Treasonous’ And ‘Disgraceful’: Performance by Trump at Putin Summit

July 16, 2018



Unbelievable! If you didn’t see the press conference today, please view the entirety of it.

Trump stood beside Putin today in Helsinki and took the word of a dictator over the US DOJ and CIA that Russia did not interfere with the 2016 election. Asked by a reporter if Trump stood with the US or Russia and Trump sided with Russia!  Trump refused to blame Putin for Moscow’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and told reporters that “both countries” were responsible for the poor state of their relations.

He reiterated that there was no collusion between his presidential campaign and Russia, slammed special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in the election as a “disaster” and shared conspiracy theories about why it’s important for the FBI to take the Democratic National Committee’s computer server.
Trump: Where are Hillary’s servers, I don’t believe Putin had anything to do with it but where are those servers, and 33 thousand emails. Freaking Unbelievable!

That’s what Trump said in public, who knows what he said in private at their closed door 2 hour meeting.

The press conference was also telling in their body language. Putin jumped up on the step in front of the podium looking jovial, smiling, and happy while Trump looked weak and intimidated. You know when you get a barely mediocre performance review.

Remember when the GOP went ballistic because President Obama wore a tan suit. Now what will the GOP do after this disgraceful performance of Trump at the summit? Not what will they say or tweet but what will they actually do to stop this embarrassment of a president?
Will they hold up the Supreme Court nominee and other judicial nominees until after the November elections?
I seriously doubt it.

It’s time for Congressional Republicans to start impeachment hearings on this president and it’s time for the Democratic leadership in Congress to show real anger and do whatever it takes to get this man out of office.
And it’s time for every American to get involved in the political situation and let your voices be heard.
Remember to Vote Blue in November because our democracy depends on it.
C. Ealey, CFO

Justice Kennedy Retirement – Democrats Are Screwed

Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy announced Wednesday that he will retire at the end of next month, preparing the way for the most significant change in the court's makeup in half a century.
The vacancy will allow President Donald Trump to make the Supreme Court a solidly conservative body for years, if not generations, to come — a towering legacy of his time in office.
This week has been a bad week for Democrats and will continue to get worse since the Democrats basically have no way to stop a Trump Supreme Court nominee.
The best panel discussion today on the consequence of Kennedy’s retirement announcement was from Rachel Maddow who observed that Democrats have self-imposed limiters, not liking to do radical things, always following the rules. The Republican Party, however, has no limiters and are willing to go outside of the norm to win at all cost.
Democrats have to get tough and fight dirty to keep the Senate from voting on Trumps nominee until after the November election. Mitch McConnell stole the SCOTUS seat from President Obama and had the nerve to tweet a picture of himself with Neil Gorsuch yesterday after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Trumps Muslim ban showing his middle finger to Democrats.
There was a lot of praise for Justice Kennedy as historically being the swing vote on the Court siding with the liberal judges on abortion rights, gay rights, and voting rights. But fundamentally, he was a conservative appointed by Nixon and decided with conservatives on the infamous Citizens United case which put unlimited amounts of money in politics, upholding Trump’s Muslim Ban, and severely restricting Labor Unions recruitment efforts.
Kennedy’s decision to retire now before the November elections with the most unqualified president in office makes me think of Melania message on her infamous jacket “I Don’t Care, do U”.
Elections matter#VoteBlueInNovember
Carol T. Ealey
CFO

Supreme Court Upholds Trumps Muslim Travel Ban

In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court upheld Trump's travel ban on immigration from Muslim-majority countries. This ruling was a stinging defeat for opponents who contended it was motivated by religious discrimination.
I feel especially disappointed every day with the news because it appears Trump aka the “illegitimate one” that occupies the White House continues to weaken our democracy. This decision will embolden him, even more, to discriminate against everyone his administration deems undesirable, as we have seen in recent weeks.
You know how everyone said that our institutions would be a check on this president. Well, no our institutions are failing us. Congress and now the Supreme Court have failed us. There is no check on the “illegitimate one” that occupies the White House. The Supreme Court seat was stolen by Majority Leader McConnell who deprived President Obama of filling the open Supreme Court seat with Merrick Garland; instead, we got super conservative judge Neil Gorsuch.
This should be a reminder that every vote counts. #VoteBlueInNovember
Carol T. Ealey
CFO

