Archives for category: Newspeople not asking questions

March 13, 2023 Military Times @MilitaryTimes

White House budget calls for more troops & services hope to add about 12,000 but battling high employment, lower public interest in joining

From comments:

Time for a draft…and time to include women.”

Our take:

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

It is understandable that young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.

Before making any plans to start up a draft, let’s ask if newspeople can do something totally different. Have newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

Have newspeople find out:

Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?

This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.

 

Back during the Cold War era of the 1980s, the US Armed Forces seemed to be in good shape. Today, DOD struggles with recruiting difficulties. I have my own attitudes about all this.

May 13, 2022 Military.com

Military Throwing Cash at Recruiting Crisis as Troops Head for the Exits

“Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee personnel panel, says the military is on the cusp of a recruiting crisis.”

Questions we’d love to see newspeople ask:

Senator Tillis,

Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?

More here:

2022 – Armed Forces Recruiting Culture

 

Potential applicants on the way to comply with the next draft:

Jan 13, 2023 Military.com

Brawls, Disorder Mar National Guard Boot Camp for Teens

“A massive brawl broke out on a parade ground at Fort Gordon in Augusta one afternoon last fall, when about 70 teenage recruits of the Georgia National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy slugged it out. Some used homemade weapons, including metal shanks, crudely sharpened toothbrushes and tube socks filled with metal padlocks.”

More here:

Hey Moms and Dads – Ask A Recruiter

Last time there was a draft that involved an undeclared war, things did not go well.

 

RealClearDefense – We Need a Peace Time Draft

From comments:

“During the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq the services met their quotas, and that was with people dying and coming home missing limbs. What has changed? Young people see what a failure those wars were. Why fight for a govt that views them as pawns for their political whims and cuts out when all the Generals have been promoted and the companies made billions. Add in the cultural politicization of the military (changing base names and pronouns to name a few) and the pool of eligible people (which is still large) see the military not as honorable service but something to be avoided. Young people see a made up war in Ukraine coming soon as the administration keeps poking the Russians. The left has spent decades demonizing military service, now it is ok? People are smarter than that. A draft is way to avoid fixing the decline in our military and the politicization of its mission/people. Stop the cultural attack on the military ethos, hold accountable someone besides a Marine Major for the failure of the Iran/Iraq wars and stop promoting a war with Russia so Raytheon and Lockeed can make more money. You would see people join. I am a Naval Academy Graduate and served my country for 20 years in various jobs. I would sooner my sons work at a gas station than join today’s military.”

 

What we were thinking in 2012:

No Draft

Related:

Excuses for US Military Recruiting Crisis

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Cultural Honesty

Thank You For Our Freedom?

Roaring Sports Fans – Military Jet Flyover

GWOT/Super Bowl Security Update 2023

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

Possibly of interest:

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

About this time of year – Skagit Valley

 

All due respect for the loss of this National Guard Specialist.

Mar 13, 2023 Army Times

Oklahoma Guard soldier dies following Army Combat Fitness Test

“A soldier in the Oklahoma National Guard died earlier this month during a training mishap, Army officials confirmed.”

“Spc. Jaykob R. Pruitt, 19, of Bennington, Oklahoma, a cavalry scout with the state Guard’s 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment, was found unresponsive the morning of March 4 after completing the two-mile run portion of the Army Combat Fitness Test, according to a preliminary loss report published by the service.”

Seems strange to call this a training mishap. A truck running off the road or a helicopter experiencing a hard landing might cause injuries and be called a mishap. Sounds like they don’t know what happened.

The cause of Pruitt’s death is under investigation by the McAlester medical examiner, though the status of that process is unclear at this time, Lt. Col. LeeAnn R. Tumblson, another spokesperson from the Oklahoma National Guard, told Military Times.”

Maybe something can be learned from this loss.

 

This looks complicated:

Feb 15, 2023 Military.com | By Drew F. Lawrence

More Changes Brewing for Embattled Army Fitness Test

“Changes are coming to the Army Combat Fitness Test, as the service looks to comply with a law mandating it create a gender-neutral assessment by June, a continuation of the struggle over the test that was finally rolled out in October following years of delays.”

“…the service is weighing whether to use a gender-neutral version of the ACFT with a higher standard for combat arms soldiers, or repurpose physical tests currently required for expert badges.”

“The changes are still being formulated, with some of the uncertainty driven by two competing congressional requirements built into last year’s annual defense policy bill to “establish gender-neutral fitness standards for combat [jobs] that are higher than those for non-combat [jobs],” while also creating gender-neutral standards for all soldiers.”

Changing The Standard

“The ACFT was originally intended to be gender-neutral, but the Army reversed course after early test data, first reported by Military.com in 2021, showed that nearly half of all female soldiers were failing the test.”

Back during the Cold War era of the 1980s, the US Armed Forces seemed to be in good shape. Today, DOD struggles with recruiting difficulties. I have my own attitudes about all this.

 

May 13, 2022 Military.com

Military Throwing Cash at Recruiting Crisis as Troops Head for the Exits

“Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee personnel panel, says the military is on the cusp of a recruiting crisis.”

Questions we’d love to see newspeople ask:

Senator Tillis,

Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?

More here:

2022 – Armed Forces Recruiting Culture

Related:

Excuses for US Military Recruiting Crisis

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Cultural Honesty

Thank You For Our Freedom?

Hey Moms and Dads – Ask A Recruiter

Roaring Sports Fans – Military Jet Flyover

GWOT/Super Bowl Security Update 2023

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

Possibly of interest:

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

 

March 9, 2023 Military.com | By Thomas Novelly

Air Force Needs to Be More ‘Relatable’ to Attract a Gen Z That’s ‘Not Patriotic,’ Head of Recruiting Says

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas, Air Force Recruiting Service commander delivers a State of Command briefing to the 360th Recruiting Group at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., Oct. 22, 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ryan Conroy)”

Recruiters meet at a casino in Atlantic City? Sounds serious.

“This is a very unique generation,” Thomas told Military.com. “Generation Z is not patriotic, in the traditional sense; they’re also less trusting of government…”

Possible reasons for not being patriotic and less trusting of government in bold type:

School children are taught about a free enterprise system. They grow up to find out that the federal government will tell them what kind of shower head they must install in the bathroom, and what type of gas can they must buy for their lawn mower.

In the US, 18-20 year old adults are placed in a land of the free holding pattern.

Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18?

Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.

While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.

December 21st 2019 KOMO News

Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide

“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”

Both major political parties are OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.

Gen Z has also seen a US Dept. of Defense that was nowhere to be found on 911.

We haven’t won a war since.

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Understandable why young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.

Recruiters, generals, elected officials, political think tanks and TV newspeople are A-OK with a list of excuses for difficulties in recruiting. Low unemployment, overweight young people, COVID, young people on meds, illegal drug use, etc.

Alternative media is OK with asking questions:

Plenty of comments posted with the video above. Comments made by people who were not paid to read a script.

A sample:

“Being at war for two decades creating an entire generation of veterans that actively tell young people not to enlist while they’re being screwed over by the VA. We won’t forget what’s been done and we’re the best recruiters you could have.”

 

Jun 30, 2022 WCCO – CBS Minnesota

1:41 Reporters interviewing reporters from within their TV studios.

Back in the 1960s, TV newspeople had a different style of reporting and working to keep the public informed.

At 3:49 an interview with Maj. Sgt. Kor.

Rank insignia on uniform does not match rank description in WCCO TV news video. Weeks later, title remains uncorrected.

Maj. Sgt. Kor (thanks newspeople) tries to explain why people may have lost interest in the US Armed Forces as the GWOT dragged on.

After squandering DOD credibility for decades in distant lands, top generals are now hurting for people to sign up.

 

Less trusting of government?

Pick a decade anytime after the war in Vietnam. No matter what political party or personality is in the White House, Uncle Sam struggles to get veterans health care to work properly. Moms, Dads, Grandparents, and young people have access to this info.

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

The military recruiting crisis was earned by the politicians, generals, and high ranking civilians who have been running the Pentagon over the past 30 years or so. The crisis is also upon us due to newspeople not asking questions going back to the time the Cold War ended.

 

Conclusion:

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since. Has anyone been fired over this?

Since the end of the Cold War:

Both major parties appear to have been OK with undeclared/unwon wars and sending the National Guard to foreign lands on missions completely unrelated to their home state.

Every few years, no matter what political party or personality is in power, there are moves to modify what people thought they were earning in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.

The plan is to save cash by reducing the traditional DOD military benefits that were on the table when people began doing multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Recruiting crisis? You earned it.

Try for less blaming of a new generation and the Moms and Dads of today for any hesitation related to doing time in uniform. Time to take a hard look at what elected officials and the US Dept. of Defense did with the brand after the first Cold War ended in the early 90s and after the lessons of Vietnam were on the table.

Related:

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Cultural Honesty

Thank You For Our Freedom?

Hey Moms and Dads – Ask A Recruiter

Roaring Sports Fans – Military Jet Flyover

GWOT/Super Bowl Security Update 2023

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

 

Possibly of interest:

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

A symbol of newspeople not asking questions, and a federal government that is OK with undeclared/unwon wars and telling lies about freedom, then blaming young people and their families when they lose interest in showing up.

 

Ocean Shores, WA –

$6.3 million in federal cash for a used hotel.

Any questions from newspeople?

December 8, 2022 The Daily World

Dept. of Ag invests $6.3M to purchase Ocean Shores hotel

$6.3 million “to fund the acquisition of an existing hotel. Marathon Enterprises Inc. is located in Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, Washington. The project is expected to result in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job.”

Love to see newspeople ask: Is there any shortage of lodging facilities in this community?

Ocean Shores has other areas that cry out for improvement. Pedestrian friendly public access to the beach at Damon Point and sidewalks and crosswalks in general are two of those. Details on those in a recent blog here:

Room For Improvement – 98569

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

An old image from a trip to Ocean Shores back in 2015

 

The Chinese balloon that made it all the way to the Atlantic really did stir some emotion.

Interesting that the catastrophic military failure of 911 worked out differently. That was the time the nation pulled together. People flew the flag again.

The long term response was to support big DOD budgets and a US Dept. of Defense that could not stay out of or win undeclared wars in distant lands for another 20 years.

The GWOT also brought on a $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security.

Special IDs to go have lunch in Canada and return home. Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009.

Special IDs for domestic air travel too.

 

Newspeople play along by not asking questions.

REAL ID

If REAL ID is critical to the safety of America, have travelers out at the airport been less safe since 911?

The new REAL ID requirement for domestic air travel has now been extended out more than 20 years past 911.

Show up early to wait in line, squeeze the toothpaste out of the tube and show your REAL ID at the airport.

What keeps the terrorists of the GWOT from creating a disruption at the back end of the screening line?

Zero questions from newspeople.

All these special IDs seem to play no role in keeping cartels from moving product into Hometown, USA. Would the DEA be out of work if a giant US Dept. of Homeland Security was able to keep cartel product from showing up in all 50 states?

Security Theater

It’s all widely accepted by the public and the press. Watch for a big Dept. of Homeland Security show of force prior to and during the Super Bowl, and another military jet flyover at the opening of the game as reminder of all this. Cheering fans signal acceptance.

Possibly of interest:

GWOT/Super Bowl Security Update 2023

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

Related:

Similar DOD role on 911?

Thank You For Our Freedom?

Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Schmoozy TV Freedom Nonsense – Leaving Afghanistan

Cultural Honesty

Sports Culture is Honest

Leaving Afghanistan – Lies About American Rights And Freedoms

Because We Said So

 

It’s a big government operation. After the catastrophic military failure on 911, the response was big DOD budgets and a US Dept. of Defense that continues a decades-long tradition of not being able to stay out of or win undeclared wars in distant lands. A military jet flyover at the opening of the game is an annual reminder of all this.

911 was a reminder that bad people might try to come here and do bad things. DHS was created, and the old routine of going to have lunch in Canada with only your standard driver’s license was done away with.

Love to see newspeople interview the US Dept. of Homeland Security & ask:

Are passports/enhanced/REAL IDs effective in keeping cartel drugs out of the US?

Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009.

Today, a $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security fails to create any shortage of opioids in the Puget Sound area. A major show of force prior to and during the big game reminds the public of the impressive capabilities of this giant federal agency. Newspeople will avoid asking questions on Homeland Security funding and performance.

