Stephan: I wondered whether I was the only one who made the connection described in this article. Fox Brain Syndrome (FBS) as I think of it, is a major destructive force in the United States, afflicting about a third of the country. One of its central symptoms is the need to demonize assertive women.
Democratic Representatives Ilhan Omar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Credit: Getty
For decades, Fox News’ programming has revolved around the need to identify and target Democratic demons, who are then used to frighten Republican viewers. And for most of the network’s existence, Hillary Clinton has served as a perennial rogue, depicted as a villainous, criminal scoundrel who can’t be trusted with America’s future. With Clinton now receding from public life, Fox News has seamlessly transferred its vile attacks onto a new generation of Democratic women, led by Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
“Fox News needs an opponent, a detractor, an enemy to add conflict and edge to its broadcasts,” noted the Washington Post’s Erik Wemple. In other words, Fox is in the business of scripted entertainment—under the guise of “news”—and needs long-running characters that it can return to again and again. It crafts targets of hate who rile up viewers and keep them tuned in to the different storylines.
For Fox, Clinton, Omar, and Ocasio-Cortez represent perfect targets in terms of […]
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Steve Hanley , - CleanTechnica
Stephan: This article discusses something I have begun to notice as electric vehicles are becoming more popular, that is: most people haven't a clue what owning an EV involves. Here is the best discussions of this that I have seen. If you are considering buying an EV take it seriously.
Electric Mini Cooper
The first all-electric MINI — based on the BMW i3 — will go on sale in 2020. Gearing up for the marketing campaign that will accompany the launch of that car in the US, MINI decided to ask Americans what their expectations are for an electric car. It commissioned a survey conducted by Engine International for that.
“It is important for us as a brand to understand how consumers want to use their electric vehicles, and what they know and don’t know about them, as we move closer to the launch of the MINI Cooper S E electric vehicle in the US,” said Andrew Cutler, Head of Corporate Communications, MINI USA, according to an Associated Press report. “The more intelligence we gather, the more we can educate consumers about the many benefits of electric mobility and what MINI has to offer in the new MINI Cooper S E electric vehicle coming in early 2020.”
The survey asked a number of questions of 1,004 Americans 18 years or older — half […]
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Erica L. Green, Correspondent - The New York Times
Stephan: American public schools overall, on the basis of social outcome data, are a disaster. American students do so poorly in educational rankings there are third world countries that do better. In states all over the country, wherever the Republicans are in power, public school budgets are being severely cut, and there can be no doubt this is a deliberate policy, as can be seen by the fact that the same Republicans are touting privatization as the solution.
It is the usual neoliberal grift to turn ordinary Americans into spigots so that tax dollars can be siphoned from them to enrich the already rich through a privatization scheme. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, like all the other Trump appointees, is incompetent for the task which she is supposed to oversee, but very good at what she is actually trying to do, which is turning public education into a profit-making business. And the results? Charter school overall, based on their outcome data, are not the way to go.
In contrast to that consider this program done with the help of LeBron James that, working within the public system, actually produces results. His program not only shows success it also demonstrates that it can be done for less money, and within the public system.
Students at I Promise lining up for a free breakfast.
Credit: Maddie McGarvey/The New York Times
AKRON, OHIO — The students paraded through hugs and high-fives from staff, who danced as Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” blared through the hallways. They were showered with compliments as they walked through a buffet of breakfast foods.
The scene might be expected on a special occasion at any other public school. At LeBron James’s I Promise School, it was just Monday.
Every day, they are celebrated for walking through the door. This time last year, the students at the school — Mr. James’s biggest foray into educational philanthropy — were identified as the worst performers in the Akron public schools and branded with behavioral problems. Some as young as 8 were considered at risk of not graduating.
Now, they are helping close the achievement gap in Akron.
The academic results are early, and at 240, the sample size of students is small, but the inaugural classes of third and fourth […]
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