We are being told that our younger generations are not reading. Either they don't want to or they simply cannot. So what happens when a society doesn't read?

Most of us have long ago said that we believe that Facebook and Twitter (and other Social Media platforms) have the “right” to ban whomever they please, because, “it’s not a First Amendment issue.” In fact, even Trump’s legal team seems to agree with this position.

But solely for the purpose of careful consideration of the ENTIRE issue, let us consider a few things that haven’t gotten much discussion, at least as far as I can find.

social Media platforms, along with media websites and other types of socially interactive online sites are exempt under section 230 of USC 47 from being held liable for comments (speech) which is shared on the sites in the form of comments and/or posts. The platforms cannot be held legally or financially liable for the users’ inputs, including, by the by, “Main Stream Media” sites such as newspaper comment sections.

Now, again, let us be clear, the Platforms themselves are not the government. I believe that we all agree that given that circumstance, they are free to allow or disallow participation as they see fit. So, banning Alex Jones or Louis Farrakhan or shadow banning Devin’s Cow might be a bad business plan and result in customer blowback, but it is allowable. whether or not they should do it is another matter.

But… let us consider some things here:

The Courts have ruled that Gun Manufacturers can be sued for liability for their end users actions. Bars and restaurants can be held liable for their customers who drive under the influence. A business which provides a “public accommodation” type of service can be compelled to provide that service to all customers, not just those with whom they would choose to do business.

Now… USC §47 section 230 is a law, passed by Congress which exempts Social Media and Web Sites from being held liable for the end user comments (speech).

Two leading Congress Members* (and One Cow**) have recently publically declared that if the platforms will not eliminate speech which they find objectionable they will push for the Congress to pass a law which will repeal section 230 of USC §47, thus removing the exemption for Facebook, Twitter, and other web platforms which allow users to participate in the form of comments and/or posts, and making them responsible for the potential fallout from such comments and/or posts.

Did you hear what I said? Congress shall pass a law which causes the free speech of commenter’s to be “chilled” by punishing the platforms which allow it for whatever the commenters may say or presumably do.

Now, in the 18th Century, if some farmer in western Virginia has read an article ion a newspaper and then written a letter to the paper and advocated that the original article was “wrong,” because “Nazis, socialism, Islam” and, of course, “Jesus told me this,” and some other farmer read his reply to the paper and grabbed a weapon and shot a Nazi, a socialist, a Muslim and a Jew, who would have been held liable for the action?

Exactly.

So how did we get to the point where the people who are currently in Congress but want to become the President care more about what they can force you to do than about preventing the government from crossing the line?

What is the difference between something that is “Important” and something that is “Urgent?”

Our own biases, both pattern and cognitive, often prevent us from telling the difference. In a world where pretty much everything is conducted in “HOLY HELL, THIS IS A FIRE!” Mode, it has become even more important to be able to tell the difference. Or at least have an idea of whether or not something requires your complete attention or is just… well… noise.

We humans are experts at recognizing patterns. It’s called “pattern bias” and it is an evolutionary gift that has allowed us to know when to plant crops; when to move to higher ground; when to bundle up and even detect potential danger. The problem with pattern bias is that as often as not, we see patterns that aren’t really there. Instead of investigating and confirming them, we simply accept them as a fact. So in today’s world, when it’s unlikely that a tiger is going to leap out of the foliage and eat you, our natural tendency to look for patterns leads us into other areas. And in our society, the constant bombardment of a cacophony of informational noise serves to fulfill our evolutionary need to look for patterns.

What do I mean? Let’s take a look at my News App* this morning and see what we can learn…

In today’s politically charged atmosphere it is easier to just assume that whenever anybody “on the other side” says something – anything at all – it is automatically 100% wrong. Why? Because they are on the other side and we don’t like them. Therefore, whatever they say, even if it is as simple as “The sky is blue,” it gets spun and presented on our newsfeeds as “How insane is this? They said the sky is blue!”

And like dutiful myrmidons, we repost it and add our two cents worth (not having actually read it, of course, and the next thing you know we are arguing over the presentation rather than the initial issue, whatever it may be.

If all you read is Politically Right-side news, you might think that AOC said that the VA is the reincarnation of M*A*S*H’s “Best Care Anywhere” motto. You might think that she said that the VA’s healthcare system is perfect and that the reported problems with the system as “a myth.” no doubt if you saw that, you reposted it as proof that she is an insane leftist with no clue about anything.

Speaking as someone who is deeply engaged in the VA process right now, I think that if you actually listen to what she said, and not the spun, edited hyped up faux outrage, you might hear something different.

Of course, that would require you to think for yourself and not allow Sean Hannity to tell you what you think…

It’s “National Honesty Day.” Seriously, I did not make that up. we’ll review what one national magazine says are the top liars of all time, and then Dave will tell you what he honestly feels about the Poway Chabad Synagogue shooting.