TV newspeople skip asking questions and play the role of federal public affairs staff instead:

The folks who can’t keep fentanyl trafficking cartels from moving product into various US communities are keeping the Super Bowl safe.

No Credible Threat

The War on Terror has prompted law enforcement authorities to calm the public by looking into the future and announcing that no credible threat exists.

Newspeople play along by not asking questions.

If the good guys can tell what the bad guys will do before they do it-surely, these powerful crime fighting tools will be used to shut down gang and cartel activity, heroin trafficking, bank robberies, mass casualty shootings, etc.

Life wasn’t meant to change after the big Saddam Hussein & Osama bin Laden takedowns.

Feb 8, 2023 Arizona Republic

DHS, FBI cite ‘no credible threats’ as law enforcement prepares for Super Bowl

“…more than 40 law enforcement agencies were involved in planning security efforts…”

Clear bags required…”

“Personnel with the department’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office have tested the air to make sure it is safe from biological or chemical threats.”

Crackdown on Fake Retail Products

“CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.”

Love to see newspeople ask:

How do you keep terrorists and their weapons out by checking retail items after they show up at retail locations inside the US?

Did the confiscated items make it through any port of entry?

As always, zero questions from newspeople. Last year:

Each year, at the Super Bowl, the US Dept. of Homeland Security promotes their own image Re: preventing criminal activity. Why do these impressive capabilities fail to keep meth and heroin trafficking cartels from moving product into the US?

Welcome Home Troops

Violent drug cartels, specifically the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel, are deliberately pushing deadly fentanyl into our communities…”

November 21, 2022 United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California

 

Love to see newspeople ask:

If special games require special security-what keeps regular games safe? Crowd size/capacity is similar at several stadiums.

Are fans less safe at regular games?

What prevents terror strikes at hundreds of events & locations unsupervised by federal authorities?

What stops terrorists from going 2 states over and driving a truck across the playground at a daycare center?

February 4, 2023 ABC 10

“…at least five times more highly trained K-9s will be in the area sniffing out safety threats during the Super Bowl and all the events surrounding it than normal.”

 

Jan 17, 2023 ABC15 Arizona

National Nuclear Security Administration conducting helicopter security checks ahead of Super Bowl

The Military Flyover

We are the very best at militarized pageantry for pro sports events.

In some cases, the flyover takes place at stadiums that are covered:

2022

Admittedly, the flyover was a bit tough as SoFi is a covered stadium so it wasn’t readily seen by the 70,000+ in attendance.”

Ongoing militarization of American culture:

2023

The Navy released digital trading cards Thursday for the 15 service members involved in the flyover.”

Where are the trading cards for currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians who have been associated with wars won by the US?

 

Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs staff as authorities prepare for the Super Bowl.

Sorry, no time for newspeople to ask:

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

Remember folks, the best beers may require the least advertising.

A man on the moon in 1969 was a proud American moment. Today, the country is starving for some sort of positive cause to get behind.

Elaborate, made for TV beer ads and a US Dept. of Defense that seems to specialize in undeclared/unwon wars will have to do.

Never Forget-

The US Armed Forces were irrelevant in defending American rights and freedoms, our physical security, & The Constitution on 911.

Ditto for all other federal agencies and departments.

A special marketing tribute to a catastrophic military failure:

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

Related:

Similar DOD role on 911?

Thank You For Our Freedom?

Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Schmoozy TV Freedom Nonsense – Leaving Afghanistan

Cultural Honesty

Sports Culture is Honest

Leaving Afghanistan – Lies About American Rights And Freedoms

Because We Said So

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

South entrance- Port Townsend Ship Canal

 

Massing US Border Patrol agents at the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca fails to keep fentanyl out of Clallam County.

Unlike many cities of its size, Port Angeles maintains a significant Homeland Security/CBP/Border Patrol presence.

Newspeople have a long history of not asking questions in this area. Our questions appear in bold type.

Does Port Angeles CBP provide an advantage in keeping drugs away from the Olympic Peninsula?

Jan 27, 2023 KONP FENTANYL NOW TOP DRUG IN CLALLAM COUNTY OVERDOSES

November 19, 2021 KONP CLALLAM TRACKING TO LARGEST YEARLY OVERDOSE DEATH RATE

Have opioid lawsuits played any role in improving the situation?

How do cartels react to opioid lawsuits?

Has a $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security created any shortage of opioids in the Puget Sound area?

Are newspeople forbidden to ask questions related to Homeland Security funding and performance?

 

Jan 21, 2023 Peninsula Daily News

Clallam County’s new sheriff calls for legislative changes

Fentanyl is an epidemic, King said.”

 

New Port Angeles USBP Station opened more than a decade ago. Has the new station been able to reduce access to illegal drugs on the Olympic Peninsula?

Newspeople remain silent.

If you run a government operation-these are the reporters you want to see on interview day:

What role do 1,200-horsepower Border Patrol Interceptor boats play in keeping fentanyl away from Port Angeles?

Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs personnel during Operation Macho Swagger-a ride-along to let us know what is being done to keep the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca safe from B.C. incursions.

Operation Macho Swagger & Port Angeles Heroin:

Fast boats put agents in close distance with ‘bad guys’ on the watery border

More here:

Operation Macho Swagger & Port Angeles Heroin

 

A Fake War on Terror?

Cartel traffickers are frequently successful at what they do. If terrorists were just as interested in entering the US- it appears that federal departments and agencies would have no way to stop them.

Think terrorists are smart enough to pose as drug traffickers- then cross into the US free of screening, scanning, pat downs, special IDs, inspection of personal items, etc.

Homeland Security Vote of Confidence:

Jan 7, 2023 USA Today

Most illicit fentanyl is mass-produced in “secret factories” in Mexico with chemicals obtained from China, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.”

 

Welcome Home Troops

Thanks for risking your ass in Iraq & Afghanistan-working to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.

Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

Port Angeles

Local people find drugs and report to local (not federal) law enforcement authorities. Federal employees create news story and say that federal agents used a K-9 to “seize” the drugs.

Question for CBP:

Why does the news story created by CBP not line up with local reports?

Question for mainstream newspeople:

If Port Angeles US Border Patrol agents used a K-9  to seize a significant amount of methamphetamine on April 11, why did federal agents not take over the investigation until May 3rd, three weeks later?

Mainstream newspeople remain silent.

May 3, 2021 Peninsula Daily News

Feds take over investigation after $7 million in drugs found

Federal authorities have taken over the investigation into the early April discovery of 400 pounds of methamphetamine and cocaine worth $7 million on a Joyce-area beach after no local-area connection with the drugs was established, according to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.”

News links and Sheriff’s Dept. Facebook post here:

Port Angeles Border Patrol – Investigation Stalled For 3 Weeks?

Original blog post:

Port Angeles Border Patrol Agents Seize Meth?

More here:

December 7, 2022 United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington

Two defendants appear on indictment connected to $7 million in drugs left on beach near Port Angeles, Washington in April 2021

More than 400 pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of fentanyl powder show up on a beach near Port Angeles. Local CBP fails to keep product from entering Clallam County. How did this meth and fentanyl enter the US?

Zero questions from newspeople.

“On April 7, 2021, beachcombers near Port Angeles reported a black duffel bag with drugs inside. The Clallam County Sheriff’s office took possession of the bag found to contain 2 pounds of fentanyl powder and nearly 60 pounds of methamphetamine. The fentanyl powder was originally believed to be cocaine. Just days later, on April 11, 2021, a different beach walker reported another find – seven more duffel bags containing 342 pounds of methamphetamine. The Sheriff’s Office estimated the street value of the drugs as nearly $7 million.”

 

Related:

2017

Coast Guard comes home to Heroin at Port Angeles

2015

Cutter Active Returns to Heroin Epidemic After Successful Narcotics Patrol

Press Release Style of News Reporting

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

South entrance- Port Townsend Ship Canal

 

When I was a kid, reality TV was The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.

The Night of the Squid:

Also, about this time in history: The first man on the Moon.

The beer ads were a little more robust, back before light beer became the popular thing.

We do not have regular TV at home. Today, the reality TV I see is only in brief ads that are delivered with internet streaming services. Seeing them makes me squirm.

I have often wondered if it just makes business sense to create a reality TV show by putting one together without real actors, real stories, writers, etc. It would cost less to hire people who showed up at their local mall in order to begin the process of trying out for the show?

TV newspeople are not on their way to ask:

When is the last time all of Penn Cove was safe for recreational shellfish harvest?

Daily Status Reports: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map

Background

Several Whidbey beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.

Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater. Not climate change.

Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.

View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.

 

Coupeville

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Away from the TV – Just north of Perego’s Lagoon.

Local area:

Two Bluff Trails

 

Think about American culture and sports. Americans know and care about the rules in sports. The rules are critical. Missed calls by NFL officials may be discussed for weeks on end. No such thing as: “We can’t comment on an ongoing investigation.” Instant replay is for all to see. Sports writers are OK with being critical of coaches, teams, players, the rule book, the league, referees, team owners, when the season starts and ends, etc.

Away from sports, certain stories appear to be off limits to people who work for newspapers and TV news networks. Are these people given permission to go out and to do interviews related to public policy? If elected officials and people who run government agencies are not available to be interviewed, that should become the story.

Newspeople avoid reporting/asking questions on:

Wasteful and ineffective US Dept. of Homeland Security spending.

Wasteful and ineffective US Dept. of Defense Spending.

$51.6 billion (every 12 months) Homeland Security Vote of confidence:

Drugs come from all over, Canfield said. Seattle, Tri-Cities, Spokane, through northern counties, from Canada and elsewhere. Interstate 90, state Route 17 and U.S. Route 2 all cut through the center of the state, Grant County, making it a hotspot for drug trafficking.”

In the news:

January 14, 2023 For The Win

How the Seattle Seahawks making the playoffs led to the NFL’s latest officiating controversy, explained

“After multiple controversial officiating decisions in Sunday’s playoff-shaping game between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, multiple executives and coaches said the NFL needs to reevaluate how it chooses and trains its officiating staff for future seasons.”

Many comments here.

Sports

After each game, the press has access to coaches and players. All sorts of information is available all of the time.

In government, it is fully understood that people will not have access to complete information through everyday channels.

Ever hear of a Freedom of Information Act Request in sports? How about a denied FOIA request?

Ever see a pro football coach or quarterback refer reporters to his press secretary for answers? Presidents do so on a daily basis. Professionals are hired to provide only the desired version of answers to questions.

Ever see a pro football coach or quarterback refer reporters to a public information officer for answers to questions?

Homeland Security is a scam

Love to see sports writers report on Homeland Security funding and performance.

Regular newspeople appear to be forbidden to ask questions in this area.

Questions newspeople will not ask:

Have opioid lawsuits or a $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security created any shortage of cartel product anywhere in the US?

January 13, 2023 WSBTV

‘Operation Ghost Busted:’ 8 armed and dangerous suspects wanted for drug trafficking, FBI says

GWOT security protocols and big budgets are unable to keep large amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin and alprazolam from showing up in in Georgia.

It’s all reported as a big success by TV newspeople.

Question for newspeople:

Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?

Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?

Newspeople remain silent.

April 1, 2020 C-SPAN

Looks like cartels responded to the JCS Chairman by moving more product into Hometown, USA.

WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.

The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.

Both major parties and the press seem to be OK with undeclared/unwon wars.

Zero Questions from Newspeople

Federal DEA agents swing into action after federal US Dept. of Homeland Security agents fail to keep 3,552 pounds of methamphetamine and 66 kilograms of cocaine from moving past strict post 911/GWOT security protocols at border crossings and ports of entry, then showing up in Norco, California:

Oct 5, 2022 CBS LOS ANGELES

DEA agents make historic drug bust; seize 3,552 pounds of methamphetamine

United States Department Of Homeland Security Annual Budget

Every 12 months:

$51.672 billion (FY 2020)

If sending US troops to Afghanistan and creating a $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?

Source: DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program

“There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.”

Look for newspeople to ask zero questions in this area.

Port Angeles

Local people find drugs and report to local (not federal) law enforcement authorities. Federal employees create news story and say that federal agents used a K-9 to “seize” the drugs.

Question for CBP:

Why does the news story created by CBP not line up with local reports?

Mainstream newspeople remain silent.

News links and Sheriff’s Dept. Facebook post here:

Port Angeles Border Patrol – Investigation Stalled For 3 Weeks?

Original blog post:

Port Angeles Border Patrol Agents Seize Meth?

