Day: August 11, 2025💾
Is the media just a lap dog of the government or the Democratic Party? 🐶
I can tell you as a Democratic Party operative at times I wish the media was more of a lap dog of the party, handling our clients in the direction of spin we’d like rather than taking their own spin on the matter.
During times of national crisis, the press, including both local and traditional mainstream outlets, often tends to report events without sufficient scrutiny. This is because the press aims to demonstrate loyalty to the nation rather than appear antagonistic, and they strive to uphold the country’s positive aspects. However, the media frequently lacks independent experts who can challenge the official government narrative, and they are hesitant to involve individuals without established credentials.
I recently listened to a podcast by James Howard Kunstler, where he pointed out that this phenomenon is not new and has been observed during events like COVID-19 and conflicts such as Ukraine. I can’t help but recall the media’s consistent support during the post-9/11 period and the Iraq invasion. Similar tendencies were seen during the early stages of the Vietnam War and the Red Scare in the 1950s. Although the mainstream media eventually began to question the Vietnam War, it was only in 1968, with Walter Cronkite’s influential editorial, that a significant shift occurred. Prior to that, mainstream media rarely challenged the prevailing viewpoints, and those opposing the war were often marginalized.
Comparing today’s media behavior to the past, it’s not necessarily worse, but the internet has made it much easier to access alternative perspectives. This is undoubtedly a positive development. My suggestion is to first engage with mainstream media to understand the presented facts, and then explore alternative media sources for different viewpoints. By comparing and contrasting different perspectives, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the situation.
Truth is that I got cold feet and didn’t speak at the Guilderland Conservation Committee meeting tonight 👣
I totally should have but I got listening to the developer and then they sort of moved on to the next project. I could have spoken up and had my opportunity to make public comment but I remained silent. I spoke on this project the last meeting and the Pine Bush Commission technical committee pretty much said what I was thinking. And it’s just an advisory commission I told myself.
Something about the developer’s counsel pushed me off to, made me flustered to respond. He was a snake but also acted like he didn’t know or understand the Pine Bush while the Conservation Committee members seemed to be strong advocates. He had such a thick Appalachian accent, a working man like those hillbillies I was smoking with this past weekend. While I was opposing more vinyl houses in the Pine Bush, it felt different to speak after him and nobody from the public was there to bridge me in.
I wasted gas and my time driving all the way out to Guilderland to remain silent. But the room was crowded but no one else in the public wanted to talk about the Pine Bush. I was also flustered as on my way leaving the Rapp Road parking area on the Pine Bush I hit the edge of the pavement hard, felt like I loosened up something in my suspension and then felt every bump on the road and heard every noise. I was like I’m not going to make it home and there goes vacation again. Not as many wildflowers or blackberries in the Pine Bush this evening though I saw a Red Tail Hawk up close.
Truth is that I get pushed around too much, to scared of public speaking and reading my inevitable quotes in the Altamont Enterprise. I’m quotable because not only I’m a conservationist and a Democrat – I really conservative, unscripted and in many people’s minds awful views. I’ve been listening to Dr. Robert Lover’s Dating Advice for Men and the truth is that I need to not be afraid to be rejected, ask questions and listen. Be authentic. You will never get a girl friend if you don’t ask lots of girls – many who may seem less than perfect at first glance.
As long as I’m not too anxious I’ll make it home safely after shopping at Hannaford in Voorheeesville. I wish I had struck up a conversation with that guy I ran into up at the Potholers when I fell – just to learn what he was about – see if he has seen any wildlife or other interesting things while up there. I can’t live my life in fear just because a girl is pretty or a developer speaks in a deep accent and wears a hipster beard.
Outside Morris
There is a lot of nice farm country and rural lands along NY 23.
Thursday August 27, 2020 — Delmar, NY — Bonner Lake State Forest 🗺 — Granger State Forest 🗺 — Peter Scott Swamp Freshwater Wetlands 🗺 — Point Peninsula Wildlife Management Area 🗺 — South Hill State Forest 🗺 — Urbana And Pigtail Hollow State Forests 🗺— PDF with All Maps 📚
Holland, New York
Holland is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 3,401 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from the Holland Land Company, the original title-holder to most of the land of Western New York.