Trump Caves on Family Separation at the Border

If you’ve been following this issue you know that Trump created this separation policy and then today bowed to pressure and caved on separating families at the border. He said that he didn’t like the sight of families being separated which really means he didn’t like the optics. Trump has no heart, remember he said yesterday that immigrants are “infesting” the US. You don’t change your views overnight.
The temporary executive order signed by Trump keeps the zero-tolerance policy in force. If an immigrant tries to enter the border at the authorized ports of entry they are being delayed and told to come back later. If they try to enter at other locations then they are accused of entering unlawfully and arrested. The executive order will temporarily keep families together while their case is being decided.
So what happens to the children that have already been separated? About 2500 children have already been dispersed throughout the country, so what happens to them? There is no organized way to reunite these children back to their families. Trump’s executive order did not address this issue.
A video released today shows about six immigrant girls ages 7-9 being led into a shelter around midnight in New York City. The mayor of NY confirmed that there are 239 immigrant girls in NY shelters.
An American Airlines employee said that immigrant children were transported under the guise of a soccer team from Texas to other cities in the country. American Airlines released a statement asking the Trump administration not to use their flights to carry migrant children who have been separated from their parents. United Airlines also stated that they have no desire to be associated with separating families.
The best statement that I heard today from the media was Rep. Linda Sanchez (D) from California regarding Trump's executive order today. She said that “Trump is like an arsonist who starts the fire and then volunteers to put it out so he can be the hero to save the day”.
Trump calls out the news that he doesn’t like as fake news. Well, we have a fake president and every day we’re all living in this reality show.
Vote Blue in November so we can rid ourselves of this fake president and end this reality show.
Carol T. Ealey
CFO

America Is this Who We Are? Trump’s Family Separation Policy

For the past few weeks, if you’ve been following the news we learned about another Trump policy of separating children from their families who have crossed the border seeking asylum. Trump's explanation that it’s the Democrat’s fault is a big fat whopping LIE! Trump created this policy and can change it with a stroke of his pen.
Journalists have only been allowed in a few camps that house the boys separated from their families. The boys are locked in large cages like animals sleeping on mats with Mylar blankets. The question that was asked by reporters several days ago how are the children ultimately reunited with their parents? And tonight we learned from MSNBC news that there is no organized way to reunite the kids with their parents. Once the parents are sent away to jail the kids are turned over to HHS which has no mechanism to reunite the children with their respective families. The parent may also be deported without their children. This is outrageous and it’s happening in America.
If this isn’t inhumane enough we now learned that babies are being housed separately in infant shelters somewhere in south Texas. Reporters are not being told the exact location of these baby shelters and no pictures are being allowed inside of the girl's shelters.
In Trump's speech today to the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) he used more inflammatory and racist language to defend his border separation policy saying that “immigrants would pour into and infest the US”.  Let those words sync in…infest the US.
So this is America now under this fake president, our racist underbelly has been exposed for the entire world to see.
Carol T. Ealey
CFO

Charlottesville White Nationalist Rally

The following was an anonymous post forwarded by my Facebook friend who succinctly touches on the real issue of the Charlottesville White Nationalist rally.
"You know what worries me? It's not that a group of racist idiots lit some tiki torches and decided to have a rally. I worry that on Monday they'll go back to their job in human resources and decide who gets hired and who gets fired. They'll put their uniform back on and "serve and protect. They'll sit on a jury and decide the fate of a young person of color.
They'll teach in a kindergarten class. They'll sit across from a couple, who came to this country, worked hard and saved, and have the power to approve or deny them a loan to purchase their first home.
“They'll decide an insurance claim. They'll give an estimate to repair the brakes on a mother's only mode of transportation to get to work each day.”
I don't stay up lamenting the fact that racists feel emboldened to parade in the street.
I stay up because racists have, do, and will apply their racist beliefs in their daily lives and, by extension mine and they don't do it carrying a banner to distinguish themselves.
It isn't the theatrical that worries me. It's the practical."
Now is the time to get off the couch America and let your voices be heard.
We cannot depend on the cowards in Congress to protect our institutions or our rights. Speak out, get involved and Take a Stand!

CTE
Streetwise Special Delivery, Inc.

Your Internet Privacy is Over

Trump’s first 70 days in office feel more like 70 years. He’s hell bent on rolling back all of President Obama’s achievements for this country not because he has some deep conservative beliefs but his desire to loosen regulations so the rich can make more money. It’s always about the money, in my belief, and his deep hatred for President Obama.