Love To See Sports Writers Report on DOD Funding and Performance

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

It feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Veterans Day Nonsense – 2022

 

Related-

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

Cultural Honesty

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Quality time at Point Partridge

Local walking ideas:

Two Bluff Trails

 

Years ago, it was understood that some people preferred to smoke. Some preferred to be vegan. Some preferred to eat meat. Some preferred electric cars, some preferred a powerful truck to pull a horse trailer.

A live and let live attitude seems to be fading. Governments at various levels are now in the habit of setting deadlines for new restrictions, bans and mandates.

Smoking bans, plastic bag bans, gun bans, federal toilet regulations, bottled water bans, mandates on what sort of vehicle you may drive.

All this, while we are told that US military operations in distant lands are somehow linked to American rights and freedoms.

One Size Fits All

Federal tax money:

December 8, 2022 The Daily World

Dept. of Ag invests $6.3M to purchase Ocean Shores hotel

$6.3 million “to fund the acquisition of an existing hotel. Marathon Enterprises Inc. is located in Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, Washington. The project is expected to result in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job.”

$6.3 million in federal cash for a used hotel results in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job? Seems like free enterprise might be better at moving things along Re: hotel properties.

Love to see newspeople ask: Is there any shortage of lodging facilities in this community?

Gas Cans

School children are taught about a free enterprise system. They grow up to find out that the federal government will tell them what kind of shower head they must install in the bathroom, and what type of gas can they must buy for their generator.

If The Troops defend our freedoms, should we ask the Joint Chiefs of Staff to bring back the Free Enterprise System?

0:20

Probably designed by some bureaucrat that never mowed a yard:

Cars

Gov. Inslee plans to ban gas-powered cars by 2035.

Your Toilet

The Energy Policy Act of 1992, which became law in 1994, mandates a maximum flush volume of 1.6 gallons for toilets manufactured and installed after this date.”

Your Shower Head

“In 1992, a federal mandate limited the amount of water that could flow from a replacement shower head to 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM). Some state and local governments mandate even lower GPM flow rates than the federal regulation.”

Your Light Bulbs

The Department of Energy has recently set new standards for light bulb manufacturers.”

Plastic Bags

Central authority hands down one size fits all rules for retailers and consumers: Allowed and banned bags

Download an accessible toolkit in one of 17 languages

Your Lawn Mower

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently updated its regulations for emissions from “small spark-ignition engines”—that is, your lawn mower or tractor and other outdoor power equipment.”

Heating Your Home

Washington State Ban on Natural Gas Heating

Central Control Of The Rental Property You Own

They are working on it:

“If approved, a new section would be added to state law that requires all rental housing units within the state to be registered with the Department of Commerce every two years when a tenant occupies it or it is made available for rent.”

“In addition, landlords must pay a registration fee of $70 to register a unit, plus a fee of $15 for each additional unit.”

“In addition, if a landlord does not register the property, they would not be able to legally evict a tenant from the rental.”

“The money raised by registration fees would be used to assist with programs that provide legal representation in evection cases, assist local government with inspections of rentals, or for administrative purposes only.”

Possibly related:

Both major political parties are now OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.

Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18?

Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.

Certainly, Americans do not live in a free and honest society.


Seems like most people carry a smart phone. These are always improving. They are extremely popular with consumers. An honest demand for products requires no helping hand from the government. No tax incentive, no public relations and promotional campaigns. Let’s go with the free enterprise system. Let’s go with industries that specialize in making people happy.

US federal government:

A man on the moon in 1969 was a proud American moment.

Since that time, both major parties have taken turns in power and have squandered credibility that would help in the current situation.

We were told we needed to send troops to Vietnam.

Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.

Some may have become skeptical along the way.

Some continue to ask questions:

An old favorite:

Unfortunately, the federal government often gets things wrong. Some may say they have an incentive to do so.

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

Response: Large DOD and Homeland Security budgets ever since.

It feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

 

KUOW Aug 10, 2017

A mere 17,000 years ago, a massive glacier the height of five Space Needles covered what is now Seattle and a large part of western Washington.”

Why did it change? Too much gas powered lawn equipment?

Local papers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.

Various newspapers in the Puget Sound area have gone with this trend.

Honest and meaningful ideas stand up to questioning and discussion.

Suppressing comments, getting away from asking questions related to public policy and telling us they need more support from subscription and advertising sales.

Got it.

Newspeople have moved away from asking basic public policy questions.

Our local TV news today is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.

Newspeople post this statement as is.

A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

 

Cliff Mass Weather Blog

Mar 16, 2023

Serious Climate Misinformation In Seattle Time Headline Article

 

Mar 03, 2022

Misinformation about Sea Level Rise

 

Dec 13, 2022

More Climate Misinformation and Factual Errors in the Seattle Times. Should You Care?

 

Dec 29, 2022

The Origin of Seattle and Tacoma Flooding This Week

 

Photo at top of page:

Occasionally looking for the Coupeville Ferry

Coupeville/Penn Cove is on the eastern shore of Whidbey Island-no ferry link to Port Townsend exists there.

Also Coupeville:

Love to see newspeople ask:

When is the last time all of Penn Cove was safe for recreational shellfish harvest?

Image above: 1/2/2023

Source/Daily Status Reports: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map

Click image once or twice to show detail.

Background

Several Whidbey beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.

Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater. Not climate change.

Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.

View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.

 

Coupeville

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

Americans do not live in a free and honest society.

In a free and honest society, newspeople would be asking questions related to public policy all of the time.

Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.

Has anyone ever seen the Puget Sound area press ask questions about Whidbey water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls?

Has anyone ever seen any government agency, elected official or volunteer organization seeking answers related to one or more sewage treatment plants sending unsafe product into the waters near Whidbey Island?

Distance learning idea:

Podcast 4 Another Month With An R – Whidbey Sewage Treatment Plant Outfalls

Whidbey Waters – Mixed Signals of Concern

 

Related:

A photo tour of Penn Cove here:

Wastewater Treatment Plant – Department of Ecology Award For Outstanding Performance

One Size Fits All Society

Goodbye Free Enterprise System

Cultural Honesty

Possibly of interest:

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

 

Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.

Are newspeople forbidden to ask questions related to Homeland Security funding and performance?

Did opioid lawsuits and a $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security reduce access to cartel product anywhere in the US?

Newspeople play along by not asking questions.

 

December  15, 2022 The News Tribune

100,000 fentanyl pills and meth seized in huge Eastern WA bust in Tri-Cities

Federal FBI agents swing into action after federal US Dept. of Homeland Security agents fail to keep more than 100,000 fentanyl-laced pills and more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine from moving past strict post 911/GWOT security protocols at border crossings and ports of entry, then showing up in Eastern WA:

“Four accused Tri-Cities drug traffickers were arrested this week in one of largest drug busts in Eastern Washington history.”

 

December 27, 2022 Peninsula Daily News

Man sentenced to 7 years for distributing drugs
Smith, 50, had prior arrests in Port Angeles in 2014 and 2021

“Preston Joseph Smith was arrested in December 2021 in Port Angeles on allegations he distributed pound quantities of illegal drugs, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

Question for newspeople:

Is Port Angeles CBP staffing and infrastructure at all relevant in keeping heroin and meth from entering the Puget Sound area?

Has Port Angeles CBP been able to intercept any inbound meth or heroin?

Even one time?

Newspeople remain silent.

 

Question for newspeople:

Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?

Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?

Newspeople remain silent.

April 1, 2020 C-SPAN

WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.

The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.

Both major parties and the press seem to be OK with undeclared/unwon wars.

 

December 22, 2022 Daily World

Schools ramping up opioid preparedness

Grays Harbor schools carrying anti-overdose medication and training staff to use it

“Several school districts in Grays Harbor County have been stocking school buildings with naloxone, an opioid overdose-reversal drug, in an effort to protect students during a national opioid epidemic and an increasing prevalence of opioids in the Harbor.”

Opioid-related death rates nearly doubled from 2019 to 2021 and are high in rural counties such as Grays Harbor, according to the University of Washington’s Addiction Drug and Alcohol institute.”

Welcome Home Troops

Thanks for risking your ass in Iraq & Afghanistan-working to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.

Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:

 

Homeland Security is a scam

Federal DEA agents swing into action after federal US Dept. of Homeland Security agents fail to keep 3,552 pounds of methamphetamine and 66 kilograms of cocaine from moving past strict post 911/GWOT security protocols at border crossings and ports of entry, then showing up in Norco, California:

Oct 5, 2022 CBS LOS ANGELES

DEA agents make historic drug bust; seize 3,552 pounds of methamphetamine

 

United States Department Of Homeland Security Annual Budget

Every 12 months:

$51.672 billion (FY 2020)

 

If sending US troops to Afghanistan and creating a $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?

Source: DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program

“There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.”

Look for newspeople to ask zero questions in this area.

 

Port Angeles

Local people find drugs and report to local (not federal) law enforcement authorities. Federal employees create news story and say that federal agents used a K-9 to “seize” the drugs.

Question for CBP:

Why does the news story created by CBP not line up with local reports?

Mainstream newspeople remain silent.

News links and Sheriff’s Dept. Facebook post here:

Port Angeles Border Patrol – Investigation Stalled For 3 Weeks?

Original blog post:

Port Angeles Border Patrol Agents Seize Meth?

 

Related-

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

Possibly of interest-

Cultural Honesty

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

A symbol of newspeople not asking questions and a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.

Newspeople post this statement as is.

A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

 

Hotel Properties

December 8, 2022 The Daily World

Dept. of Ag invests $6.3M to purchase Ocean Shores hotel

$6.3 million “to fund the acquisition of an existing hotel. Marathon Enterprises Inc. is located in Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, Washington. The project is expected to result in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job.”

$6.3 million in federal cash for a used hotel results in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job? Seems like free enterprise might be better at moving things along Re: hotel properties.

Love to see newspeople ask: Is there any shortage of lodging facilities in this community?

A better idea for local federal funding:

Quinault Marina & RV Resort

Get the ferry to Westport going again:

“Sadly, the ferry service shut down in 2008, but not due to lack of popularity. While the ferry service had seen closures in previous years, the service would always pick back up and be celebrated by residents and visitors alike. Sadly, after too much sand and silt built up around the Ocean Shores marina, the El Matador was forced to cancel trips across the harbor. What was once a family-friendly boating experience and adventure across the harbor is now relegated to fond memories.”

Rehab of the marina would attract sport fishermen for launching and mooring of boats. Set up a place for fish and chips, a pub with a view, bait and tackle/boating store, a cocktail lounge, restaurant, etc. Use some imagination and get it going.

Work on access to the beach at Damon Point too.

Gas Cans

School children are taught about a free enterprise system. They grow up to find out that the federal government will tell them what kind of shower head they must install in the bathroom, and what type of gas can they must buy for their generator.

If The Troops defend our freedoms, should we ask the Joint Chiefs of Staff to bring back the Free Enterprise System?

0:20

Probably designed by some bureaucrat that never mowed a yard:

Cars

Gov. Inslee plans to ban gas-powered cars by 2035.

Your Toilet

The Energy Policy Act of 1992, which became law in 1994, mandates a maximum flush volume of 1.6 gallons for toilets manufactured and installed after this date.”

Your Shower Head

“In 1992, a federal mandate limited the amount of water that could flow from a replacement shower head to 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM). Some state and local governments mandate even lower GPM flow rates than the federal regulation.”

Your Light Bulbs

The Department of Energy has recently set new standards for light bulb manufacturers.”

Plastic Bags

Central authority hands down one size fits all rules for retailers and consumers: Allowed and banned bags

Download an accessible toolkit in one of 17 languages

Your Lawn Mower

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently updated its regulations for emissions from “small spark-ignition engines”—that is, your lawn mower or tractor and other outdoor power equipment.”

Your Gasoline

New clean fuels standard in WA: “The program requires fuel suppliers to gradually reduce the amount of carbon emissions in their transportation fuels to 20% below 2017 levels over the next 15 years.”

Heating Your Home

Washington State Ban on Natural Gas Heating

Central Control Of The Rental Property You Own 

They are working on it:

“If approved, a new section would be added to state law that requires all rental housing units within the state to be registered with the Department of Commerce every two years when a tenant occupies it or it is made available for rent.”

“In addition, landlords must pay a registration fee of $70 to register a unit, plus a fee of $15 for each additional unit.”

