Barr: Slow Dancing

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Perhaps Attorney General William Barr knew what was ahead.   A few days ago, Barr  said he would not testify to the House Judiciary Committee today, if committee lawyers were allowed to ask follow up questions, a long standing practice.

In light of yesterday’s New York Times story, where we learned special counsel Robert Mueller sent a letter to Barr objecting to Barr’s early description of  the Russia investigation and his conclusion that appeared to clear President Trump.

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What was the AG’s plan?  Copies of the Mueller report was hotter than tickets to the

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After Barr’s short letter to the press, the world and the President Trump believed he had been exonerated.

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But there were 446 more pages. 

Barr is slow dancing.  Refusing to answer reporters questions.  He has enrolled into the Sarah Huckabee Sanders school of media relations.

Not sure what the repercussions are for not testifying to the House Judiciary Committee.  But no worries,  Robert Mueller is waiting in the wings

Perhaps Barr has a wabbit to pull from his “what-evers”……

Details at 11

CityFella

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All This and A Bag of Chips

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He was the first person in his family to complete college. A natural salesman he has sold everything from nuts to cars.  He married his girlfriend from college and they have three children. He and his wife are well respected in their community as they enthusiastically volunteer in their church and local schools.  He and his family lives in the most desirable neighborhood in their city and his annual income is more than double the average in his community.  He is highly regarded and considered the top salesperson at his firm.

On a business trip where he was finalizing an important contract for his employer.  He was seen on a hotel camera taking a small bag of Sun Chips. He placed them inside a folded copy of a USA Today while in the hotels snack shop and exited the hotel.   The theft may have gone unnoticed if the daughter of the client who works at the hotel,  hadn’t recognized him from a meeting at her parents home.   The daughter made a copy of the theft of the chips for her father, who forwarded the thumb drive to his employer.

CityFella

 

Empire’s Jussie Smollett: Did he pay for attack?

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Picture Vs Policy: Virginia Governor Ralph Northam Does the picture represent the man?

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So quick we are to judge. Who needs facts or details? One blip ,one bump and your career in over.   When my children were growing up, I would tell them its not what your say, its what you do.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam was young when he took a picture in Blackface standing next to someone in a Ku Klux Klan costume.   Both pictures are offensive to this blackman.     As difficult as its seems, there are people who are  racially tone deaf, even in 2019.   Usually individuals who live in mono,environments ( Megan Kelly comes to mind )  because these individuals have limited contact with people outside their communities, they are often shocked when they are called insensitive or racist, because they work with people of color.

There is a difference between working and socializing and this is where I struggle with the Governor, who graduated from a predominately black high school.   He reportedly has strong personal ties with blacks in Virginia.  So the picture is not only a shock to the black citizens of the state, but a surprise to his black friends.

As a flawed human being I try not to rush to judgement.  Throughout my life as a flawed human being, I have made some poor decisions in my youth and as an adult.  When he took the picture nearly 35 years ago, he wasn’t thinking about the impact that picture might have on his personal and professional career.

The Picture ,was published February 1, 2019 on the website  Big League Politics   . Big League Politics was founded by former Breitbart News Employees and is considered a far right wing conservative website.

Is the picture a representation of who is Governor Northam is? 

In Virginia’s 2017 Gubernatorial election, Ralph Northam received an estimated 87% of the black vote, 67% of the Latino Vote and 61% of the women’s vote.  He was supported by many groups notably  the Latino Victory Fund and Planned Parenthood and support by many black political organizations,  most are now asking the Governor to resign.

His Positions:

The Governor supports a $15.00 minimum wage and is against a state constitutional amendment enshrining right to work legislation. That would allow employees in unionized workplaces are banned from negotiating contracts which require all members who benefit from the union contract to contribute to the costs of union representation. 

Northam “has called for phasing out the grocery tax on low-income people and ending business taxes in struggling rural areas.

The Governor as a record of supporting Abortion rights, ( Planned Parenthood supported him in his election campaign)  He is against a bill called the Repeal Act that would allow third trimester abortions to be performed if a single physician determines that there is any physical or mental health risk to the mother. Currently, Virginia law only allows third-trimester abortions to be performed in the state if three physicians determine that continued pregnancy would be “substantially and irremediably” harmful to a woman’s health.  This bill is supported by many Republicans and may be a topic in the 2020 Presidential Campaign.  