Earlier this week, Congress passed a bill to repeal the FCC privacy rules set by the Obama administration, giving internet service providers (ISP) the power of collecting and selling all your internet history and other personal data.

If anyone hoped that President Donald Trump might come to his senses and decide against signing the bill, you should know that won’t happen. The White House confirmed that Trump will sign the bill that will give ISPs more freedom to commercialize your personal data.

That means that your private data such as: websites you’re visiting, what kinds of video’s you’re watching, what kind of weird underwear you like to buy, what your passwords are, the things you Google, financial information, your emails, social security numbers are now up for sale by ISP’s without your opt-in consent.

The worry isn’t just that companies like AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, and others will start selling your browsing habits. The more data these companies hoard about users, the more dangerous it can be for a user’s safety in a case of a data breach. Hackers proved time and again that they’re able to penetrate even systems believed to be very secure, and ISPs user databases might become appealing targets. And let’s not forget that spy agencies may want to tap into that kind of data too.

After effectively killing internet privacy, Trump’s administration may further harm internet users in the near future. The FCC’s new chairman Ajit Pai is a strong opponent of net neutrality – thereby allowing Internet providers to block content they don’t like or charge websites a fee to reach consumers over faster internet speeds.

Elections have consequences and we’re living in this nightmare of the Trump presidency. So those of you who voted for Trump, did you expect your  privacy rights being taken away all for the sake of making a buck? Well you wanted a “so called” business man in the White House. Now we all have to live with the consequences.

CTE

Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Resigns

In a few hours, he went from having Trump’s “complete confidence” to being the first major casualty of the administration.
Retired US Army 3 Star General National security adviser Michael Flynn resigned late Monday, following revelations that he discussed U.S. sanctions against Russia with that country’s ambassador in the days surrounding their imposition ― and weeks prior to Trump’s inauguration.
Retired Lt. Gen. Joseph Keith Kellogg Jr. will serve as acting national security advisor until a full-time replacement is named, the White House announced. Kellogg, as well as Vice Adm. Robert Harward and retired Gen. David Petraeus are the three candidates in line to succeed Flynn, according to the administration.
Flynn’s resignation came after a tumultuous few days of revelations about his ties to Russia and his role in attempting to ease sanctions that were put in place weeks before the Trump administration took office.
My understanding is that now that he’s out of office the Senate can now subpoena him to find out what he knows and the more important question is what does Russia have on President Trump?  This white house is not functioning well. They knew in January that Flynn had been compromised according to the Washington Post but chose to keep quiet. Without the press report the public would not have known.
For those that continue to say let’s give the Trump administration a chance – we can now say this administration doesn’t know what they’re doing and it shows big time or as Trump would say, “bigly”. This is just the first shoe to fall, and the start of the unraveling of the Trump administration.

Bring it on!

CTE  –  Streetwise Special Delivery, Inc.

Trump Bans Muslim Immigrants – Time For Resistance

I woke up this morning to more disturbing news from the Trump administration.
Donald Trump’s executive order barred all immigration from seven majority-Muslim nations for 120 days, which the president signed Friday evening. The banned countries are Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Libya. Note that Saudi Arabia is not this list. The majority of the 911 hijackers were Saudi’s none were from the countries that are currently banned.
Donald Trump also temporarily canceled admissions from the entire U.S. refugee program.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed today that legal permanent residents of the US with green cards are included in the ban, and will not be allowed to reenter the country. Later, the agency said they would decide on a “case-by-case” basis. As officials raced to understand the new executive order, U.S. green card holders from Iran and the six other countries were reportedly kicked off flights, sent back to their country of origin or detained at airports.
This is not the America that I know. What has happened to our country with this madman in the white house? We cannot normalize or justify his actions or just as my neighbor asked me to give Trump a chance. WTF, give him a chance to do more harm to our country. Trump has been in office one week and has done more damage to our image than any other President during their first week in office.
The Muslim ban has sparked outrage and protests in NYC airport and other airports in the US, legal challenges, condemnations from politicians and denunciations from advocacy groups. Of course, Trump says that his executive order is not a Muslim ban and “that it’s working very nicely”. He’s living in an alternate universe.