“In addition, if a landlord does not register the property, they would not be able to legally evict a tenant from the rental.”

“The money raised by registration fees would be used to assist with programs that provide legal representation in evection cases, assist local government with inspections of rentals, or for administrative purposes only.”

Firearms

“Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson will request legislation for a statewide ban on the purchase or transfer of assault-style semiautomatic rifles as part of the latest push by firearms-safety advocates.”

Possibly related:

Both major political parties are now OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.

Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18?

Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.

Certainly, Americans do not live in a free and honest society.


Is the list of things government is not good at bigger than a list of the things government does well?

List of Things the Government is Good At – TV News Avoids Asking Questions

Closed – WA Interstate 5 Rest Areas

More here:

Cultural Honesty

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Okinawa 1980 – The Christmas Tree Story

 

December 7, 2022 Crosscut

Yet again, turnout was lowest among WA’s young voters. Why?
Less than 40% of people aged 18-24 voted in the 2022 midterm election. Some say it’s because of disempowerment rather than apathy.

 

Elementary School Teachers

Some families avoid discussing politics.

What about school teachers? Do they have a part in teaching students about government structure and the honest role of the US Armed Forces?

Each November, school teachers across America host Veterans Day assemblies– and promote the idea to children that The Troops are in distant lands-fighting for American rights and freedoms-as if the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization.

In Washington State, these assemblies are mandatory.

The VA tells teachers that The Troops are Defending Liberty and Freedom.

 

Possible reasons for low turnout:

Elementary students grow up and enter the adult world to find out that both major political parties are now OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.

Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18?

Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.

Certainly, Americans do not live in a free and honest society.

Growing up in the 60s & 70s- veterans were all around- church, school, Boy Scout leaders, family, the neighborhood, etc. It was all just an average thing. These folks weren’t seen as a separate part of American society.

People weren’t stepping over to say “Thanks for your service” to my Dad- who did time in the Navy in the 50s- but looked just like anyone else out in public.

These guys weren’t lining up for free dinner promotions marketed by major restaurant chains.

They weren’t looking for head of the line parking spots over at the grocery store.

In the 60s & 70s I never attended a Veterans Day assembly at school.

There were none.

Probably enough veterans around to remove most of the mystique, or maybe those veterans thought it was all just an average thing and did not want to be seen as a separate part of American society, or get priority parking spots over at the grocery store.

Love to see a student ask: If The Troops fight for your right to sit, stand, kneel, etc.-why were black people still riding at the back of the bus after the big WWII victory?

Love to see a student ask: If the wars aren’t won-how can they protect our freedom?

Love to see a student ask: Whatever happened to lessons about Armistice Day?

Hey school teachers,

Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?

This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.

Not here to say that most of what the Dept. of Defense touches turns to crap, but, if DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

Related: A Formal Congressional Declaration of War

 

It feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Top generals and politicians have a recruiting crisis on their hands. They will blame young people who are overweight. They will not blame a DOD brand that is known for decades of undeclared/unwon wars.

When do we get to vote our way out of undeclared/unwon wars?

 

Marketing Partnership Update

We are the very best at militarized pageantry for pro sports events.

TV newspeople perform like paid actors reading a script.

Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs staff as authorities prepare for the Super Bowl.

Sorry, no time for newspeople to ask:

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

 

More here:

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Veterans Day Nonsense – 2022

Cultural Honesty

Leaving Afghanistan – Lies About American Rights And Freedoms

Because We Said So

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

Welcome Home Troops

2022 – Armed Forces Recruiting Culture

 

Love to see newspeople ask:

When is the last time all of Penn Cove was safe for recreational shellfish harvest?

Image above: 11/23/2022

Source/Daily Status Reports: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map

Click image once or twice to show detail.

 

More monitoring:

King County already monitors Penn Cove water; Vracin said personnel from the county come in every two weeks by boat to collect samples.”

November 22, 2022 Whidbey News-Times

King County keeps eye on Penn Cove

The Port of Coupeville will partner with King County to monitor the water quality in Penn Cove.

“We try to support anybody and everybody that is an official organization that is there to help protect our environment and study the health of Penn Cove,” he said. “When they reached out for this project, we were very excited to support them.”

“The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks will install solar-powered sensors on the Coupeville Wharf and at other locations in Penn Cove to collect data on the water’s temperature, salinity, pH, oxygen saturation, chlorophyll levels and more.”

“Equipment will likely be installed within the next three months, according to wharf manager Danielle Vracin. King County already monitors Penn Cove water; Vracin said personnel from the county come in every two weeks by boat to collect samples. The new equipment the county is installing will automatically collect data every 15 minutes and transmit it to a website where scientists and members of the public can see it in real time.”

Not seeing any concerns here Re:

Coupeville

Clam, mussel, and oyster seasons CLOSED for harvest year-round.
Washington Department of Health (DOH) cautions that clams, oysters, and mussels from this beach are not fit for human consumption at any time.

Water Quality Comment: This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.
Updated: Wed, 23 Nov 2022 03:00:52 PDT

Source: WDFW

 

Background

Several Whidbey beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.

Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater. Not climate change.

Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.

View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.

 

Americans do not live in a free and honest society.

In a free and honest society, newspeople would be asking questions related to public policy all of the time.

Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.

Has anyone ever seen the Puget Sound area press ask questions about Whidbey water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls?

Has anyone ever seen any government agency, elected official or volunteer organization seeking answers related to one or more sewage treatment plants sending unsafe product into the waters near Whidbey Island?

A photo tour of Penn Cove here:

Wastewater Treatment Plant – Department of Ecology Award For Outstanding Performance

 

Coupeville

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

Oak Harbor

Oak Harbor City Park

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“Washington Department of Health (DOH) cautions that clams, oysters, and mussels from this beach are not fit for human consumption at any time.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

Distance learning idea:

Podcast 4 Another Month With An R – Whidbey Sewage Treatment Plant Outfalls

Whidbey Waters – Mixed Signals of Concern

 

March 13, 2020 Whidbey News-Times

4th grade students publish book on Salish Sea

“Invisible Pollution in the Salish Sea”

School teachers,

Are you teaching your students to look for green colors on the Recreational Shellfish Safety Map?

 

Jan 22, 2021 Whidbey News-Times

Town mayor updates residents with annual address

This coming year is all about stormwater,” Hughes said.

“A big rainstorm in February 2020 sent “hundreds of gallons” of water rushing through the sewer plant.”

“The mayor shared that the wastewater treatment plant operators received an award from the Department of Ecology for outstanding performance.”

We always want to do as much as we can to protect the Cove,” Hughes said.

Love to see newspeople report/ask questions on how/why stormwater is routed to the facility that treats water from toilet flushing?

In both Anacortes and Oak Harbor, we are told that stormwater is separate from what is treated at the plant:

Anacortes – Stormwater is Rainwater

“Storm drains discharge directly into the surrounding waters, they do not lead to the wastewater treatment plant.”

Oak Harbor, WA

Storm Drain

This “surface” water is separate from that which enters the sanitary sewer and is treated by the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.”

 

Related:

Politicians, Puget Sound Press, and Earth Day

Saratoga Passage Marine Stewardship Area – Any News Coverage?

Awards Have Been Awarded

Love To See Newspeople Ask:

Stormwater, Untreated Sewage and Puget Sound

Local Waters

Earth Day Progress Report

Local Waters And The Puget Sound Area Press

High Quality Water For Puget Sound? – Recreational Shellfish Harvesting CLOSED Year-Round

Signs

“…talking to officials at the Town of Coupeville…”

Whidbey Signs of Water Quality

When Things Get Back To Normal

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

 

Trying to make sense of ongoing war on terror/security theater mixed messages. Love to see more in the way of newspeople asking questions.

Looks like no security staff present at:

Mukilteo or Clinton for inbound/outbound DUI driver. Two fatalities.

Gunfire on Bremerton ferry during Puget Sound crossing.

Security breach on the Bremerton ferry

FatalityGuemes ferry dock

Winslow ferry dock – Belligerent motorist blows past toll booth and onto ferry.

Credit to the press for asking questions on the Winslow incident. Excellent reporting here.

FatalitySouthworth ferry dock

FatalityAnacortes ferry dock

 

November 18, 2022 Whidbey News-Times

Lawsuit: Ferry staff could have prevented crash that killed 2 from Everett

“On Dec. 18, 2021, Cruz was driving her Ford Explorer toward the Mukilteo ferry terminal, according to court papers. Witnesses reported she drove erratically, as she stopped at a green light, swerved across lanes and drove over a curb.

Once she got a ferry ticket to Clinton, she rear-ended another car in her ferry lane, police reported.

State ferries employees saw the crash, but still ordered Cruz to get on the ferry to Whidbey Island despite her appearing “obviously impaired,” the lawsuit states.

Passengers behind Cruz reported the crash and Cruz’s impairment to ferry staff who called the command center on the island to see if a Washington State Patrol trooper could meet the vessel. But none were available. They made no effort to contact local police as an alternative, according to the complaint. A crewmember told the passengers to call 911.

When the ferry arrived in Clinton, everyone got off the ship, except Cruz. She had reportedly fallen asleep over her steering wheel.

Ferry staff tried to rouse her, but were unsuccessful. Finally, with the help of more employees, they were able to wake Cruz up. The lawsuit alleges the state Department of Transportation destroyed surveillance video showing this.

“At this point, WSF staff had already observed Cruz strike another vehicle in the ferry lineup, they had received passenger reports of Cruz’s intoxication, they called to request assistance from Washington State Patrol, they required the assistance of multiple crewmembers to wake her up from her unconscious state,” the lawsuit reads. “Despite being informed that Cruz was impaired, the Vessel’s crew directed Cruz to drive her vehicle off the ferry.”

Moments later, around 1 p.m., Cruz crossed over the center line on Highway 525 near Campbell Road, hitting the Mercedes occupied by Gamble, 77, and Weikle, 78. Gamble died at the scene. Almost two weeks later, Weikle died from his injuries. They were both from Everett.”

No security staff present at Mukilteo?

No security staff present at Clinton?

Washington State ferry passengers are advised via PA system not to leave backpacks or packages unattended during ferry crossings.

Meanwhile-on the car deck-cars, trucks, vans, commercial vehicles, etc. are left unattended during ferry crossings.

I have made dozens of round trip ferry crossings over the past 20 years. In many cases, there has been no security screening at either terminal.

On occasion, the press will do a story about a ferry security drill.

If the Oklahoma City bomber rolls onto the ferry-how does the SWAT team help out an hour later?

 

Past Incidents

Gunfire on the Bremerton ferry:

WA voters approved enhanced background checks back in 2014:

Washington Universal Background Checks for Gun Purchases, Initiative 594 (2014)

“Furthermore, the initiative rendered it illegal to hand off a firearm to people outside a person’s immediate family, though exceptions were mentioned, including situations in which people are at a shooting range or hunting.”

 

January 27, 2020 Kitsap News Group

Man arrested after allegedly firing gun from ferry

“…WSP Vessel and Terminal Security Troopers responded to the MV Kaleetan upon its arrival at Colman Dock. By that time, WSF crews had already secured the suspect, who had boarded the vessel by vehicle.”

WSF Bremerton to Seattle crossing time: ~ 60 min

Not my idea to promote the concept that riding safely on the ferry requires gun boat escorts, SWAT teams and K-9s on the job to detect explosives.

If a guy decides to fire a gun during a 60 minute ferry crossing and WSP waits to respond until the ferry arrives at Colman Dock, how is this security?

Will newspeople follow up and let us know if the guy who purposefully fired his handgun from the ferry had a concealed carry permit?

Did he pass any sort of background check?

A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

 

Security breach on the Bremerton Ferry

August 21, 2019 Kitsap Sun

Man charged with security breach on ferry Walla Walla

“…jumped over a barrier on the ferry Walla Walla and tried to access the wheelhouse during a sailing Monday afternoon from Seattle.”

“A Washington State Patrol trooper called to the Bremerton ferry terminal at 2:06 p.m. wrote in reports that Miller appeared to be under the influence of a stimulant or was in mental crisis, according to court documents. The incident occurred on the 1:30 p.m. sailing.”

“Trooper Kevin Fortino, spokesman for the State Patrol’s Homeland Security Division, said troopers respond to calls on ferries and at terminals for impaired drivers, assaults and other incidents the same as they would to incidents occurring on highways.”

Same as on highways?