Northam has proposed making it free for students to pursue a community college education or apprenticeship in a high-demand field (such as cyber security and early childhood education under the condition that they commit to a year of paid public service. He opposes public funding for private schools. (wiki)

In February 2017, Northam cast a tie-breaking vote in the state Senate against a bill to ban sanctuary cities in Virginia

In Washington Post, Article Titled  “Anger and sadness as African Americans in Virginia consider Northam’s fate”

In conversations at churches, salons and coffee shops, African Americans disagreed about whether Northam must resign, but all voiced a sense of betrayal. In public office, Northam worked to expand Medicaid, the health program that serves the poor, and he helped to restore voting rights for felons, a policy that helps many black men. Many in the black community saw him as an ally, and as one of the good guys.

It’s a real slap in the face. You pretend to be my friend, and you’re really not,” said Thomas Parham Jr., as he arrived for worship Sunday at the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church in Old Town Alexandria. It’s one thing, he said, to encounter a racist public official. It’s almost worse when it’s someone perceived to be an ally. “I’d rather know where you stand.”

The Democratic Party Image

What is disconcerting about this controversy. is the Democratic tidal wave against this Governor.  Not based on his record, or actions or public statements but a silly misguided picture taken when he was in medical school.

Governor Northam is no Steve King the Congressman from Iowa. Who, for more than thirteen years has on record said:

 “Mixing culture will not lead to higher quality of life but a lower one.

 He wanted to make English the official language of Iowa.

He sued Iowa for posting voting information on an official website in Spanish, Laotian, Bosnian and Vietnamese.

King suggested shocking (via electricity) immigrants who climbed the wall.its successful in containing livestock

One the house floor, he said Profiling was an important component of law enforcement.

Suggested paying for the border wall with federal dollars coming from welfare, food stamps and Planned Parenthood

January 2019:  Steve King was stripped from all committee assignments after bipartisan condemnation of his remarks on white supremacy (A theme of his for the last 10 years)

From my chair in the balcony, the Democrats want to demonstrate they unlike ,the GOP they walk the talk.   I am reminded of Minnesota Senator Al Frankel who admitted and apologized to sexual misconduct when he was a citizen in 2006, his apology was accepted.  However when other anonymous woman came forward. he denied the accusations.  Members of his party demanded he resign without a full hearing.

In his resignation speech he made comparisons to Republican politicians, saying he was “aware of the irony” that President Trump remained in office despite the comments Trump made in the Access Hollywood tape released a month before his election, and that the Republican Party supported Roy Moore‘s Senate campaign despite the many allegations of harassment and molestation against Moore (wiki)

 

Self Inflected Wound

Governor Northam may have been flying solo (without council) when the news broke Friday Afternoon.  A good publicist would have advised and prepared him before appearing on camera.  However, as bad as Friday was, Saturday was a tsunami of bad press.

On Friday, he was almost there.  He apologized for the pictures and went on to say  “I recognize that it will take time and serious effort to heal the damage this conduct has caused. I am ready to do that important work”.  Someone, from his office might have spoken to the press, touting his record, his reputation with the black community and the suspicious timing of the picture,

Over night, they may have linked release of the picture to the date of his comment regarding his position on the Repeal Act  and reminded the press of his reputation. 

But that didn’t happen!  Flying solo, taking a page out of Donald Trumps playbook.  He said, that may not be me?  and like the 45th President of the United States, he was unable to stop himself.  He admitted, “Blackfacing” in the past AS Michael Jackson.  A talent contest that he WON, after practicing the moon walk!

The “State” of Virginia 

Should the Governor resign, the Democratic Lieutenant Governor, Justin Fairfax would become the Governor.

Sunday, February 3,   Patrick Howley of the conservative website  Big League Politics . reported Vanessa Tyson, a professor of politics at Scripps College, said she was sexually assaulted in 2004 by a campaign staffer who was now up for a “VERY BIG promotion” in Democratic politics. Howley, who was also the first to obtain the Northam yearbook photo, noted that Fairfax was a campaign staffer for presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004 and that he was now poised to become governor of Virginia. 

It is reported, she brought her 2004 story to the Washington Post and another media outlet.  Both outlets investigated the story and found no corroboration and did not publish the story.

In the State of Virginia, if the Lieutenant Governor is ineligible, it would fall to the Attorney General, Mark Herring a Democrat. If he for any reason can’t serve,it would fall   to the Speaker of the House of Delegates would be next in line to take the role. The Virginia House is currently controlled by Republicans and Speaker Kirk Cox would be the interim governor.

Slow Down The Train……

The Democratic Party and the citizens on Virginia, should slow the train down. Dont solely judge the Governor on this picture.   Judge is life from there forward. What has he said?  What has he done?   Then look hard at the coincident via Big League Politics before rushing to judgement.

Wouldn’t you want someone to judge you on your complete body of work rather than one picture or a single incident.?

