Freedom of the Press Foundation

Long ago, I had a mild dispute with John Cusack. Those who believed in freedom of speech blocked me. In my conversations on Wikileaks Twitter account, I noted that they too had a dispute with them. In supporting Wikileaks, I was blocked by Mr Lee ( Freedom of the Press Foundation). Maybe, it was because I laughed at him for not being able to read messages in binary.

This was a damning disclosure.

This is incredible. The biggest critics of Paypal's economic blockade of WikiLeaks? Paypal's owner Omidyar now funds all of them from Paypal stock. Freedom Of Press, EFF, Greenwald, Poitras, Jeremy Scahill, Micah Lee, (even Barrett Brown via payments for Intercept articles). pic.twitter.com/B6kSjNFUp9

— WikiLeaks Task Force (@WLTaskForce) January 6, 2018

"Freedom of Press" Foundation now full into neo-Mccarthyism:

"While it's not clear if WikiLeaks has some sort of direct relationship with the Kremlin,"

However, what is clear is that you are an employee of Omidyar.https://t.co/YZWJNmOzc3https://t.co/QofDi9hPWe

— WikiLeaks Task Force (@WLTaskForce) January 10, 2018

Children of #GAZA

SLEEP TIGHT CANDLELIGHT

Sweet darling, when all the days

Have deserted you on earth,

And you fly with the angels of heaven

To dance with sleeping satellites,

Will we see you with firelight sunsets?

Will you play ball with our dreams?

So we may skip with your smile

And clutch your toys for the stars.

Our hearts will drown to reach you

When heaven’s angel dust has blessed you,

You leave us today sweet darling

For all the valleys of time.

On earth our eyes shall seek you

To capture your childlike laughter

That echo for all our tomorrows

Sweet baby remember we love you

Take our love and cloak yourself,

For when you face troubled waters

And all has deserted you

It shall armor you like the knights of valor

Today, tomorrow, forever

Dedicated to the children of Gaza who have lost their lives because adults  play dangerous war games. 

12 Steps to Heaven.

I read this recently, it made sense.


1. THERE WILL BE SOME DAYS WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES WHILE CROSSING THE STREET, MAYBE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT FATE HAS IN STORE FOR YOU, OR MAYBE BECAUSE YOUR DEPRESSION IS RUNNING RAMPANT AGAIN AND YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO CALM HER. IT’S OKAY. I WILL STILL LOVE YOU.

2. THERE WILL BE A YEAR, OR A SERIES OF YEARS WHEN YOUR BIRTHDAY DOESN'T FEEL SPECIAL. CELEBRATE ANYWAY. BECAUSE PEOPLE SPENT TIME BAKING YOU A CAKE AND BUYING YOU CARDS AND EVEN IF THEY’RE YOUR FAMILY AND THEY’RE OBLIGATED TO, THEY STILL LOVE YOU. CHERISH THAT LOVE. REVEL IN IT. IT IS THE BEST GIFT YOU WILL EVER RECEIVE.

3. YOU WILL LEARN THAT THE SADDEST WORD IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IS STAY. WHETHER IT’S YOUR MOTHER’S VOICE WHISPERING IT BEFORE YOU LEAVE FOR COLLEGE, OR YOUR EX-LOVER’S DESPERATE SCREAMS AS YOU WALK OUT OF THE HOUSE, IT WILL ALWAYS BE A HARD WORD TO HEAR. SOMETIMES YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO IT, OTHER TIMES YOU SHOULDN'T. TRUST YOURSELF. GO WITH YOUR GUT.

4. ALONG WITH HEARING THE WORD STAY, YOU WILL ALSO HEAR THE WORD WHY FROM EVERY PERSON WHO IS REMOTELY RELATED TO YOU. WHY DID YOU GET THAT TATTOO? WHY DID YOU TRY TO KILL YOURSELF? WHY AREN'T YOU MARRIED YET? YOU DON’T HAVE TO ANSWER THEM. BE SELFISH. KEEP SOMETHINGS TO YOURSELF.

5. SOME NIGHTS YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO SLEEP. YOU WILL LIE AWAKE AT 2 AM AND CONTEMPLATE EXISTENTIALISM AND WONDER IF THE FRENCH HAD A POINT. GET UP. GET OUT OF YOUR BED. DO SOMETHING. BECAUSE EVEN IF THERE IS NO GOD, WHAT YOU DO MATTERS, WHO YOU ARE MATTERS. YOU MATTER TO ME.