Well, not exactly. The Seattle to Bremerton crossing time is about an hour. Seems like response times to incidents on highways might be faster.

Instead of asking any questions, newspeople post a press release from agencies handling the situation.

 

This state-run media video shows US Coast Guard gun boats escorting the ferries. K-9 teams are on site to detect explosives:

 

Fatality – Guemes ferry dock

June, 2006-

Security nowhere to be found.

 

Winslow ferry dock

Belligerent motorist blows past toll booth and onto ferry:

Ferry incident exposes security weaknesses

Credit to the press for asking questions on this one. No need for this blog if the press handled each incident as they did here.

 

Fatality – Southworth ferry dock

Where were security personnel on the day this motorist blew past the ticket booth, ignoring personnel assigned to proper staging of vehicles:

Video: Man dies after SUV crashes through gate at Southworth ferry dock, sinks in Sound

Post-911 security protocols kept him safe.

 

A state-run media report from June, 2012-

This video tells us that security personal are on site every day-at 2:56

Maybe security personnel are present at some specific terminal each day. Dozens of round trip crossings from various terminals indicate that in many cases-no security screening takes place prior to boarding ferries.

 

Fatality – Anacortes ferry dock

Where were security personnel when this fatality motor vehicle incident took place at the Anacortes ferry terminal?

Newspeople remain silent.

2018- Anacortes in the News: 1 dead after SUV plunges into water at Anacortes ferry dock

What is the point in having gunboats escorting ferries if terrorists are free to put their boat on a trailer and drive it onto the ferry?

What is the point in having gunboats escorting ferries if Joe Sixpack decides to take a gun and fire it into Puget Sound during a ~ 60 min crossing?

 

Puget Sound Ferry Ride

GWOT/security theater mixed messages:

Does a routine ferry ride require a gunboat escort?

Dec 22, 2014 Defense Visual Information Distribution Service

Coast Guard Station Seattle conducts ferry escort

Why, if there is a threat, would regular people not be able to purchase a more than 10 round magazine?

Love to see more in the way of newspeople asking questions.

 

More here:

Washington State Ferry Ride

Washington State Ferries Security

Jan, 2015-

No security personnel here, here, or here.

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

 

 

 

 

Photo- Keystone ferry inbound

Coupeville/Penn Cove is on the eastern shore of Whidbey Island-no ferry link to Port Townsend exists there.

 

Before declaring a pandemic amnesty, we need a pandemic mea culpa
by Jeff Jacoby
The Boston Globe
November 20, 2022

“Those who messed up must reckon with how they went wrong. Politicians and public health authorities whose decisions caused serious harm need to acknowledge what happened.”

Not likely. Americans live in a weak minded culture.

 

News Industry

TV news today is like watching paid actors performing on stage. High level government officials are just as likely to get promoted and awarded a bigger budget than to get fired when things go wrong.

A man on the moon in 1969 was a proud American moment.

Since that time, both major parties have taken turns in power and have squandered credibility that would help in the current situation.

We were told we needed to send troops to Vietnam.

Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.

Newspeople play along by not asking questions.

 

US Dept. of Defense

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

The US Armed Forces have attracted many good people over the years.

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

It feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

Related:

Veterans Day Nonsense – 2022

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Cultural Honesty

Welcome Home Troops

 

Homeland Security is a scam

Federal DEA agents swing into action after federal US Dept. of Homeland Security agents fail to keep 3,552 pounds of methamphetamine and 66 kilograms of cocaine from moving past strict post 911/GWOT security protocols at border crossings and ports of entry, then showing up in Norco, California:

Oct 5, 2022 CBS LOS ANGELES

DEA agents make historic drug bust; seize 3,552 pounds of methamphetamine

 

United States Department Of Homeland Security Annual Budget

Every 12 months:

$51.672 billion (FY 2020)

 

Welcome Home Troops

Thanks for risking your ass in Iraq & Afghanistan-working to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.

Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:

Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?

Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?

Newspeople remain silent.

April 1, 2020 C-SPAN

WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.

The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.

Both major parties and the press appear to be OK with undeclared/unwon wars.

 

Love to see newspeople interview the US Dept. of Homeland Security & ask:

Are passports/enhanced/REAL IDs effective in keeping cartel drugs out of the US?

Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009.

 

If sending US troops to Afghanistan and creating a $49.8 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?

Source: DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program

“There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.”

Look for newspeople to ask zero questions in this area.

 

Port Angeles

Local people find drugs and report to local (not federal) law enforcement authorities. Federal employees create news story and say that federal agents used a K-9 to “seize” the drugs.

Question for CBP:

Why does the news story created by CBP not line up with local reports?

Mainstream newspeople remain silent.

News links and Sheriff’s Dept. Facebook post here:

Port Angeles Border Patrol – Investigation Stalled For 3 Weeks?

Original blog post:

Port Angeles Border Patrol Agents Seize Meth?

 

Ongoing Lies About Freedom

July 27, 2022 – Whidbey News-Times

Sound Off: Navy base is an asset to Whidbey community

By BOB SEVERNS

I’ll never forget how appreciative I was of our military readiness and strength when our country was attacked, on our soil, on Sept. 11, 2001.”

Mayor Severns,

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

“Almost 21 years later, NASWI remains strong and continues to practice flying aircraft in preparation to safeguard our freedom. But the heroes at NASWI in Oak Harbor provide much more than just defending us and our freedom.”

Mayor Severns,

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, federal toilet regulations, sports betting, federal gas can regulations/free enterprise system, voting rights, bump stock baninterracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, open container laws, etc.

American freedoms come and go. None of the above are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.

 

Another Mayor in another town:

May 28, 2020 WMAR

Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard

I am honored to do my part to ensure that the citizens of this community and all Americans remain safe and free.”

Several news sources published this quote. View them here.

The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion. Don’t look for any of this discussion to be prompted by newspeople showing initiative or curiosity in asking questions. 

Mayor Day,

While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.

Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?

December 21st 2019 KOMO News

Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide

“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”

 

 

 

 

 

Photo at top of page-

A symbol of newspeople failing to ask questions

JFK speaks about the role of the press in a free society:

 


24:25

Dave explains distrust of voting machine protocols:

Political parties and personalities are not as interesting as what stays the same no matter who is elected to office.

Both major parties are good with:

Wasteful and ineffective US Dept. of Homeland Security spending.

Undeclared/unwon wars.

Treating 18-20 year old adults as second class citizens.

Glorification of military service.

Federal prohibition of marijuana.

Get ready to be told that The Troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, federal toilet regulations, sports betting, federal gas can regulations/free enterprise system,
voting rights, bump stock baninterracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, open container laws, etc.

Freedoms come and go. None of the above are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.

Why do we speak of the US Armed Forces as if they function as some sort of giant civil rights organization?

In addition to freedoms possibly enjoyed by all adults, those who are 18-20 years old are placed in a land of the free holding pattern.

Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18?

Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.

While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.

December 21st 2019 KOMO News

Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide

“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”

Both major political parties are OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

When the US Armed Forces are sent to Lebanon, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Vietnam, etc.-how is that defending the US Constitution-or our rights and freedoms, or our physical security?

Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.

 

Related:

The US Armed Forces – A Giant Civil Rights Organization?

Americans have a much more honest relationship with sports teams than they do with the US Armed Forces

Welcome Home Troops

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Cultural Honesty

Bad Habits

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

A symbol of TV newspeople not asking questions.

The family friendly, hometown pride-oriented local small town papers and TV news folks not only shy away from asking questions, they promote urban legends about freedom.

“For the past couple of years, the Whidbey News-Times paid the insurance for the Veterans Day Parade, about $200, because it was a small way of saying thank you to the men and women who sacrificed so that we may have our liberties, including our Freedom of Speech.”

Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?

Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?

Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?

 

Americans do not live in a free and honest society.

 

Uvalde School Shooting – Months Later

Sports culture is more open and honest. A bad call from the ref will be seen and reviewed instantly.

October 22, 2022 – ABC 7 Chicago

State trooper who responded to Uvalde school shooting fired amid investigations into police response

“…more than 300 officers from agencies across the state waited more than an hour to breach a door and kill the shooter.”

According to law enforcement doctrine, active shootings require that the first action by officers, no matter their rank, should be to immediately “stop the killing.”

“State troopers outnumbered local law enforcement 2 to 1 outside Robb Elementary, but in the aftermath of the massacre, DPS officials carefully shaped the narrative to cast local authorities as incompetent.”

October 27, 2022 – KABB San Antonio

EXCLUSIVE: New body camera video from Uvalde school tragedy

 

Related:

More Information Is Better – The NFL Knows This

58 magazines and 1,657 rounds of ammunition

 

Ongoing Breakdown of Society – Possibly of interest:

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Cultural Honesty

Bad Habits

 

Photo at top of page:

Platoon 3049, MCRD San Diego

Jun-Sep 1979

On the day this photo was taken, all 50 states were free to set their own minimum drinking age.

Both major political parties are now OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.

Now in my early 60s, I am frequently asked for ID to show that I am 21 when buying beer at major retail establishments here in WA.

Meanwhile, drug trafficking cartels move product into all 50 states. Cartel drug busts that happen in Hometown, USA involve drugs that were not stopped at the border.

 

Homeland Security is a scam

Federal DEA agents swing into action after federal US Dept. of Homeland Security agents fail to keep 3,552 pounds of methamphetamine and 66 kilograms of cocaine from moving past strict post 911/GWOT security protocols at border crossings and ports of entry, then showing up in Norco, California:

Oct 5, 2022 CBS LOS ANGELES

DEA agents make historic drug bust; seize 3,552 pounds of methamphetamine

 

United States Department Of Homeland Security Annual Budget

Every 12 months:

$51.672 billion (FY 2020)

 

Welcome Home Troops

Thanks for risking your ass in Iraq & Afghanistan-working to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.

Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:

Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?

Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?

Newspeople remain silent.

April 1, 2020 C-SPAN

WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.

The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.

Both major parties and the press appear to be OK with undeclared/unwon wars.

It feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

Love to see newspeople interview the US Dept. of Homeland Security & ask:

Are passports/enhanced/REAL IDs effective in keeping cartel drugs out of the US?

Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009.

 

If sending US troops to Afghanistan and creating a $49.8 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?

Source: DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program

“There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.”

Look for newspeople to ask zero questions in this area.

 

Port Angeles

Local people find drugs and report to local (not federal) law enforcement authorities. Federal employees create news story and say that federal agents used a K-9 to “seize” the drugs.

Question for CBP:

Why does the news story created by CBP not line up with local reports?

Mainstream newspeople remain silent.

News links and Sheriff’s Dept. Facebook post here:

Port Angeles Border Patrol – Investigation Stalled For 3 Weeks?

Original blog post:

Port Angeles Border Patrol Agents Seize Meth?

 

Small Military Town – Please Be Honest

My take:

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

 

July 27, 2022 – Whidbey News-Times

Sound Off: Navy base is an asset to Whidbey community

By BOB SEVERNS

I’ll never forget how appreciative I was of our military readiness and strength when our country was attacked, on our soil, on Sept. 11, 2001.”

Mayor Severns,

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

“Almost 21 years later, NASWI remains strong and continues to practice flying aircraft in preparation to safeguard our freedom. But the heroes at NASWI in Oak Harbor provide much more than just defending us and our freedom.”

Mayor Severns,

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, federal toilet regulations, sports betting, federal gas can regulations/free enterprise system, voting rights, bump stock baninterracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, open container laws, etc.

American freedoms come and go. None of the above are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.

 

Another Mayor in another town:

May 28, 2020 WMAR

Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard

I am honored to do my part to ensure that the citizens of this community and all Americans remain safe and free.”

Several news sources published this quote. View them here.

The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion. Don’t look for any of this discussion to be prompted by newspeople showing initiative or curiosity in asking questions. 

Mayor Day,

While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.

Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?

December 21st 2019 KOMO News

Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide

“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”

 

Americans do not live in a free and honest society.

School children are taught about a free enterprise system. They grow up to find out that the federal government will tell them what kind of shower head they must install in the bathroom, and what type of gas can they must buy for their generator.

American culture is good with lies about freedoms.

Americans are told that US troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, federal toilet regulations, sports betting, federal gas can regulations/free enterprise system,
voting rights, bump stock baninterracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, open container laws, etc.

Freedoms come and go. None of the above are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.

In addition to freedoms possibly enjoyed by all adults, those who are 18-20 years old are placed in a land of the free holding pattern.

Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18?

Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.

While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.

December 21st 2019 KOMO News

Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide

“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”

Both major political parties are OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.


Don’t look for newspeople to question any of this.

 

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

It feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

National Guard

The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.

A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.

In recent years, the National Guard has been sent to Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.

Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

The Fake War On Terror

A weak-minded culture avoids asking questions.

Americans were told that they faced a life and death situation after 911. If certain actions were not taken, terrorists could come to America to disrupt our way of life and attempt another 911.

Hey newspeople, if all this was a life and death situation that required sending the troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, wouldn’t it be important to ask a few public policy questions about what was going on?

American Rights and Freedoms?

Love to see the press, school teachers, sports announcers and politicians come clean on how any of this was linked to American rights and freedoms or defending the constitution.

Several federal holidays feature a theme related to the idea that the troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.

Leaving Afghanistan – Lies About American Rights And Freedoms

Because We Said So

 

REAL ID

If REAL ID is critical to the safety of America, have travelers out at the airport been less safe since 911?

The new REAL ID requirement for domestic air travel has now been extended out more than 20 years past 911.

REAL ID & Drug Cartels

Love to see newspeople interview the US Dept. of Homeland Security & ask:

Are passports/enhanced/REAL IDs effective in keeping cartel drugs out of the US?

Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009.

Strict Post 911/Global War on Terror Security Protocols No Match For Cartels

If sending US troops to Afghanistan and creating a $49.8 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?

Source: DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program

“There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.”

Look for newspeople to ask zero questions in this area.

DEA’s drug threat report: Mexican cartel flooding Northwest with fentanyl

Source: March 2, 2021 KTVZ

 

July 8, 2021 The Chronicle

‘Every Day Is a Struggle’: Coeur d’Alene Family Struggles With Loss After Teenage Son Falls Victim to Surge in Fentanyl Overdoses

The problem isn’t just in Eastern Washington, but North Idaho. Notably, Kootenai County was added to the Idaho/Oregon High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area last year by the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, allowing the region to receive grants focused on helping law enforcement agencies coordinate and share information.”

Would the DEA be out of work if a $49.8 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was able to keep cartel product from showing up in all 50 states?

DEA/Homeland Security Wasteful Spending Partnership – Newspeople Remain Silent

 

Welcome Home Troops

Thanks for risking your ass in Iraq & Afghanistan-working to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.

Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:

Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?

Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?

Newspeople remain silent.

April 1, 2020 C-SPAN

WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.

The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.

Both major parties and the press appear to be OK with undeclared/unwon wars.

 

Port Angeles

Local people find drugs and report to local (not federal) law enforcement authorities. Federal employees create news story and say that federal agents used a K-9 to “seize” the drugs.

Question for CBP:

Why does the news story created by CBP not line up with local reports?

Mainstream newspeople remain silent.

News links and Sheriff’s Dept. Facebook post here:

Port Angeles Border Patrol – Investigation Stalled For 3 Weeks?

Original blog post:

Port Angeles Border Patrol Agents Seize Meth?

 

Show up early to wait in line and squeeze the toothpaste out of the tube at the airport?

May 5, 2021 KOMO News

Wash. lab develops scanner that may eliminate need to remove shoes at airport

“This new technology could speed up the screening process by about 20% and eliminate the hassle of taking off shoes and putting them back on, researchers say.”

What keeps the terrorists of the GWOT from creating a disruption at the back end of the screening line?

Has anyone ever seen any member of the press ask questions on this?

 

If the CIA (est 1947) serves as an advantage to the US, why does the Department of Defense have such a poor record of winning undeclared wars going back to 1949, the year DOD was established?

 

Puget Sound Ferry Ride

If the Oklahoma City bomber rolls onto the ferry- how does the SWAT team help out an hour later?

Maybe security personnel are present at some specific terminals each day. Over the past 20 years, dozens of round trip crossings from various terminals indicate that in many cases- no security screening takes place prior to boarding ferries.

Washington State Ferry Ride

Washington State Ferries Security – Looking for Clarification

 

In 1999, I finished my time in the USMC with a solid attitude and a patriotic spirit.

Sports is a much more honest part of American culture.

After each game, the press has access to coaches and players. All sorts of information is available all of the time. No FOIA request required to find out what is going on.

Coaches get fired for months of poor play. Newspeople and politicians are more about information suppression and not asking questions.

Reporters are free to ask hard questions and write stories about teams, players, managers and coaches in sports.

Sports teams make no use of a Press Secretary to provide only the desired version of answers to questions.

The open attitude about sports reporting does not cross over to stories about the US Dept. of Homeland Security, big drug busts, The Troops, the War on Terror or local water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls.

Possibly of interest:

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Veterans Day Nonsense – 2022

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?

Veterans Day Nonsense

Unsustainable Military Spending

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

2022 – Armed Forces Recruiting Culture

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

When the US Armed Forces are sent to Lebanon, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Vietnam, etc.-how is that defending the US Constitution-or our rights and freedoms, or our physical security?

Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.

 

Looks like some honesty here:

Care Packages a Powerful Symbol of the Military-Civilian Divide

DECEMBER 16, 2020| ANDREW JAMES MCCORMICK

“What the troops really needed from the American public was interest in what was going on in Afghanistan. The failures of our efforts, which are many and well-recounted elsewhere, had been evident to service members for a long time. That America persisted, knowing our strategies were mostly ineffective, amounted to negligence, and it resulted not only in troop deaths but in a bad hit to America’s credibility abroad and, crucially, untold human tragedy for the Afghan people. With limited public pressure to do better, however, there was little imperative for politicians and military leaders to change. We needed people to be angry—for people, to put this as simply as possible, to actually care.”

Recommendations for ending the military-civilian divide:

People might come around if they had a say in undeclared/unwon wars. When do we get to vote on all this?

Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?

This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.

Stop glorifying military service.

As the decades of undeclared/unwon wars stack up (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.) the greater the cultural urge to glorify people who do, or did time in uniform.

Stop telling us that undeclared/unwon wars overseas are somehow linked to American rights & freedoms.

Cure the Military-Civilian Divide?

Lies And Propaganda For Your Freedoms

 

 

 

 

 

Photo:

Early winter morning- Point Wilson, Washington

 


The crisis was earned by the politicians, generals, and high ranking civilians who have been running the Pentagon over the past 30 years or so. The crisis is also upon us due to newspeople not asking questions going back to the time the Cold War ended.

National Guard

Jun 30, 2022 WCCO – CBS Minnesota

1:41 Reporters interviewing reporters from within their TV studios.

Back in the 1960s, TV newspeople had a different style of reporting and working to keep the public informed.

At 3:49 an interview with Maj. Sgt. Kor. Rank insignia on uniform does not match rank description in WCCO TV news video. Weeks later, title remains uncorrected.

The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.

A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.

In recent years, the National Guard has been sent to Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.

Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

Regular Active Duty

Jul 26, 2022 CBS Evening News

If DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

It feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

The press heads out to ask top generals and recruiters what is going on. No interviews with National Guard people who have done multiple tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, etc. No interviews with Moms and Dads who have raised physically fit children but will not recommend the US Armed Forces to them.

Zero questions from newspeople on why the Moms and Dads of America wouldn’t recommend the US Armed Forces to their kids.

Love to see TV newspeople interview some of the veterans commenting here:

From comments Re: above video:

I joined the Navy at 17, 7/71. 2 tours to Vietnam. I joined to Win a War that wasn’t ours to fight. We lost it with 58,000 lost and thousands wounded. The money was shit but I didn’t join for the money. Now at 68 my Country has been at War with someone my entire lifetime. My Son served 5 years in the Marine Corps, Grunt Infantry Iraq and Afghanistan. No way would I serve today. My Son feels the same way. No more members of my Family will serve, Volunteer or the Draft. Take off your Suits and Ties and do it yourselves. Good luck……..

The parents and grandparents of today may have a tricky time recommending an enlistment to a younger generation. This would be true even in families who are proud of having a history of military service.

Some of these folks are commenting on the video below. Look for TV newspeople to seek out and do zero interviews with the veterans commenting here:

TV newspeople perform like paid actors reading a script.

Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs staff as authorities prepare for the Super Bowl.

Sorry, no time for newspeople to ask:

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

Related:

Marketing Partnership Update

 

For your freedoms

No time for the press to look into the fading idea that US troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, federal toilet regulations, sports betting, federal gas can regulations/free enterprise system,
voting rights, bump stock baninterracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, open container laws, etc.

Freedoms come and go. None of the above are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.

May 28, 2020 WMAR

Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard

I am honored to do my part to ensure that the citizens of this community and all Americans remain safe and free.”

Several news sources published this quote. View them here.

The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion. Don’t look for any of this discussion to be prompted by newspeople showing initiative or curiosity in asking questions. 

Mayor Day,

While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.

Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?

December 21st 2019 KOMO News

Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide

“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”


May 13, 2022 Military.com Network

Military Throwing Cash at Recruiting Crisis as Troops Head for the Exits

“Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee personnel panel, says the military is on the cusp of a recruiting crisis.”

Questions we’d love to see newspeople ask:

Senator Tillis,

The Dept. of Defense has a truly poor track record with undeclared wars. This record goes back to 1949, the year DOD was established. Has this record damaged the brand?

If DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since. Whatever they touch turns to crap.

Senator Tillis,

Is there any talk of going back to a draft in order to deal with your recruiting crisis?

Before making any plans to start up a draft, let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

Senator Tillis,

Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?

This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.

Senator Tillis,

Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?

Senator Tillis,

Did the US Army revert to WWII uniforms to remind us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up?

Did this change have any positive or negative impact on recruiting?

Senator Tillis,

Not here to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.

Every few years, no matter what political party or personality is in power, there are moves to modify what people thought they were earning in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.

The plan is to save cash by reducing the traditional DOD military benefits that were on the table when people began doing multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is the same country where both major parties invite veterans to be momentarily honored at State of the Union events when they control the White House.

Senator Tillis,

Will an older generation encourage a younger generation to do time in the US Armed Forces in the years ahead?

The guys who did time in the Vietnam War may have grown up in a family where Dad was a WWII veteran.

The guys who did time in the Vietnam War may have been WWII veterans.

 

NATO

May 21, 2022 By Ryan McMaken
Mises.org

NATO Plans to Rip Off Americans Even More as Sweden and Finland Set to Join

NATO membership has nothing to do with enhancing the defense of ordinary Americans. The American elites love NATO, of course, because it expands regime spending and influence in Europe. But when it comes down to actual military defense, expanding NATO only increases the odds that Americans will be pulled into a major conflict while offering Americans nothing in return.”

“…the US taxpayer overwhelmingly covers the costs of NATO.”

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

When the US Armed Forces are sent to Lebanon, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Vietnam, etc.-how is that defending the US Constitution-or our rights and freedoms, or our physical security?

Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.

 

A significant article here:

July 28, 2022 The Heritage Foundation

The Administration and Congress Must Act Now to Counter the Worsening Military Recruiting Crisis

Not seeing any recommendation for phasing out undeclared/unwon wars.

Not seeing any recommendation to stop sending the National Guard to distant lands on missions completely unrelated to their home state.

 

Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity

Falling Military Recruitment Is Another Sign of Waning Faith in the Regime
written by Ryan mcmaken friday august 26, 2022

“The good news, however, is that the military’s recruiting woes are likely yet another signal of declining support for the federal government and its institutions.”

 

Conclusion:

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since. Has anyone been fired over this?

Since the end of the Cold War:

Both major parties appear to have been OK with undeclared/unwon wars and sending the National Guard to foreign lands on missions completely unrelated to their home state.

Every few years, no matter what political party or personality is in power, there are moves to modify what people thought they were earning in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.

The plan is to save cash by reducing the traditional DOD military benefits that were on the table when people began doing multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Recruiting crisis? You earned it.

Try for less blaming of a new generation and the Moms and Dads of today for any hesitation related to doing time in uniform. Time to take a hard look at what elected officials and the US Dept. of Defense did with the brand after the first Cold War ended in the early 90s and after the lessons of Vietnam were on the table.

Possibly of interest:

June 2, 2022 Do Soldiers Protect Us?
By Laurence M. Vance

Veterans Day Nonsense

Unsustainable Military Spending

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

2022 – Armed Forces Recruiting Culture

 

After the Cold War:

The Cold War had ended. DOD was happy with their all volunteer military.