CityFella

 

A teachable moment in blackface?

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Three months ago there was a national discussion regarding blackface in America. When NBC host Megyn Kelly said it was OK when she was growing up for white people to dress up as black characters.  Kelly, spoke out against a controversy that erupted last year when Luann de Lesseps appeared to darken her face when she portrayed Diana Ross on “The Real Housewives of New York. Some of de Lesseps cast mates questioned her judgement.

Kelly  believed, “blackface” wasn’t racist. She believed it was okay as long as you were dressing up like a character.

Kelly’s “blackface” comment was discussed on every news channel in America for nearly two weeks. The story was in every Newspaper in America including the Sacramento Bee.  In a tweet, Megan Kelly said the paparazzi have been stationed outside her home.

After apologizing, the National Broadcasting Company cancelled her show.

December 2018, Megan was released from her contract.

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January 2019, Carmichael, California (a suburb of Sacramento)

Elementary Students at the Victory Christian School learned about the works of David Livingstone a British missionary and explorer who worked in Africa in the late 1800’s The guest speaker, wanting to make her role more realistic put on an African garb and darkened her skin to resemble an African woman.

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 This presentation was approved by the school Superintendent John Huffman.

Many parents of this school were outraged. The Superintendent say’s he used poor judgement.

Huffman also issued a statement to FOX40 News which broke the story that reads in part  “I was wrong to allow the use of makeup no matter how innocent the intentions as it has offended some of my students and parents. I should have anticipated that this could be offensive, and I apologized to my students and parents asking to be forgiven for hurting them.

It’s difficult to believe the Superintendent was “that” tone deaf.   Good parents tell their children not to make fun of others.   As it is often mean and cruel. This is reinforced by our schools and religious communities.

Blackface is a form of theatrical make-up used predominantly by non-black performers. (whites). These images were often exaggerated and the performances often reinforced stereotypes.   These stereotypes were not just limited to black people, other ethnicities were affected,  Mexicans, Jews, Asians, Native Americans, the list is long.

Megan Kelly, in defense of her statement ,mentioned people in “Whiteface”. No one challenged her.

The parents of the Victory Children’s School will have the final say on the future of Superintendent Huffman.

Not only is it 2019,this is Sacramento, California one of the most racially diverse cities in America, not Selma Alabama or Paris Texas.

CityFella

 

 

Adventures in Online Dating 2019A “I wont show anyone”

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Dating has always been challenging with one exception, Adam and Eve.    Adam spotted Eve in the Malt shop, she was easy to find. Eve looked at Adam, the first or only boy she has ever seen and said Hi, the rest was biblical.

For the rest of us , its what do I do? how do I do it?  

Online, a Cardigan sweater wont generate many likes or traffic on your site, unless your only wearing a Cardigan

Its the hot pictures, the chiseled man without shirt, or a woman wearing something with little left to the imagination.

Some of us are like SHEEP

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Without rhyme or reason, some of us are like sheep.  “I did it, because other people are doing it”. He has his shirt off and he’s popular, so I’ll try it.  With her breast front and center, that’s what I’m going to do.

Its a form of marketing.   Who are you marketing to? Skin and nudity will generate traffic, question is the person your looking in that group?   If your thinking long term, the person you seek may not be in this group.

If you’ve been online longer than two hours, someone has asked you for a nude picture.

Come on, I want to see what I’m getting?  I wont’ show anyone, I like you.  What are you a prude ? 

Online vets will tell you one or two things will happen:  They will ask you for another picture or completely fall off the planet, to later return as another life form.

What happens to those pictures?

Imagine a piece of paper you’ve discarded.  Some one picks it up, that paper is now his.

Those pictures of your goodies that you entrusted to a complete stranger,belong to him. There are laws that prevent him or her from using the image to extort, and in some states, penalties for posting your image on social media.  However, he can certainly share the picture you gave him with his friends and yours.

   My shirtless likeness ended up on a porn site and on a few altered profiles.

CityFella, what is Sextortion?

Sextortion is defined as blackmail in which sexual information or images are used to extort sexual favors and/or money from the victim.

This online blackmail is often conducted by sophisticated organized criminal networks operating out of business-like locations similar to call centers.  Teenagers often blackmail other teenagers for sexual favors.

There is not one method by which criminal target their victims, many individuals are targeted through websites including social media, dating, webcam or adult pornography sites.     Criminals often target hundreds of individuals around the world simultaneously, in an attempt to increase their chances of finding a victim.

How does it happen?