President Trump, at the Pentagon on Friday, signed an executive order titled “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States.” CreditStephen Crowley/The New York Times

“Targeting people based on their religion is wrong and unconstitutional. Shutting the doors on some of the most vulnerable people in the world—refugees seeking safety—shows a moral bankruptcy that is shocking even for Donald Trump” - Moveon.org.
Finally, it’s up to us and the media to hold Trump accountable for his actions and to call him out on his lies. We need to take to the streets and to social media to have our voices heard. It’s time for resistance!
CTE – CFO Streetwisesd.com

The Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland was a Ticking Bomb

 



                                  


Chor Nar Siu Ng bought the warehouse known as the Ghost Ship in 1988. She owns several other properties in the Bay Area. Credit Jim Wilson/The New York Times

                                    


                                   Photo: David Butow/Special To The Chronicle

Back in the 70’s in San Jose, I use to go to this converted warehouse to dance and party. It was called studio 47. I’ve never been to a place like the Ghost Ship Warehouse in Oakland. I don’t think, I would have gone to a place that was so cluttered with junk. All that stuff would have gotten on my nerves. Yuck!

Photos before the fire show a one-of-a-kind an elaborate, eclectic exhibit of carvings, mannequins, paintings, second-hand furniture and tapestries. (www.oaklandghostship.com)


On December 2, 2016, the Ghost Ship Warehouse in Oakland caught on fire with about 50 people inside, killing 36 and injuring others. From the pictures of the place before it caught fire, it was filled with stuff everywhere. It had illegal artist studios and dwellings. It was a ticking time bomb. It was a place that looked like if a fire broke out it would go up in flames, like a piece of paper. Regrettably it did. Most of the people who died were on the second floor. To get to the second floor you had to climb these make shift stairs, made from wood pallets. I’m not being insensitive but common sense would tell you that is not safe and to stay on the first floor. People probably have been going to places like this for years and nothing like this has happened until now. The owner should be a shame of himself and anyone who worked for him. I hope he gets prosecuted to the fullest magnitude of the law. They knew this place was not safe. There were numerous complaints to management about the conditions. This was a case of pure greed. The City of Oakland should be a shamed as well. There were a number complaints going back for years about the Ghost Ship Warehouse being unsafe. Yes, the City of Oakland dropped the ball on this one and it cost 36 lives. If you know someone or you plan on going to these unsafe warehouses, make sure you know your exit plan when you step through the door.
LM
http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2016/12/11/oakland-fire-ghost-ship-last-hours/

Pescadero One of California’s Last Frontiers has been invaded by Silicon Valley Billionaires

                                                

The Stars and Stripes flies above the rooflines of Pescadero, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Growing up in San Jose California, I have seen a lot of change over the years. I remember my parents taking my siblings and me on day trips to places like Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay, San Francisco and Pescadero. My dad had an aunt who lived in Pescadero on a small farm with horses, pigs, chickens and a couple of cows. I loved going there because we got to ride the horses. There was nothing like playing hard and eating the delicious food. Pescadero was like stepping back in time, back then.

Pescadero has remained a little part of nostalgia for years. Say it’s not so.  Pescadero one of California’s last frontiers has been invaded by Silicon Valley Billionaires. Locals say there are some problems to the invasion of tourists and outsiders, some of the Moneybags are committed to maintaining the agricultural character of the place. Where goat cheese-makers, artisans, intellectuals, farmers, ranchers and other rugged individualists exist in rustic harmony. Are they really?

I don’t think so. Tom Steyer retired hedge fund manager and ecological activist and his wife, entrepreneur and contributor Kat Taylor, own a 1,800-acre grass-fed cattle ranch in Pescadero. They consider it a learning laboratory for sustainable animal agriculture. Steyer said, “It is kind of magic, I think, the idea that there would be that much open space, that much wild space, that close to Silicon Valley and San Francisco,”.  “It’s pretty incredible. So we feel a lot of responsibility to make it available to as many people as possible.”

Okay, that’s all good but what about the middle class and the farmers in the area. Are they going to be push out to make way for other CEO’s? One of Google’s top executives is said to have a 1,500-acre ranch in Pescadero, where he has partnered with Pie Ranch. Where he sources food for the Mountain View campus from the sustainable Pescadero farm. What about Signe Ostby, the wife of Intuit co-founder Scott Cook? She breeds horses on her 2,220 acre ranch. Why didn’t she respond to the interview requests? What does she have to hide? Venture capitalist John Doerr owns nearly 1,400 acres. This is another community where gentrification will push out non wealthy people and families. The end of an era. In 5 years you probably won’t recognize the town of Pescadero and the rents will be out of this world.