Look what they did with it.

The Cold War Had Ended

 

Enough time now to look back and ask a few public policy questions. The fact that the press has never been in the habit of questioning the GWOT, by itself, seems a little odd.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Platoon 3049, MCRD San Diego

Jun-Sep 1979

 

No chance for conspiracy theories to develop because coaches and quarterbacks face the press after every game and answer questions, win or lose.

No press secretary. No public relations spokesperson. No freedom of information act requests. Player stats and injury reports are always available.

 

Texas School Shooting

Government agencies control the public information that could prevent rumors & conspiracy theories.

Police radio logs, 911 dispatcher recordings, bodycam footage and audio, etc.

Airlines have cockpit voice recorders & thorough investigations happen after any crash.

Lessons learned are used to prevent future events.

 

June 3, 2022 VICE News

There’s Likely Bodycam Footage of the Uvalde School Shooting. The Public May Never See It.

Officers with the Uvalde Police Department first got bodycams in 2015.”

“By Texas law, cops must keep their bodycams on while working. But it’s possible police will use the “dead suspect loophole” to keep anyone from seeing the footage.”

Sports culture is more open and honest. A bad call from the ref will be seen and reviewed instantly.

Small children killed at school and good people facing new restrictions on legal firearms – sorry folks, video and voice recordings from the crime scene are not available.

I am good with no conspiracy theories. The press could help if they were more about asking questions.

Do a proper investigation similar to those done after a plane crash. Release the findings months from now or whenever is appropriate.

Create credibility for the press and government agencies by keeping people fully informed.

Related:

58 magazines and 1,657 rounds of ammunition

Sports Culture Tends to be Open and Honest

Director of Message Planning – Show Business

Land of Information Suppression

Freedom Comes And Goes – Joint Chiefs of Staff Play No Part

Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Peter Iredale – Oregon Coast

 

Some random thoughts and questions:

Anytime there is a plane crash, a loss at sea, or an industrial accident, a thorough investigation takes place. Lessons learned are used to prevent future events.

Mass shootings seem to go straight from breaking news of the event to scenes of memorials near where the event happened, interviews of victim’s family members and statements from various politicians. The crime scene investigation seems not to be a priority for the press. If we wait for an entire year, will that be enough time to ask questions?

People who are interested in having questions asked and people who want clarification and better information seem to be scolded/shamed or accused of advancing conspiracy theories.

The press should be out asking questions all of the time.

Here are some questions we’d like to see newspeople ask:

LE authorities are very good about showing off what they have seized after a major drug bust.

Will we ever see what 58 magazines and 1,657 rounds of ammunition looks like, even if we wait for 12 months?

How much space would 58 magazines and 1,657 rounds of ammunition take up? What is the weight of 58 magazines and 1,657 rounds of ammunition? Looks like about 13 pounds of ammo.

13 pounds of ammo could be manageable. Seems like 58 magazines might be bulky.

Looks like we are told the Texas school shooter crashed his vehicle, regained his composure, and then moved this load across the road and into the school on foot?

 

May 27, 2022 Texas Tribune

“The wrong decision”: Texas DPS says local police made crucial error as school shooting continued

“The shooter fled in his grandmother’s pickup truck and crashed it in a ditch near the school at 11:28 a.m. He was carrying 58 magazines and 1,657 rounds of ammunition, McCraw said.”

 

Dad has a plan:

Alternative media is OK with asking questions.

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Early winter morning – Point No Point

Sadly, the Fresnel lens has gone dark.

 

I realized Saturday morning that it had been years since I watched TV news in the morning. 20 years ago, I would turn on the TV for news each morning. I started watching evening news on TV when I was at Camp Lejeune in the early 90s.

Over the past couple of years, local (Seattle) news has featured ongoing breakdown of society updates. Gunfire, stabbings, drug addiction, arson, catalytic converter thefts, casualties related to shootings, tent camping on the sidewalks, RV camping on city streets, and worst case scenario climate change predictions.

Ongoing breakdown of society updates:

Another of these items is an ongoing shortage of ferry workers.

The crew shortage story has been in place since at least June 30, 2020.

Love to see newspeople ask:

Does the WSF HR Director get paid more to keep the system running smoothly?

Are crew member incentives in place for perfect attendance?

Months of poor play would be enough to get an NFL or college football coach fired.

Is there pressure on the WSF HR Director to do better?

Various industries such as FedEx, UPS, Costco, etc. may do holiday hiring to staff up for a busy time of year. Any similar creative thinking in place at WSF?

HR policy away from WA government:

UPS aims to hire 100K ahead of ‘record peak holiday season’

 

The Washington State Department of Transportation has closed five I-5 rest areas north of Seattle because of excessive trash, vandalism and a staffing shortage.”

Misbehavior shuts down federal highway rest stops? Publicly funded highway safety facilities are shut down because of misbehavior? WTF?

Welcome Home Troops

49 other states operate highway rest stops. If I was Governor, I would insist on picking the top 3 states that are best at running rest stops and running WA rest stops in a similar manner until further improvements could be made.

Closed – WA Interstate 5 Rest Areas

 

Newspeople refuse to report on 2014 voter approved enhanced background checks.

Did the new requirements reduce gun crimes?

Newspeople remain silent.

Puget Sound area shootings roll on.

 

Local papers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.

Various newspapers in the Puget Sound area have gone with this trend.

Suppressing comments, getting away from asking questions related to public policy and telling us they need more support from subscription and advertising sales.

Got it.

On the national scene it’s all crisis management, undeclared/unwon wars, politics more ugly than at anytime in my life. Race relations that seem to have deteriorated since President Obama did 8 years in the White House.

Newspeople have moved away from asking basic public policy questions.

Our local TV news today is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.

Newspeople post this statement as is.

A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

TV advertising has become especially strange. How about legal anti-depression meds that may bring on thoughts of suicide (0:34).

 

I’d be OK with the mainstream press taking over the task of keeping the public informed. When TV newspeople avoid asking public policy related questions, individual citizens go out to check on what is going on.

JFK speaks about the role of the press and voices of dissent in a free society:

The family friendly, hometown pride-oriented local small town papers and TV news folks are more welcome to do interviews related to public policy. Unfortunately, they seem to have moved away from asking questions.

Operating A Camera In A Public Place

Sports writers and alternative media people are still about asking questions.

Still viewing lots of news via Twitter, and I would be more at peace if I moved away from it.

Much voting has gone on over the past 40 years or so. For sure, there is a chunk of public policy that has become worse, not better. Stopped watching TV news a long time ago because of the way newspeople (paid actors reading a script) have dealt with all this.

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

The War on Terror has prompted law enforcement authorities to calm the public by looking into the future and announcing that no credible threat exists.

Newspeople play along by not asking questions.

 

April 12, 2022 NBC4 Washington

No Credible Threat to DC Metro After NYC Subway Shooting: Officials

 

April 12, 2022 WSB-TV News Video

Atlanta, GA

MARTA will increase security, says no credible threats following NYC subway attack

“The police chief of MARTA said there have been no credible threats against the metro Atlanta transit system following a mass shooting at a subway station in Brooklyn New York.”

 

April 12, 2022 Boston Herald

No ‘credible threat’ but full Boston Police call-up for Boston Marathon Monday

“There’s no “credible threat” to the upcoming Boston Marathon, authorities say as they nonetheless call up all available Boston cops and continue to talk to New York City authorities following the terrifying attack there.”

“Long said there’s no “credible threat” to the marathon at this point, though he said the BPD will continue to communicate with federal, state and other local law-enforcement entities and look at intelligence reports.”

Zero questions from newspeople on how intelligence reports were used to any advantage in the April 12, 2022, NYC mass shooting event.

 

Love to see newspeople show some initiative and curiosity in asking questions.

What we get now is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.

Newspeople post this statement as is. A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

Our questions appear in bold type below. We require no federal grant money in order to ask these questions.

 

Basic public policy questions newspeople will not ask:

What role did a post 911 surveillance state (fusion centers, license scanners, Homeland Security grant money, monitoring of e-mails, text messages, & social media sites, no fly/terror watch lists, Real ID, tracking of cell phones, etc.) play in preventing the April 12, 2022 NYC subway shooting?

What role did a $49.8 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security play in preventing the April 12, 2022 NYC subway shooting?

 

No Credible Threat?

If the good guys can tell what the bad guys will do before they do it-surely, these powerful crime fighting tools will be used to shut down gang and cartel activity, heroin trafficking, bank robberies, mass casualty shootings, etc.

Where was the threat forecast prior to the April 12, 2022 NYC subway shooting?

 

Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.

Are newspeople forbidden to ask questions related to Homeland Security funding and performance?

 

Gun Control?

Why do newspeople avoid reporting on, and asking questions on the efficacy of past gun control measures?

 

Possibly of interest:

Port Angeles Drug War – Super Bowl Security

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

 

 

 

 

Photo- Slow speed mayhem

 

March 4, 2022 KING 5 News

Ban on sale of high-capacity magazines passes state House, moves to Gov. Inslee’s desk

“SB 5078 prohibits the sale of gun magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds, along with the manufacturing, distribution, possession, import or purchase of high-capacity magazines in Washington state.”

Some random thoughts and questions we’d love to see newspeople ask:

Our questions appear in bold type.

Why do newspeople avoid reporting on, and asking questions on the efficacy of past gun control measures?

TV newspeople avoid asking questions/reporting on WA voter-approved enhanced background checks from back in 2014.

The new requirements have had time to take hold.

Did new requirements reduce gun crimes?

Has there been time for newspeople to ask questions?

Puget Sound area shootings roll on.

Looks like gun control is a failure?

Newspeople, please work to inform the public on this.

More here:

Enhanced Background Checks Update

 

Puget Sound Ferry Ride

Trying to make sense of war on terror/security theater mixed messages.

Does a routine ferry ride require a gunboat escort?

Dec 22, 2014 Defense Visual Information Distribution Service

Coast Guard Station Seattle conducts ferry escort

Why, if there is a threat, would regular people not be able to purchase a more than 10 round magazine?

Love to see more in the way of newspeople asking questions.

 

Gunfire on the ferry:

January 27, 2020 Kitsap News Group

Man arrested after allegedly firing gun from ferry

“…WSP Vessel and Terminal Security Troopers responded to the MV Kaleetan upon its arrival at Colman Dock. By that time, WSF crews had already secured the suspect, who had boarded the vessel by vehicle.”

WSF Bremerton to Seattle crossing time: ~ 60 min

Not my idea to promote the concept that riding safely on the ferry requires gun boat escorts, SWAT teams and K-9s on the job to detect explosives.

If a guy decides to fire a gun during a 60 minute ferry crossing and WSP waits to respond until the ferry arrives at Colman Dock, how is this security?

Will newspeople follow up and let us know if the guy who purposefully fired his handgun from the ferry had a concealed carry permit?

Did he pass any sort of background check?

A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

Newspeople remain silent.

More here:

Mixed Messages On Transportation Security/Firing Gun From the Ferry Update

 

A well regulated militia?

Has any state, ever in history, required proof of membership in a militia to purchase, transport, or carry, guns and ammo/participate in shooting sports, etc.

Remember grandpa? Yeah, he was the only one we ever knew growing up who had guns. He was the one that was in a militia.

Washington State Constitution:

SECTION 24 RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS. “The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.”

What powers are granted to the federal government here?

More here:

Militia Nonsense

A well regulated militia?

 

Heading to a safe place in the hills, spending a couple of hours shooting at tin cans, cleaning up the trash and heading home. What Fun.

Leave it cleaner than you found it-

Shooting is an Olympic Sport

 

Claims about freedoms that cry out for questioning:

Two major political parties continue to promote the idea that The Troops are sent to distant lands to fight for American rights and freedoms.

School teachers and newspeople are OK with promoting this urban legend.

Local press:

Hometown pride running high. High enough to stop asking questions?

“For the past couple of years, the Whidbey News-Times paid the insurance for the Veterans Day Parade, about $200, because it was a small way of saying thank you to the men and women who sacrificed so that we may have our liberties, including our Freedom of Speech.”

Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?

Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?

Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?

The US Armed Forces – A Giant Civil Rights Organization?

 

 

The Washington State more than 10 round magazine ban is another of many examples where freedoms may come & go-completely unrelated to military operations/US Troops in distant lands, or the Sound of Freedom.

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?

 

Related:

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

When is the last time all of Penn Cove was safe for recreational shellfish harvest?

