The Good News, the Bad News: ISIS Propaganda Under Assault, Still Sliming the Internet

Good Day World!

The good news today; Islamic State propaganda being spread on Twitter has plunged 45% in the past two years.

This image provided by the State Department shows an image of a teddy bear with Arabic writing and message saying Islamic State "slaughters childhood," 'kills innocence," "lashes purity" or "humiliates children." The Islamic State group’s Twitter traffic has plunged 45 percent in the past two years, the Obama administration says, as the U.S. and its allies have countered messages of jihadi glorification with a flood of online images and statements about suffering and enslavement at the hands of the extremist organization. (State Department via AP)

The bad news; Daesh is still lurking on Twitter, FaceBook, and YouTube.

So What Have We Done About it?

The U.S. and its allies have countered messages of jihadi glorification with a flood of online images and statements about suffering and enslavement at the hands of the extremist organization, according to a recent AP report.

Two years ago the U.S. formed an international coalition to fight ISIS. The stated goals are: military action, and cutting off foreign fighters and finances, confronting the group's extremist ideology and stemming the militants' growing popularity in the Arab world.

Information obtained by AP shows a 6-1 ratio of anti-ISIS content online compared with pro-ISIS content. That's better than last year.

To give you an idea, when pro-ISIS accounts are discovered now, they have about 300 followers each. Back in 2014, such accounts had 1,500 followers each. according to data gathered by AP.

One of the reasons I'm bringing up this progress report against ISIS is that I'm tired of hearing some people say this administration isn't trying hard enough to destroy the extremist group.

Unlike what you hear from demogogue's like Donald Trump, we are waging all out war against ISIS. Trump's simplistic bomb ISIS and attack ISIS by leveling half of the Arab world is just a display of ignorance.

We have a long and trying road ahead in this war, because in the end, it's a war of words and extreme ideology - and not a conventional war against an enemy who will stand and fight us.

I think that's something all Americans should be aware of. In this election cycle lies overlap lies to disguise real intents.

It's up to reasoning and mature adults equipped with knowledge, and not with inflamed emotions, to help this country fight it's greatest enemy today.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Confessions of a Reformed Liar: Any of This Sound Familiar to You?

Good Day World!

Let's settle something right now...everyone lies at one time or another in their life.

Show me a man, or woman, who claim to have never lied, and I'll show you a liar.

A lie is a lie, no matter how you dress it up.

I've known people who classify their lies (as if the very act somehow exonerates their action) into categories. Actually, I'm one of those people.

Big fat lies. White lies. Little lies. Almost lies. The categories are as diverse as the people who use them to explain their reasons for lying.

I'm pretty sure the first time I lied was to save my hide from a spanking by blaming my brother for something bad, dangerous, or something just plain stupid, that I did.

I catagorize that tactic as the survival lie.

As I grew older and became interested in girls, I lied about my sexual experiences even though I was a virgin. 

I categorize that lie as the cool lie, and strongly suspect most of my friends used it too.

When I was a teenager, I lied about my age all the time. Whether it was to impress a girl, or get inside a theatre showing Adults Only movies, I claimed to be 21 when I was as young as 16.

I categorize those lies as casual lies. 

When I was in my 20s I lied about my experience to get jobs.

The survival lie again.

I was in my early 50's before I finally quit lying about things. It wasn't easy. Telling the truth never is, despite the claims of some authors.

It's a big relief not to have to remember cover-up lies or other daily lies anymore. I've run out of reasons for lying. Now, for better or worse, I tell the truth in all things.

FYI: Not everyone wants to hear the truth!

Time for me to walk on down the road...

TGIF! This has been the craziest week ever!

Good Day World!

Last night five Dallas police officers were murdered by a black sniper.

A dozen officers were shot
during what had been a peaceful protest in Dallas over the recent deaths of Alton Sterling, a black man shot by white officers, and Philando Castile, another black man  also killed by police officers.

"It was the deadliest day for law enforcement since 9/11," according to NBC News.

***

The announcement this week that the much anticipated FBI director's report on Hillary Clinton being "extremely careless" but not guilty of wrong-doing, has further polarized Congress. 

James Comey, FBI Chief, was roundly backed by the Republicans as being the best man to look into Hillary Clinton's transgressions and settle the case once and for all.