The blackmailer might assume the identity of an attractive man or woman then, after gaining the victim’s trust, will record footage of the victim in the nude or performing a sexual act.  He then threatens to circulate this footage to the victim’s friends or post it online unless a certain amount of money is paid.

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The drive to find a preferred mate is extremely powerful,” said Lucy Brown, a clinical professor of neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, who studies the brain activity of people in love. “It’s a reflexive urge, like hunger and thirst,” which can cloud judgment and make people less likely to question the motives of an online match.

Moreover, she said, romantic love can produce feelings of euphoria similar to the effects of cocaine or heroin, which explains why otherwise intelligent and accomplished people do irrational things to get a fix. Of course, people have always been fools for love — it’s just that the global reach and altered reality of the Internet increases the risk and can make the emotional and financial damage more severe..”

Click on the link Below for the complete story

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While all police agencies recommend you don’t pay, there are thousands who choose to pay the blackmailer.  For them its  too much at stake career and family.

 

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If you take online pictures using one of these

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you need to read this……

Your wonderful, I can’t live without it-Smartphone has the ability to tell where you are, the location, date and time the picture was taken.

GPS coordinates are stored as “metadata” embedded in the photo files themselves. All you have to do is view the file’s properties and look for it. It’s a bit like the potentially incriminating information that can be stored along with Microsoft Office documents or PDF files

In Windows, all you have to do is right-click a picture file, select “Properties,” and then click the “Details” tab in the properties window. Look for the Latitude and Longitude coordinates under GPS.

In macOS, right-click the image file (or Control+click it), and select “Get Info.” You’ll see the Latitude and Longitude coordinates under the “More Info” section.

Sure, you may be able to see this information with an “EXIF viewer” application, but most operating systems have this feature built in.

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Match the Coordinates to a Location on a Map

These are standard GPS coordinates, so you just need to match them to a location on a map to find where the photo was actually taken. Many mapping services offer this feature—you can plug the coordinates straight into Google Maps, for example. Google offers instructions for properly formatting the coordinates for Google Maps.

Using Google earth, your wonderful smartphone can take me directly to the place where the picture was taken…  The roof top, the cars in the driveway all in wonderful color.

To prevent this from happening.  Learn where your GPS switch is on your phone and make a habit of turning it off.   Not only will it place information in your pictures it can tell others where you are.

Recommendations

Should you choose post any picture on the internet, make sure the GPS switch is off.  If its a nude picture take the picture against a blank wall.   Some people take pictures with other pictures in the background.  “Hey, isn’t that Ryan’s mom in the back ground”   Beware of reflections and mirrors.  Many years ago, a man took a picture of a dining room table and posted it on Craigslist for sale.   In the mirror, was a reflection on him in the nude, taking the picture.

Finally, always be your authentic self.  Take a picture that best represents you.  If your taking a profile picture, you might consider having a good friend take it, someone who knows the real you and can possibly capture the best you.   As for those other pictures, do it if only your comfortable, don’t allow yourself to be pressured by a complete stranger.  Ask yourself, before you upload, would you be fine with friends and family seeing the picture?

CityFella

Next Up:  Adventures on a Online Dating (Stepping up your dating game)

 

McConnell’s Revenge?

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It was all agreed upon.  The Government would stay open, the he screwed Mitch McConnell and the GOP Senate and chose to listen to Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh who told him her must keep his promise or lose face.

The President’s  “Must have a Wall”  chorus is growing softer by the hour.  Four members joined the Democrats call to keep the government, that number grew to eight, and the latest number is twelve.

The Senate and the House can reopen the Government.  They would need to present a bill to the President to reopen the Government.  The President will likely Veto the bills.

To override the Veto would require two-thirds of each house.

Mitch McConnell, has said, the will not present any bill the President wont sign.

Today 53 percent, of Americans blame The President and members of the GOP for the shutdown.

Press accounts of the negotiations: Trump Gimmie the Wall.  Democrats: NO!

In the poll of polls, the majority of Americans are against the wall.   The President’s base is currently happy with his position.    The Wall Shutdown, will damage both parties with the GOP receiving the brunt of the damage.   Should the Shutdown, extend to the end of the month, Food Stamps will be affected.   Affecting a large part of the President’s core in Appalachia.

The Democrats are in control. Pelosi and company will continue to make efforts to re-open the government.  In the Senate,  McConnell has vowed to reject any bill he knows the President wont sign.  The President’s is unpredictable, one day he is for and then the next day he is against any given position.  This has clearly damage relations Domestically and Internationally.  This last change, damaged McConnell, who believed the President.  One wonders if this is an  attempt by McConnell to weaken the President’s grip on the GOP?

News at 11

CityFella