Some of you will, no doubt, be offended. Tango Sierra.

On National Honesty Day, Dave is going to tell you how he feels about it, and frankly, my dear, nobody gives a damn about your “pretending to be offended feelings.”

Usually, Monday’s are really easy for me. There’s a bunch of stuff from the weekend and late Friday news dumps that it’s really not even work to come up with a topic and an opinion about it. Even today, a Monday, there is a whole bunch of stuff and I have opinions about it all.

But…

It just seems harder today. For all the stuff that is so typical of Talk Radio and the “It’s the other sides fault” mantras, I have hit a problem that my brain recognizes but my heart will not allow me to ignore. First off, I just cannot see very well right now. I have needed new glasses prescription for more than a year, but it keeps getting put off.

At the same time, I am starting to wonder about the absolute avalanche of information that bombards me every minute of every day. I know that it is a manifestation of Dave’s 2nd Law and corollary, at the same time, I haven’t a clue what to do about it.

Once upon a time, I could start with an idea and pull at threads until I made sense of the idea. Nowadays, it’s become, “OH LOOK, A WOMAN MARRIED HERSELF!” threads that lead nowhere except to frustration and depression.

Or Game of Thrones. It’s no wonder people need brain candy these days.

Eleven times over the course of a couple of years, the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations calls conventions to consider ratification of the Constitution. And eleven times, the State refuses to agree to the Constitution and continue to operate under their state Charter/Constitution of 1633. this allows Rhode Island to continue to manipulate its currency and to protest slavery.

The problem is that she cannot go it alone. And it becomes obvious that the worst fears of the Anti-Federalists are not immediately coming to pass, pressure mounts on the Governor, a staunch Country Party leader named John Collins, to state the obvious – that the Constitution represents the best interests of the people of the State of Rhode Island. his supporters who elected him to the Governorship still don’t agree.

The twelfth convention is called in Newport, as Congress passes a bill to economically isolate Rhode Island. this time, John Collins will sacrifice his political career for the betterment of the nation, not the Country Party.

In the midst of all the hullaballoo over Mueller, Easter Worshipper Bombings, Game of Thrones, Earth Day, politicians financial records, Justin Bieber, Student Debt plans, Rudy Guliani, one of the worst things you can imagine happened.

Yes, somebody who almost 99% of Americans have no idea was; who died in 1986 after a career that reached its pinnacle in the 1940s; turned out to have uttered some racially biased words in her past.

Yep… a popular 1940s singer, who performed decades ago, and died in 1986 turned out to have recorded some songs with racial overtones in the words. She didn’t write the words. Nor did she say expressly that she advocated for the words. She was recorded singing them. And THIS CANNOT BE TOLERATED!!!!!!

That’s right…. statues must now be removed. Programs must be changed. Attitudes must be adjusted. And under no circumstances must the recording of her most famous song EVER BE HEARD AGAIN!!! Let the name of Kate Smith be stricken from every book and tablet, stricken from all pylons and obelisks, stricken from every monument of America. Let the name of Kate Smith be unheard and unspoken, erased from the memory of men for all time.

So let it be written, so let it be done!

So… fair warning. There is a great deal of adult (read that as “sailor”) language in this episode. I mean, it’s not gratuitous or anything, it’s just necessary to illustrate a point or two. If that offends you, well… to paraphrase George Carlin, there are two buttons on your MP3 player. Use them and keep your complaints to yourself.

It’s been a stressful week. Some days it’s had to concentrate on the issues we talk about because life intervenes. but… we were able to make the best arrangements we could yesterday and will finalize them today. So hopefully things will be a little calmer over the next few weeks.

I’m fascinated by the mentality behind censorship. It doesn’t really matter who is doing it, I always find myself wondering why they feel the need to make other people shut up? I get the control aspect of it. at the root of it all is, of course, controlling people by controlling what they can and cannot say. And, if Orwell is to be believed, what they even think. Or at least admit that they think.

So when Mark Zuckerberg sits in front of Congress and “asks” to be regulated, I get that he doesn’t get it. At the end of the day, why would he?

But when so-called “Leaders” agree with him, we are left to ponder where the whole thing went wrong. When the very people who have sworn to uphold and defend our rights don’t, with what options are we left?

The tragic fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris yesterday has caught the entire worlds attention. While I am not Roman Catholic or even Christian, I know what the building represents – nearly 800 years of human history.

Years ago (1997) I was privileged to go to Westminster Abbey. To say that it was moving would be an understatement. I can only imagine what many of my friends and acquaintances who have hugged a gargoyle atop Notre Dame are feeling today. From tears to gallows humor, there is a whole lot of chat about it’s burning.

I think that for me, there is a sense of loss of the history of that facility. The story of the Notre Dame is long and storied, and not nearly as peaceful – or even churchy – as you might think. In fact, not that long ago, it wasn’t even a church…