LM
 http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/10/16/silicon-valley-discovers-the-south-coast-the-peninsulas-final-frontier/

Donald Trump the 45th President Protest Break Out

Well first of all I’m glad this joke of an election is over. I saw all of this coming from the start. It was just like when that Bush character ran against Gore. The powers to be, did not want a democrat in office again so they fixed the election. The popular vote does not count. The people’s voice was not heard. The system of electoral vote should be abolished. You mean to tell me that the electoral votes in those small little counties counted more than the popular vote. Now we have our new racist, sexual deviate and the biggest bully for president. Donald Trump is our 45th president what does it all mean?

This means if Trump has his way, all you illegal aliens who don’t have your papers in order you better be scared. Donald Trump is coming for you. He’s going to round you up and ship you back to where you came from. Nobody is going to get in the country, so you might as well don’t even try. There will be no more illegal Mexicans, Asians, Middle Eastern, Europeans or Africans to work in the hotels, hospitals, tech jobs, farms, construction of roads buildings or bridges across America. He wants to put Americans back to work and make it great again. Is it going to be enough Americans qualified to do these jobs? No! For the African American male in the United States it’s going to be open season now. With the stop and frisk policy, this bigot wants to implement is totally outrageous. Like it’s not already horrific. With the police shootings of African American males for hundreds of years just because of their skin color. Is Trump going to be a puppet for the republicans to get their agenda passed? The biggest fear is if he doesn’t get his way with other nations he will start a war. The other fear that should be on everyone’s mind, is he going to be a puppet for the Russians. Yes!

This racist president of ours has truly divided our nation. As soon as he was elected, people took to the streets from the East coast to the West coast. People are raising up and protesting from New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., Los Angeles and Oakland. Thousands of people were causing traffic jams on streets and highways. There has been hundreds of arrest from coast to coast. This whole thing reminds me of those countries where civil wars have broken out because of an election. The people don’t want a president that is a sexual deviate, who does not respect women. Let alone one that wants to send Muslims, Mexicans and any other illegals back to where they came from. Even if they have been living here for years contributing to our society. I just have this to say, Donald Trump is going to keep this nation in chaos and we definitely don’t need this.

LM
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/thousands-us-protest-president-elect-donald-trump/story?id=43427653
   

Millennium Tower

San Francisco is a famous city in California, hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world visit the city by the bay in a year. It’s is known for its attractions like, Lombard Street the crookedest street in the world. Then you have the world famous Fisherman’s Wharf, China Town and Alcatraz. Now it has the Leaning Tower of Millennium. Not!

This 58 story building was completed in 2009 on Market Street on the Southside. It was supposed to be the tallest building in San Francisco. Since its completion it has been sinking and leaning. It has sunk 16 inches and it has titled 2 inches. What the heck! In 2009 Raymond Lui chief building Inspector at the time, sent a letter to the Millennium Towers engineering firm. Concerned about the “larger than excepted settlements” and “what was being done about the sinking and if the building’s structural safety could be affected.” Just like those big firms being greedy and all about the money. They sent a reply from DeSimone Consulting Engineers, that the building had already unexpectedly settled 8.3 inches. But the engineering firm concluded, “It is our professional opinion that the structures are safe.” When Aaron Peskin the City Supervisor convened a hearing on the matter and asked Lui why the building was then certified safe for occupancy. He said, “We felt they had it under control.” Now 8 years later the founding partner of Millennium Chris Jeffries said, “We did this building the right way,” and “The building is 100 percent safe.” Now it’s the blame game. Jeffries blames the building’s problems on a neighboring building site where a city rail terminal is being built. He says the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, the public agency is building the $4.5 billion transit hub, dug a 60-foot hole to create a dry construction site and forced out millions of gallons of groundwater that wound up compressing and weakening the soil under the Millennium Tower. Transbay says the tower’s “inadequate foundation is the sole cause of the excessive settlement and tilt.” It released a statement saying the building had sunk 10 inches and started to lean before the agency broke ground in 2010. All those wealthy ones who couldn’t wait to own a piece of the Millennium Tower are probably thinking twice. Like Jerry Dodson, an attorney and engineer who paid $2.1 million in 2009 for his two-bedroom apartment on the 42nd floor. The Penthouse sold for 10 million.

All I know I couldn’t live in something like that and especially in San Francisco. With the big earthquake that is bound to come. Look what happen in the 1906 earthquake 3000 people lost their lives. I couldn’t even imagine how many loss of life there will be. They better fix this problem before something horrific happens.