6. SOME DAYS YOU WILL WANT TO RUN AWAY AND NEVER RETURN. SO GO. DRIVE TO A SMALL TOWN IN THE NORTHWEST, MAYBE OREGON, AND SETTLE DOWN THERE FOR A WHILE. TELL PEOPLE YOUR NAME IS ELIZABETH, BECAUSE YOU LOVED JANE AUSTEN AS A CHILD AND BECAUSE THIS A TOWN FULL OF STRANGERS AND WHO’S TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE? DON’T BE SELFISH. CALL YOUR MOTHER EACH NIGHT AND REMIND HER THAT YOU LOVE HER. COME BACK HOME WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF SEEING YOUR SADNESS PAINTED IN THE SHADOWS, AND WHEN YOU FEEL MORE AT HOME IN THE ARMS OF A STRANGER THAN ON YOUR OWN.

7. THERE WILL BE SEVERAL NIGHTS WHEN YOU LOSE YOURSELF IN THE MEDICINE CABINET, BECAUSE LIQUOR AND MORPHINE SEEM LIKE A FASTER CURE THAN TIME. IT’S OKAY. I WILL STILL LOVE YOU IN THE MORNING.

8. ONE DAY, IN THE MIDST OF WORK, YOU WILL LEARN TO FORGIVE. IT WILL START OUT WITH A SIMPLE REMINDER OF THE PAST, MAYBE A FACEBOOK NOTIFICATION FROM AN OLD SCHOOLMATE OR A WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT FROM AN EX-LOVER. IN THAT MOMENT YOU WILL LEARN THAT YEARNING FOR THE PAST ISN’T ROMANTIC, IT’S STUPID, AND THAT IF GATSBY HAD JUST LET GO OF THE GREEN LIGHT HE WOULD’VE LIVED. SO FORGIVE YOUR PAST, IT DIDN’T KNOW ANY BETTER, AND MOVE ON.

9. LEAVING HOME WILL HURT, BUT SOON YOU WILL LEARN THAT HOME ISN’T A PLACE BUT A FEELING, AND THAT THERE IS A COMPASS ON YOUR HEART THAT POINTS DIRECTLY TO THAT FEELING. FOLLOW THAT COMPASS. DON’T GET SIDETRACKED BY BOYS WHO DON’T CARE OR ALCOHOL THAT DOESN’T FORGIVE. IF YOU FOLLOW THAT COMPASS, NO MATTER HOW LOST YOU GET, YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A HOME.

10. THE HARDEST LESSON YOU WILL EVER LEARN WILL BE TO LOVE YOURSELF. BUT YOU CAN DO IT. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE DAYS WHEN YOU HATE YOURSELF, DAYS WHEN YOU WISH YOU HAD NEVER BEEN BORN. BUT DARLING YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, AND IF SHAKESPEARE HAD MET YOU YOU WOULD’VE INSPIRED HIS 18TH SONNET, AND IF MONET HAD KNOWN YOU HE WOULD’VE GIVEN UP PAINTING WATER LILIES AND CHOSEN TO PAINT YOU INSTEAD. I KNOW IT’S HARD TO LOVE YOURSELF, BUT SOMETIMES IT’S OKAY TO BE A LITTLE SELFISH WITH YOUR LOVE.

11. WHEN YOU BEGIN TO FEEL WORTHLESS, REMEMBER THAT THE STARS DIED FOR YOU. YOU ARE MADE OF ELEMENTS THAT ARE THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD, ELEMENTS THAT MAKE UP EVERY ATOM OF YOUR BEING. WHEN YOU WANT TO CUT YOUR WRISTS, REMEMBER THAT THE SOULS OF STARS LIVE IN YOUR VEINS. DON’T KILL THEM. DON’T BE SELFISH.

12. SOME DAYS WILL BE BEAUTIFUL. LIVE FOR THOSE DAYS. LIVE FOR THE DAYS WHEN THE SUN SHINES ON YOUR SOUL AND THE SMILE ON YOUR FACE ISN’T FORCED. LIVE FOR THE DAYS WHEN YOU DON’T GIVE A FUCK WHAT ANYONE THINKS BECAUSE YOUR SCARS ARE A PART OF YOUR STORY AND YOU DON’T NEED SOMEONE ELSE’S APPROVAL TO WEAR THEM WITH PRIDE.

LIVE FOR THE LIFE YOU ALWAYS WANTED BUT WERE TOO SCARED TO PURSUE.