They sang Comey's praises...right up until they heard his decision not to go after Clinton. Suddenly, Comey was summoned to appear before the Republican-led House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to "explain" his actions.

***

It's been really painful to watch one of my favorite all time comedians, Bill Cosby, embroiled in sex charges. He was in court this week: 

Bill Cosby Back in Court for Sex Case Hearing

***

Speaking of celebrities, but on a positive note this time,

Sulu Will Be Married and Gay in 'Star Trek Beyond': Report.

"Star Trek Beyond," the latest of the "Star Trek" movies, will show Hikaru Sulu with a husband and a daughter, according to a report by Australia-based Herald Sun newspaper.

***

Of course, many other things happened this week. I just selected an ecelectic assortment to demonstrate some highs and lows.

TGIF! Maybe next week will have more highlights, and less lowlights.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

GOP Convention: Getting Tickets at Trump's 1-Ring Circus Should Be Easy

Good Day World!

The heyday for circuses has passed.

All is not lost however, as Donald Trump plans on putting on a circus worthy of Barnum and Bailey, or The Ringling Brothers.

Up to this election cycle, the event sponsored by the GOP was called the National Convention.

Trump promised to transform the national convention this year into a circus, complete with performing clowns and snake oil dealers. Being a showman first, and foremost, the Donald is busy lining up acts.

It hasn't been easy. The list of the most influential Republicans in the party willing to speak at Trump's circus has dwindled down to practically no one!

The following were asked to attend/or speak and they all turned down the offer.

Latest refusal not related to the circus: Two Potential Trump VPs Just say No


The above is just a short list to give you an idea of how many prominent Republicans aren't going to be eating popcorn at Trump's Circus.

"It's very important to put some showbiz into a convention, otherwise people are going to fall asleep," Trump said in a recent interview.

But Ringmaster Trump's vision of a "Winners Evening" isn't going to be so easy. Thus far, every famous athlete contacted by him - from Boxer, Mike Tyson, to NASCAR chief Brian France, to legendary former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, have other plans that weekend. 

Even the musicians are finding other gigs that weekend. Lee Greenwood, who has performed his hit "God Bless the USA" at several GOP conventions, has refused to say if he's going to attend.

Ted Nugent's spokeswoman told the Washington Post that Ted's skipping the convention, "due to our intensive concert touring schedule."

It's not looking good for the 3-Ring Circus Trumpie is trumpeting.

 He does have a backup plan.

He's going to have at least three Trump family members give a speech. Oh, and his wife Melanie "may" say something too. With her Slovenian accent they better plan on providing a translator!

That ought to bring the audience to their feet!

If Trump didn't make all of his delegates pay out of their own pocket (Bernie Sanders is crowd-funding to pay his delegates way to the Democratic Convention), he'd have a stronger audience supporting him.

It's looking a lot like a 1-ring circus featuring the Trump family, and whatever Republicans can be induced/bribed to attend, and or, speak.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Have you ever danced naked in the rain?

Good Day World!

Did you ever...

...shove something up your nose when you were little?

...get a ride in the back of an old pickup truck full of stinky trash?

...say, "never" - and then had to do it anyway?

...find something unexpected (like money?) while looking for something else?

...fart to music?

...try to share facts with a Republican?

...dance naked in the rain?

...sharpen a drill?

...hear about a politician more stupid than Donald Trump?

...dig for gold?

...change a baby's diaper?

...ride in a roller coaster?

...eat beans because that's all you could afford?

...stand up against a bully?

...tell someone you love them?

Because if you have, you've been living a full life!

Time for me to walk on down the road...

One Year Ago Pandora's Box Was Opened: We're Seeing the Results Today

Good Day World!

Sometime last year, Pandora's box was opened.

Let me tell you a little bit about Pandora's box.

The phrase comes from Greek mythology. The "box" was actually a large jar given to Pandora which contained all the evils in the world.

One day Pandora had a brain fart and opened the jar letting out all the evils, only leaving "Hope" inside once she had closed it again.

When Donald Trump declared he would build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico last year, he opened up a box full of evil ideas and crushed any notions of civility for the presidential race.

White Supremacists, and the KKK, are having a field day supporting Trump's racial attacks against Latinos, Blacks, and Muslims.

Lies,like flies, are always plentiful in any political race, but this election cycle has produced a plethora of them. More lies than truths. Truth has became a casualty in the name of partisanship.