LM

http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/10/24/tilting-sinking-san-francisco-high-rise-raises-alarm/

NBC's Steve Schmidt Excoriates GOP's "Intellectual Rot" For Empowering Donald Trump

Steve Schmidt, MSNBC Analyst, former advisor to John McCain had the best take down of Trump and the Republican Party this morning on Meet the Press.
Steve Schmidt: Over the course of this campaign the Republican Party has been a disgrace to this country by empowering Donald Trump since it is painfully obvious that he has no idea of what it takes to be President. Trump has no dignity to hold office and lacks the capacity to be commander in chief.
Schmidt went further by saying that this race has exposed the intellectual rot and hypocrisy in the GOP and the need for a lot of soul searching if they want to rebuild the Republican Party.
“Over the course of this last year, these GOP candidates have repeatedly put their party before their country,” Schmidt exclaimed. He continued, “Ignoring what is so obviously clear to anybody who is watching his complete and total manifest unfitness for office.”
Although I’m not a Republican I admire Steve Schmidt to honestly tell it like is about Trump and the Republican Party. The debate tonight is must see television.
The video and text of Steve Schmidt’s comments:
http://mediamatters.org/video/2016/10/09/nbcs-steve-schmidt-excoriates-gops-intellectual-rot-empowering-donald-trump/213660

Carol T. Ealey

Bacteria Super Bug found in a woman in Pennsylvania is resistant to the most powerful U.S. Antibiotic Colistin

When I heard that there is a bacteria super bug in the U.S. resistant to the most powerful antibiotic we have, I became worried. If Colistin doesn’t work, what will? I thought how it would affect someone with a comprised immune system, like myself. How is the bacteria super bug transmitted? What I could do to prevent becoming affected with this.

The first case of this bacteria super bug was detected in a 49 year old woman in Pennsylvania, back in May of 2016. Apparently the Defense Department researchers determined she was carrying a strain of E. coli, resistant to the antibiotic Colistin. The case in Pennsylvania is supposed to be no cause for panic, says Health officials. They say the strain found in the woman is treatable with other antibiotics. If it’s resistant to Colistin the strongest antibiotic we have, is the other antibiotics they are talking about really helping the woman. Yet researchers are worried that this colistin-resistance gene, known as mcr-1, could spread to other bacteria and elude other antibiotics. Here they go again, downplaying the gravity of the situation. In November 2015 public health officials worldwide responded with fear when Chinese and British scientists found colistin-resistant strain in pigs and raw pork and in a small number of people in China. This fatal strain was later discovered in Europe and elsewhere. Yet there is no cause for panic. Sure!

Everyone needs to know about this, because it’s in some of the meats we consume. The Agriculture Department and the Department of Health and Human Services tested hundreds of livestock and retail meats. This testing turned up the same Colistin-resistant bacteria in samples from a pig intestine in the United States. We can get this bacteria super bug in the pork and meat we eat. This has me really thinking about giving up meat. If I caught this bacteria super bug, I know my immune system could not fight this. I guess we all have to consider whether or not to eat meat and hope we don’t contract this bacteria super bug.
LM
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/05/26/the-superbug-that-doctors-have-been-dreading-just-reached-the-u-s/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/12/03/superbug-known-as-phantom-menace-on-the-rise-in-u-s/?tid=a_inl

Projectile Bolt Size of a Baseball Kills Man while Driving Northbound on Highway 101 in Palo Alto

Driving on the highways is always an uncertain thing for drivers now days. You’re literally at the mercy of other drivers and not to mention all the debris that litter our highways. Drivers have to avoid this debris, while driving at a high rate of speed. Then there are somethings that are unavoidable.

Unfortunately on September 16^th around 1 p.m. 82-year-old Louis Schaefer was a victim of a projectile bolt the size of a baseball. He was struck in the neck, when a bolt came crashing through his windshield killing him. He was driving his van on highway 101 northbound in Palo Alto, like he probably did numerous times. CHP is asking anyone that saw anything thing to please contact the CHP.

This tragic incident could have happened to anyone. I work for Streetwise Special Delivery Courier Service as a dispatcher. One of our drivers happened to see the aftermath of this accident. He said he saw a Cal-Tran water truck broke down on the highway by where the accident occurred. You never know what’s going to happen while driving on the highways or driving period. All I can say is be safe and hope for the best.