LIVE FOR YOU. LIVE FOR ME. LIVE FOR EVERY PERSON WHO HAS EVER LOVED YOU, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE YOU SO THAT YOU MAY BE HERE TODAY.

LIVE FOR THE FIRE THAT BURNS IN YOUR SOUL, THAT TELLS YOU: KEEP GOING, YOU’RE ALMOST THERE, JUST A LITTLE FARTHER. BECAUSE WHEN ROME BURNED DOWN THE EMPEROR DIDN’T RUN AWAY, HE STAYED AND HE SANG FOR HIS PEOPLE. STAY. SING FOR YOUR PEOPLE. SING FOR US.

ARE YOU LISTENING? BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR LIFE, SINGING A SIREN SONG TO CAPTURE YOUR ATTENTION AND STEER AWAY FROM THE ROCKS, TO GUIDE YOU BACK HOME.

"

Important Lesson

Post by Funny Videos, Crazy Videos.

The Meadow

Bureau of Investigative Journalism. John Cusack's Argument Weakens Further.

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The Angry Man. 

Board Member of Freedom of The Press Foundation

Censors me :)

Everyone will recall my short skirmish with Hollywood Actor - John Cusack. Past write-ups of this disagreement can be read here, here and here . Cusack continues to block me on Twitter for having the temerity to criticise the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Cusack is on the board of the organisation - Freedom of the Press Foundation. While Cusack's anger is now stratospheric with no meditation in sight, his case to support the Bureau appears to be falling flat on its face. Not only do numerous people support my position but another case unearthed itself recently where the Bureau's reporting was unreliable. 

Recently, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism's problems deepened as the BBC upheld a complaint. The entire tale can be read on the BBC website here. 

"The internal investigation into the report by former Bureau of Investigative Journalism chief reporter Angus Stickler found that there was no evidence to back Newsnight's claim about Help for Heroes. 

In the apology, the BBC will say: "Following an investigation by its Editorial Complaints Unit, the BBC now accepts that its coverage was misleading and unfair to Help for Heroes. 

"The BBC gave the impression that Help for Heroes was responsible for shortcomings in the provision of support to wounded veterans. The editorial complaints unit found no evidence to support this suggestion. 

"The Newsnight report was a complete shock to us, but an even bigger shock to the men and women we're helping to recover.” 

"Although it was legitimate to report the concerns of veterans, the BBC portrayed criticisms about overall support by a number of agencies as specific criticisms of Help for Heroes. This unfair impression was reinforced by our coverage of the story in other outlets. 

"In addition, the Newsnight report contained interviews with two contributors which were edited in a way which misrepresented their views."

The Press Freedom Foundation continues to support the Bureau of Investigative Journalism without question.  Note very carefully that they have changed the language of donations :). This screen grab was taken sometime ago while John and I argued over this very point.  Of course, the more cynical of us will look at this startling redesign with interest. My concern really is this - if all these numerous reports by the Bureau are unreliable, can we rely on other "stories" produced by the Bureau?

 Website Before the Argument With John Cusack 

Website After Argument With John Cusack.

Richard Burton Interview "A sense of wonder. If one loses that, one loses everything"

I love Richard Burton. There is no doubt about it. He has the most beautiful Welsh voice.
Anyway, here is a fantastic interview with him. It is a shame men aren't made like him anymore.

.

I can see clearly now.

I remember this song from the 1990s. My father was around then and we used to go the movie theatre together. There was an advert on just before the film, it had this song. My dad who had become disabled at the time, loved this song. Anyway, I thought I would keep it here as it reminds me so much of him and the simpler outlook he had on life in general. 

Love

James and Lauretta Burke were married 64 years. They met when James returned home from serving as an army officer in World War II. When a neighbour introduced him to Lauretta, he said he knew immediately that he wanted to make her his wife.

But she wasn’t ready yet. Lauretta insisted on finishing school at Mt. Mary College before getting married. So the Saturday after her graduation, they exchanged vows. They went on to have five children, twenty-three grandchildren, and a very happy life.

A few years ago, at the age of 87, Lauretta was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Shortly after, James had to have surgery to implant a pacemaker, which kept him in and out of the hospital for months.

“He was basically living for her,” the couple’s granddaughter said. “They were like the same person after being together for so long, and he didn’t want to give up because she knew that he needed him there.”

James used his last moments to amend his will so that his wife would have the best possible treatment for her Alzheimer’s when he passed on. On November 13, 2012, he passed away and left a legacy of love in his wake.

