including the 13 soldiers who received fatal injuries. <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/army-rules-fort-hood-shooting-victims-receive-purple/story?id=28780956" target="_blank">Link to a story on the ABC News website dated <nobr>February 6, 2015.</nobr></a><br />
<br />
The law was changed mostly by the dedicated efforts of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz. <a href="http://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=2295" target="_blank">Link to the page</a>, dated <nobr>April 17, 2015,</nobr> on his official <nobr>U.S. Senate</nobr> website that mentions it.<br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Mister President, Memorial Day is meant for remembering the people who died to preserve the liberty that we have today in America.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">While you're enjoying your liberty and your ice-cream cone, we're not enjoying your disrespect for the people who made it possible for you to have either one of them. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<nobr nobr="" senate=""><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C408l9CvAyo/VWJ_lgeUqnI/AAAAAAAACvQ/F6yeUL93WIQ/s1600/Arlington-National.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C408l9CvAyo/VWJ_lgeUqnI/AAAAAAAACvQ/F6yeUL93WIQ/s640/Arlington-National.jpg" width="640" /></a></nobr></div>
<nobr nobr="" senate="">
</nobr>
</div>
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David Cainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292175521990585917noreply@blogger.com0