The Republican party has unleashed the Prince of Lies and is now regretting it. Barely half of the party can bring themselves to support him. But the party brand is deemed more important than anything else and the game goes on.

Don't tell me that the Republican party was ready for the consquences of supporting a blatant narcissist, con man, racist, and egomaniac.

By allowing Trump to run on the Republican ticket the party opened Pandora's box, and forgot to leave any hope behind.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

The Continental Congress Declared Independence on July 2nd, So Why Do We Celebrate It on July 4th?

                               Good Day World!

In America we're celebrating the 4th of July, a patriotic holiday, today...

A lot of people think the Continental Congress declared independence on July 4th. Wrong! July 2nd was when we actually declared our independence.

July 4th was when the Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence. 

July 4th became the date that was included on the Declaration of Independence and the fancy handwritten copy that was signed in August.

It's also the date that was printed on the Dunlap Broadsides, the original printed copies of the Declaration that were circulated throughout the new nation.

July 4th was the date people remembered.

In 1870, almost a hundred years after the Declaration was written, Congress first declared July 4th to be a national holiday as part of a bill to officially recognize several holidays, including Christmas.

So, now you now you know the rest of the story.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Lie or Dare: The New Political Game

Good Day World!

Everyone knows how to play Truth or Dare, right?

This election cycle has introduced a variation of the wildly popular parlor game: Truth or Dare. It's called Lie or Dare.

It's really easy (translation, a brain-dead politician can handle it) to play. Each political contestant has the choice of completing a challenge, or telling a lie. Be ready for some whoppers. 

Dares are challenges that must be completed by the contestant that they were given to. There's a penalty if a Dare is not completed.

As in, "I dare you to pass a gun control law." 

That penalty will be decided by all the politicians playing.
With no limits on what a penalty can be expect pandemonium.

Like what I expect to see in the Republican Convention  on July 18th thru the 21st.

Warning! It's no fun if people pick lies all the time. There should be a limit on lies. Say, five. Oh yea! 

And a time limit! Pols have a bad habit of droning on about meaningless shit.

Lie or Dare is being played right now in Congress and during this election. As a matter of fact...

Time for me to walk on down the road...

A League of Their Own: 2 World-Class Liars Seek American Presidency

Good Day World!

History in the making.

Two world-class liars, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, are (basicly) the nominees for Democrats and Republicans this election cycle.

Not much of a choice. 

You could go third party, but chances are they won't win. I say that despite the fact that I'm going to vote for Gary Johnson.

I certainly won't vote for either of these two liars.

How did we get to this terrible place? The last time Hillary ran for president one of the things that hurt her campaign was the bullshit story of landing in Bosnia under fire from the enemy.

One lie counted against her back then.

A mere eight years later and now lies are like mosquitos buzzing around this election and infecting people's common sense. They are left unmolested. Allowed to repeatedly sting.

Trump has the edge in lies thus far (doesn't mean more on Hillary won't surface). He has been rated "Pants On Fire Liar" by fact checking websites like PolitiFact and Snopes since he cast his ball cap into the ring for the presidency (a year now).

I was watching a great old comedy called "A League of their Own" the other day when it hit me... 

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are in a league of their own. We've never seen anything like it in American politics. They are the two most unpopular rival candidates for president in our history.

God help America...because someone needs to!

Time for me to walk on down the road...

What the Bird Heard: Grey Parrot a Reliable Witness?

Good Day World!

Got an unusual witness story for you today.

Michigan police think they know who killed Martin Duram, but they only have one possible witness...

A bird. An African grey parrot named "Bud." 

(Photo- Family members believe "Bud" may have witnessed the fatal shooting of his owner. WOODTV)

But does a bird in hand mean a conviction?


The suspect is Duram's wife Glenna, who police say staged a failed double-suicide to hide the fact she killed him.


One thing about Bud; he really likes to talk and loves to repeat everything he hears. Martin's family has a video showing Bud saying, "Don't f***king shoot!" 


The prosecutor is mulling over the idea of putting Bud on the witness stand. I'm not absolutely sure, but I doubt if there's been another murder trial in U.S. history that had a bird for a star witness.


I could be wrong. If you know of a trial that went to the birds, so to speak, please share here.


Meanwhile, let's all stay tuned to see if this feathered snitch puts away a murderer.


Time for me to walk on down the road....