LM

http://abc7news.com/traffic/man-killed-in-freak-accident-in-palo-alto-identified/1515410/

Colin Kaepernick – National Anthem Controversy

Colin Kaepernick – National Anthem Controversy

By Carol Ealey

Now that the regular football season starts on Sunday the Colin Kaepernick flag controversy has created a real dialogue about what the flag represents and racial injustice in America. When I heard that Colin Kaepernick refused 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, my first reaction was what is he thinking? Why risk your career especially since his tenure on the team was still in question at that time.

Now three weeks into the controversy, I have learned a lot about the history of the flag and I have more respect for Kaepernick. He’s not just a stupid jock but someone who feels deeply about this country and the mistreatment of minorities and the unjustified killings of African Americans by the police.

Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

By taking a stand for civil rights, Kaepernick, 28, joins other athletes, like the NBA's Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony and several WNBA players in using their platform and status to raise awareness to issues affecting minorities in the U.S.

Kaepernick has received support from President Obama, Steph Curry, Megan Rapinoe USWNT soccer star, and this Sunday the Seattle Seahawks are expected to show their support for Kaepernick by locking arms when the national anthem is played.

However, one of the best expressions of support came from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who wrote in The Washington Post:

What should horrify Americans is not Kaepernick’s choice to remain seated during the national anthem, but that nearly 50 years after [Muhammad] Ali was banned from boxing for his stance and Tommie Smith and John Carlos’s raised fists caused public ostracization and numerous death threats, we still need to call attention to the same racial inequities. Failure to fix this problem is what’s really un-American here.

But many others have criticized Kaepernick, including the Santa Clara, CA, police union, which has threatened to boycott 49ers games. Kaepernick has been booed and heckled at recent games by fans that see his behavior as disrespectful and inappropriate.

What I have learned about the national anthem is that “The Star Spangled Banner” contains racist language, most notably in its third stanza, which is seldom sung today. (Most performances stop after the first stanza.) The third section states: “No refuge could save the hireling and slave / from the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave …”

The line is believed to refer to black slaves who were promised freedom if they fought on the side of the British during the War of 1812. The song “casts aspersions on black people. It does a disservice to black people today,” said Gerald Horne, chair of history and African-American studies at the University of Houston. He said performing the anthem today is the equivalent of saying that “things should never change and remain frozen in aspic. … It’s a war-mongering song that’s totally inappropriate for 2016 and people need to get over it.”

Kaepernick started this dialogue regarding social injustice and I hope it continues, however, my fear is that if Kaepernick does not play well and is ultimately released by the 49ers the issue will fade. I hope Kaepernick has a great season and wins the starting quarterback position with the 49ers so that he can continue the fight.

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A Tale of Two Conventions by C. Ealey

I watched both the Republican and Democratic convention over the past two weeks and I must admit the Republican convention was hard to watch. Much has already been said about the dark dystopian view of this country by the Republicans and their spineless concession to nominate Donald Trump as the standard bearer of their party. What happened to the “Never Trump Movement”? Apparently, it fizzled out the first day because of backroom trickery by the RNC rules committee. So disappointing but just what you’d expect from Republicans. The attendees at the RNC didn’t look like America either with only a few people of color and the arena was not completely filled. Many national GOP leaders boycotted the convention and refused to endorse Trump. Those who endorsed him did so either because they felt they had no choice or because they retained a vague hope that should he win, their congressional leaders would be able to limit the damage that might occur in an unrestrained Trump presidency. Adding to the fractiousness of the GOP’s situation, significant components of another insurgent group, prominent leaders of the religious right, also refused to endorse Trump creating negative press with a walkout on the first day followed by a prime time rejection by Ted Cruz on day three. And we can’t forget Melania Trumps plagiarism of Michelle Obama’s 2008 DNC speech on the first night. With most GOP leaders not in attendance, the key Trump endorsement speeches were given by his children. While Trump had promised a “blockbuster”, the Republican convention was a lack-luster affair bringing together a strange collection of minor “celebrities” and drew headlines for a series of unforced errors. Overall, the Republican convention was a pathetic show filled with hate.

In contrast, the Democratic National Convention was well produced and, despite moments of tension and controversy, was a nearly flawless affair. The convention hall in Philadelphia was filled to the rafters with people of all colors, religions, and ethnic backgrounds, young and old, gay couples, and people with disabilities. It looked like America; everyone was represented in the audience and on the stage. Hillary Clinton was able to receive validation and support from President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice-President Biden, Senator Bernie Sanders, leading progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren, and most of the Democratic Party’s Senators and Members of Congress. In addition, there was a host of major celebrities who performed at or addressed the event.