Image above: 2/28/2022

Source/Daily Status Reports: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map

 

Local water quality in the news:

In recent years news reporting has been about Outstanding Wastewater Treatment Plant Awards.

New information:

Feb 22, 2022 Karina Andrew Whidbey News-Times

Ecology permit finalized

New requirements for wastewater treatment plants will not be as dramatic as some officials feared.

Zero questions Re: recreational shellfish harvest.

 

August 10, 2021 South Whidbey Record

Oak Harbor absent from sewage treatment awards

“Facilities in Coupeville, Holmes Harbor and Langley were named as winners of the Department of Ecology’s Outstanding Wastewater Treatment Plant Award for 2020.”

The award is for 2020. Wondering why it was not reported on until August of 2021.

Full compliance with water quality permits does not result in recreational shellfish that is safe for harvest?

Zero questions from newspeople.

 

Background

Several Whidbey beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.

Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater.

Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.

View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.

 

A photo tour of Penn Cove here:

Wastewater Treatment Plant – Department of Ecology Award For Outstanding Performance

 

Coupeville

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

Oak Harbor

Oak Harbor City Park

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“Washington Department of Health (DOH) cautions that clams, oysters, and mussels from this beach are not fit for human consumption at any time.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

Distance learning idea:

Podcast 4 Another Month With An R – Whidbey Sewage Treatment Plant Outfalls

Whidbey Waters – Mixed Signals of Concern

 

March 13, 2020 Whidbey News-Times

4th grade students publish book on Salish Sea

“Invisible Pollution in the Salish Sea”

School teachers,

Are you teaching your students to look for green colors on the Recreational Shellfish Safety Map?

 

More here:

Love To See Newspeople Ask:

Stormwater, Untreated Sewage and Puget Sound

Local Waters

Earth Day Progress Report

Local Waters And The Puget Sound Area Press

High Quality Water For Puget Sound? – Recreational Shellfish Harvesting CLOSED Year-Round

Signs

“…talking to officials at the Town of Coupeville…”

Whidbey Signs of Water Quality

When Things Get Back To Normal

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

Zero questions from newspeople.

Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.

Are newspeople forbidden to ask questions related to Homeland Security funding and performance?

Our questions appear in bold type.

 

Port Angeles

A $49.8 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security attempts to keep cartel product from showing up in all 50 states.

In the news:

Feb 8, 2022 Radio Pacific, Inc PA BASED CUTTER RETURNS HOME

“The crew deployed off the coast of Central America in support of counterdrug operations.”

Question for newspeople:

Have long distance Dept. of Homeland Security drug patrols out of Port Angeles reduced access to methamphetamine & fentanyl in Clallam County?

Jan 26, 2022 Radio Pacific, Inc OVERDOSES UP SIGNIFICANTLY IN CLALLAM COUNTY

“The majority of overdose cases that we’ve seen involved methamphetamine followed by fentanyl…”

 

Port Angeles

Local people find drugs and report to local (not federal) law enforcement authorities. Federal employees create news story and say that federal agents used a K-9 to “seize” the drugs.

Question for CBP:

Why does the news story created by CBP not line up with local reports?

Question for mainstream newspeople:

If Port Angeles US Border Patrol agents used a K-9  to seize a significant amount of methamphetamine on April 11, why did federal agents not take over the investigation until May 3rd, three weeks later?

Mainstream newspeople remain silent.

May 3, 2021 Peninsula Daily News

Feds take over investigation after $7 million in drugs found

Federal authorities have taken over the investigation into the early April discovery of 400 pounds of methamphetamine and cocaine worth $7 million on a Joyce-area beach after no local-area connection with the drugs was established, according to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.”

News links and Sheriff’s Dept. Facebook post here:

Port Angeles Border Patrol – Investigation Stalled For 3 Weeks?

Original blog post:

Port Angeles Border Patrol Agents Seize Meth?

 

Super Bowl

If special games require special security-what keeps regular games safe? Crowd size/capacity is similar at several stadiums.

Are fans less safe at regular games?

When news/social media posts are created by federal employees, there’s no need to deal with any awkward/real questions from the press.

The folks who fail to keep cartels from moving product into all 50 states will be watching over the entertainment industry.

Love to see newspeople ask:

What stops terrorists from going 2 states over and driving a truck across the playground at a daycare center?

In another State-Run Media/CBP Social Media Post, CBP tells us:

Nothing gets past @CBP’s K9 units!

Nothing gets past @CBP’s K9 units?

Surely, a free and independent press will step up and ask for clarification on this wild CBP claim.

Away from any border crossing or port of entry:

Hey newspeople, how did 2,224 pounds of meth tied to the Sinaloa cartel enter Riverside County, if nothing gets past @CBP’s K9 units?

Why is there a deadly fentanyl problem in Eastern Washington if nothing gets past CBP social media posts?

 

What sort of air defense has been set up for cars waiting in lines for COVID testing in Los Angeles?

 

Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs staff as authorities prepare for the Super Bowl.

 

Love to see newspeople schedule an interview with the US Dept. of Homeland Security & ask:

Are passports/enhanced/Real IDs effective in keeping cartel-sourced meth out of the US?

Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009.

 

Strict, Post 911/Global War on Terror Security Protocols Are No Match For Cartels

If sending US troops to Afghanistan and creating a $49.8 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?

Source: DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program

“There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.”

Look for newspeople to ask zero questions in this area.

DEA’s drug threat report: Mexican cartel flooding Northwest with fentanyl

Source: March 2, 2021 KTVZ

Previous blog:

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

Related:

General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger – Newspeople Remain Silent

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

2017

Coast Guard comes home to Heroin at Port Angeles

2015

Cutter Active Returns to Heroin Epidemic After Successful Narcotics Patrol

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

South entrance- Port Townsend Ship Canal

 

Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.

Are newspeople forbidden to ask questions related to Homeland Security funding and performance?

In the news:

Jan 20, 2022 Fox News

House Republicans introduce bill to require fentanyl drug traffickers serve life in prison

“It also said that Congress should approve $41 billion in spending for national drug program agencies, as well as continue working on legislation designed to counter overdoses.”

 

Love to see newspeople ask:

Have opioid lawsuits played any role in improving the situation?

How do cartels react to opioid lawsuits?

Has a $49.8 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security been able to reduce access to fentanyl anywhere in the US?

 

Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?

Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?

Newspeople remain silent.

April 1, 2020 C-SPAN

WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.

The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.

 

Port Angeles

Local people find drugs and report to local (not federal) law enforcement authorities. Federal employees create news story and say that federal agents used a K-9 to “seize” the drugs.

Question for CBP:

Why does the news story created by CBP not line up with local reports?

Mainstream newspeople remain silent.

News links and Sheriff’s Dept. Facebook post here:

Port Angeles Border Patrol – Investigation Stalled For 3 Weeks?

Original blog post:

Port Angeles Border Patrol Agents Seize Meth?

 

Strict Post 911/Global War on Terror Security Protocols No Match For Cartels

If sending US troops to Afghanistan and creating a $49.8 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?

Source: DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program

“There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.”

Look for newspeople to ask zero questions in this area.

DEA’s drug threat report: Mexican cartel flooding Northwest with fentanyl

Source: March 2, 2021 KTVZ

Previous blog:

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

Related:

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

South entrance- Port Townsend Ship Canal

 

The issue is not limited to any single platform, public personality or media outlet.

The general trend has been to suppress voices of dissent and provide news coverage that favors government agencies, departments and policies.

Love to see the press get out and interview people on various sides of any issue.

I want to know what various people are thinking on various issues.

 

Jan 3, 2022 KOMO News

Joe Rogan encourages move to new social media app after Twitter bans GOP lawmaker

Several comments here.

KOMO and some of the commenters make it more about personalities and less about what people think of ongoing information suppression.

Not too many years ago, American society was much less about information suppression.

Social media is big on it now.

Today, newspeople show a lack of initiative and curiosity in asking questions.

 

JFK speaks about the role of the press and voices of dissent in a free society:

Today, TV newspeople tend to report only one side of the story.

Much of what we get today is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.

Newspeople post this statement as is.

A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

Local papers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.

Various newspapers in the Puget Sound area have gone with this trend.

I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of newspeople asking questions.

Elimination of reader comments works against the idea of paying for an online subscription.

Manage it, don’t ban it. Online comment sections

No hate speech, insults, threats, foul language, attacking other commenters, etc. These are rules that make sense.

Eliminating the opportunity for all to follow some basic rules and comment is information suppression.

There’s always something to learn or think about from the points others make in the comment section.

Over the years, I’ve seen some really good points brought up in the comments section. Manage it, don’t ban it.

 

Puget Sound area newspeople play along by not asking questions.

Port Angeles

Local people find drugs and report to local (not federal) law enforcement authorities. Federal employees create news story and say that federal agents used a K-9 to “seize” the drugs.

Question for CBP:

Why does the news story created by CBP not line up with local reports?

Mainstream newspeople remain silent.

News links and Sheriff’s Dept. Facebook post here:

Port Angeles Border Patrol – Investigation Stalled For 3 Weeks?

Original blog post:

Port Angeles Border Patrol Agents Seize Meth?

 

When is the last time all of Penn Cove was safe for recreational shellfish harvest?

Living on an Island near Puget Sound, there seems to be great concern for salmon, orca, eagles, recreational shellfish and clean water.

Has anyone ever seen the Puget Sound area press ask questions about Whidbey water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls?

Has anyone ever seen any government agency, elected official or volunteer organization seeking answers related to one or more sewage treatment plants sending unsafe product into the waters near Whidbey Island?

Coupeville

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

Oak Harbor

Oak Harbor City Park

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“Washington Department of Health (DOH) cautions that clams, oysters, and mussels from this beach are not fit for human consumption at any time.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

Daily status reports here:

Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map

 

A photo tour of Penn Cove here:

Wastewater Treatment Plant – Department of Ecology Award For Outstanding Performance

 

Distance learning idea:

Podcast 4 Another Month With An R – Whidbey Sewage Treatment Plant Outfalls

Whidbey Waters – Mixed Signals of Concern

 

Related:

Manage it, don’t ban it. Online comment sections

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

JFK – Voices of dissent and misinformation

Sports Writers and Alternative Media – Still Free To Ask Questions

Independent Press Needs Federal Cash?

 

A few public policy questions newspeople will not ask:

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

A symbol of information suppression and newspeople who show a lack of initiative and curiosity in asking questions.

 

COVID-19 vaccine mandate to enter restaurants and bars in Clallam and Jefferson counties.

Love to see the press get out and interview people on various sides of this issue.

 

My take: TV newspeople tend to report only one side of the story.

Much of what we get today is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.

Newspeople post this statement as is.

A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

I want to know what various people are thinking on various issues.

Today, voices of dissent, and their social media accounts, are suppressed.

This whole structure brings government messages into question.

 

I think people could reject alternative media and be totally good with mainstream media, but it would require the family friendly, hometown pride-oriented local small town papers and TV news folks to try harder.

 

Olympic Peninsula COVID-19 vaccine mandate:

Dec 19, 2021 Peninsula Daily News

Fix sought for proof-of-vaccination lawsuit

“Dr. Allison Berry, health officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties, issued a health order on Sept. 2 that requires customers of restaurants and bars to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19.”

“The order, which took effect Sept. 4, was challenged in action filed in Clallam County Superior Court by six eateries in Sequim, Port Angeles and Joyce.”

“The plaintiffs are The Oasis Bar and Grill (doing business as Diamond Point Dreams), Kokopelli Grill and Coyote BBQ Pub in Port Angeles; Blondie’s Plate restaurant and Jose’s Famous Salsa and Salsa House Restaurant, both in Sequim; and Blackberry Cafe in Joyce.”

 

Dec 14, 2021 KONP

CLALLAM COUNTY VACCINE MANDATE COURT CASE WON’T BE HEARD LOCALLY

“A half-dozen local eateries have sought the injunction. They say it unconstitutionally targets a single industry and harms their freedom of commerce.”

Related:

TV News – Interview people from various sides of any issue?

One Size Fits All – County Restrictions On Bars And Restaurants

Road Trip Report – Mask Up For Watersports – WA COVID

JFK – Voices of dissent and misinformation

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

Sports Writers and Alternative Media – Still Free To Ask Questions

COVID Restrictions Are Like Wearing A Seatbelt?

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Salt Creek

12 miles west of Port Angeles