Sunrise

Truth Minority

I have always been an admirer of Gandhi. This quote particularly struck me as relevant. It appears that we all have to pay a price for citing the truth. The most recent experience I have had was on John Cusack's Twitter account.   

Rumi

I was introduced to the poet Rumi by a young man whom I called the Prince of Kashmir. He was a 13th Century Persian poet who wrote the most beautiful poetry. Wikipaedia has more about him. A collection of Rumi's poetry can be downloaded here. There is a website dedicated to him here.

Parrot love.

This is a video of a rare parrot. Stephen Fry is narrating the rather unusual events that took place. Its quite hilarious. 

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Sacrilege

Interesting music video. The song is pretty good as well.

Albert Einstein. How I see the world?

This is a excellent documentary about how Einstein saw the world. Gives a different perspective of how we should view the life around us. 

Donations. Press Freedom Foundation, Bureau of Investigative Journalism

Following my previous posts concerning my skirmish with John Cusack and the Press Freedom Foundation, I came across some interesting material written by a UK Member of Parliament. As everyone will recall, I asked John Cusack a question on the reliability of journalism originating from the Bureau and the fact that the US public should be made aware of the scandal in the UK. His response was to cite that I did not do my home work alleging that my question was invalid. Everyone can read his response here. I subsequently ceased to support the Press Freedom Foundation. 

Anyhow, having done my home work, I came across this link.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen has just tabled this Early Day Motion:

"That this House deplores the appalling quality of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism’s investigation into Lord McAlpine for Newsnight, notes that the former Managing Director of BBC Television, Will Wyatt, described it as ‘completely terrible journalism’, notes that the Bureau of Investigative Journalism has previously criticised Help for Heroes, believes the Bureau of Investigative Journalism is totally discredited as a serious producer of quality journalism, regrets that the investigation has taken attention away from other very serious allegations of child abuse, and calls on the following organisations to cut all ties and refuse to donate any more money to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism: City University, The David and Elaine Potter Foundation, Oxfam, The Green Park Foundation, Stamp Out Poverty, Save the Children and The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust."

The related debate is worth a read here and here. It is also interesting that the Daily Mail had this to say about the credibility of the Bureau of Investigative Journalists.

"Six months after launch, the BIJ was working with The Guardian and other news organisations in preparing the WikiLeaks release of classified American military documents. But in giving an interview to an American magazine, BIJ managing editor Iain Overton leaked 'major details' which, The Guardian said this weekend, 'put the entire project in jeopardy'.   

An investigation of the Help for Heroes charity was also described by its subject as 'misleading'.  

Earlier this year, one of the Bureau's staff confided that the original seed money had almost run out and the BIJ needed to secure new revenue sources. They have even turned to very unlikely benefactors such as Oxfam. But there was an ever greater need to find paid work at relatively wealthy channels such as the BBC"

Anyhow, my question therefore stands - should the public be donating to this organisation? The public can only make an informed decision. They can only do so with this information. Do the US public know about the scandal in the UK? Now, that is the real question isn't it?

Holi : India's Festival of Colours

India's Festival of Colours is truly beautiful. It happens to be due this week. If you wish to read about the origins of this Hindu festival, you can read it here. The most romantic aspect of Holi is this - a man who loves you will gently caress your face with the colours of holi. He essentially smears colour on your face.  It signifies love and the colour it brings to a girl's life. 

Winter Wonderland at Hillside

In the dead of winter, I was shopping at a local supermarket. I dragged myself outside laden with supermarket bags. I then tripped over a stand for Hillside. I spoke to a gentleman who was raising finances for them. While he spoke to me, I flicked through all their leaflets. Having done so, I poured all my change into his collection bucket. A few weeks later, Hillside were leading an investigation into UK's horse neglect. Anyway, I like the ethics of Hillside Animal Sanctuary. So far everyone I have helped has in turn donated to this charity. This charity is really worth donating to. I think England is becoming quite barbaric towards its animals really. I think something must be done to instil some kindness in this world. Anyway, as the snow is upon us again, I thought I would feature the Winter Wonderland Video - its my favourite. Hope everyone who reads this donates something small to the Sanctuary. Every little will indeed help.

Light of the Heart

This shot was done quite by accident. I took a series of pictures of the evolving sunrise. What I didn't realise was the heart shape created by the trees. Now that was an interesting aspect of this photo and it just about fits with the title of the poem I wrote some time ago. The poem is here.

You would have me walk with you.

Just loved this song today.