As political and policy events, the Democrats’ convention had the clear advantage. Both parties spent considerable time in attacking the others’ nominee. But the Democrats were better at telling their story, presenting their candidate and their programs, and creating optimism that they had made progress in the last 8 years and would continue to make positive change in the years to come. Bravo Democrats!

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DNC: First Lady Michelle Obama Written by: Rajada Ealey

Fourteen minutes and forty-five seconds. It only took fourteen minutes and forty-five seconds for the first lady to give a powerful speech which was truly amazing. Hearing the hope and passion in her voice made this year’s election promising. As she talked about her daughters, Hillary Clinton, and hope, I can definitely say my eyes were glued to my computer screen as I listened closely to every word she exhaled. I thought to myself, “How can the first lady have such hope in our country at a time like this? Is this real? Or is it just her job?” I sat and pondered these questions as I continued to watch. We all know the world is a little chaotic right now, so hope and optimism is just what we need right now. Though America has elected Obama to serve two terms in office, which definitely made a mark in history, who’s to say what space we’re now holding in our history books. Will it be for a woman or for the reality TV host? But Michelle made it very clear in her speech “[she’s] with Hillary.”

The heart of Michelle Obama’s speech centered around the youth. She begins to emphasize how her two daughters, Sasha and Malia, spent a huge portion of their life in the White House. She claimed that it would “form the foundation of how they would become,” and how her and Obama would think about this everyday. Michelle tells us it is not just their words and actions that impact their kids but also kids around the world. A role model-- An important job for both the First Lady and President. A role model is what they had to be and a role model is what America needs in future Presidents. Michelle states, “...that is what we’re deciding. Not democrat or republican. Not left or right…[but] who will have the power to shape our children for the next four or eight years of their lives.” The concept of voting for the best role model, I think, is an interesting way of putting it but I understand the passion she carries for the younger generation. Kids today can be very impressionable and what they see happening in the world and on TV plays a huge role in what they might say or do. It takes a certain type of President to be a role model and there “is only one person who [she] trust with that responsibility” and that is Hillary Clinton.

I continue to listen closely to Michelle as continues on with praising Hillary Clinton. Letting all of America know that she is the voice for children, that she takes her job seriously, and that she is well informed. She constantly repeats “I want a president who…” Which is very moving. It shows Michelle’s passion about this year’s election and having Hillary Clinton for President. As she begins to talk about how we’ve moved our country, Michelle’s speech quickly turns towards touchy topics such as the Dallas shooting and the shooting in Orlando. Telling us that could've easily been anyones child during the protest or in the nightclub. Michelle Obama is a great speaker and it touched me personally when she compared Hillary Clinton’s strive and perseverance to the slaves who also had hope for something better. Waking up in a house built by slaves only reminded her of the hard work they put in. She’s recognized that same hope and hard work in Hillary Clinton which lead her to believe she can ignite the strive in our younger generation, and you know I’m starting to believe she can too. We have a very interesting election ahead of us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZNWYqDU948

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Is On Its Last Leg

 

I remember when BART was open back in 1972, it was all the rage. It linked San Francisco, Oakland, Fremont and then Concord and Pittsburg. BART is coming to the San Jose in 2017. It’s about time.The only drawback is that BART is on its last leg in the North Bay. The system is 44 years old and the ridership has increased immensely. 100,000 more people ride BART than they did five years ago. This means BART carries about 440,000 passengers on an average weekday. People that ride BART daily are upset with BART because of the delays due to mechanical problems, over packed trains, price increases and run down stations. One line that is having major trouble is the Pittsburg-Bay Point and North Concord stations, it will be shut down intermittently  due to electrical surges on the tracks. It’s about time BART fixes the problem and stop putting a band aide on it. In November BART officials are planning to place a bond measure on the ballot for $3.5 billion to pay for fixing tracks, power systems, stations, other structures and the mechanical systems. Yes, people will be in an uproar because their taxes might get raised but they want it fixed.

I feel that all the people who ride BART should stop their whining and let Bart fix the whole system. I know it’s going to take some time but when it’s done think how smooth and easy your ride will be. One last thing, it’s better safe than sorry how about that!

LM

http://patch.com/california/sanleandro/bart-shut-down-fremont-line-repairs

http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/BART-shutdown-underscores-aging-system-s-6916061.php