"It is hard to be biased politically during a disaster." / [Yes, but] Not for trump/maga/republicans-- who seem inured to all human suffering [although they, obviously, relish inflicting it] unless, of course, it should be visited upon them...
Really? A commemorative status for a sports event? I watched it and it was thrilling - not saying it wasn’t. But wouldn’t that $125,000 donation have done more good going to save NCPR? We need everyone in a position to make a donation, large or small, but especially large, to take a hard look at their priorities as our country is ripped away from us.
funny story... I was at a school board meeting... and there was an informal award given to a student..with a $50 prize for designing a logo. I quipped: "Interesting, all the money the district spends on sports and as far as I can tell this is the first student to make money off of what she learned here."
The way the board members looked down at their fingernails.. I could tell this was not well received.
*I should point out I love sports, follow sports and often played the,
"Interesting, all the money the district spends on sports and as far as I can tell this is the first student to make money off of what she learned here."
And sadly it was only $50... the school students had not received a sports scholarship in 17 years.. but had received many stipends and scholarships for education....
===
as I said at the end... I support sports.. but come'on
If you happen to drive through Saranac Lake, check out the monstrosity being erected in front of the high school
Many people seem to think that sports are more important than academics. Sports definitely gets better attention. But, if you need surgery, would you like a doctor or a linebacker?
if you need surgery.. might be because you are a linebacker who failed physics and math = leading you to have your femur (which after you wake you... the surgery will have to explain where your femur is) had a compound fracture.... ha
I need to be honest.. living some athletic life might help you to live longer.. so learning yoga, weight training, diet, etc would be more helpful
Add to this, sports supposedly teach you teamwork and sportsmanship.. in several of my careers I witnessed sports first hand... and I would say a large percentage of coaches focused on winning..
ª cutting players who couldn't help win
ª teaching all how to play, but only allowing some play
ª arguing with referees
Some would even cheat if it meant a chance at winning or scoring more runs/points.
====
in some ways it is a pyramid scheme.. getting children to believe they have a future in sports... even if it is as a coach or management
but in reality, only the top of the pyramid profits
I get irked every school year when seemingly every school district in our area (probably statewide) arranges for a big press conference -- during class time! -- to trot out their student athletes so they can sign their letters of intent to attend/play sports at their chosen colleges. And the area media, especially the moribund TV sports reporters, gush all over these children. Some events are followed by a "happy hour" of refreshments and back slapping. So, why isn't the same done for graduating seniors on the National Honor Roll Society (some of whom are athletes) or similar school group that recognizes academic achievements?
Thats what I was thinking - but I dont have a "dog in this fight" - since I dont live in your district. As Bob says below - sports get a LOT of attention AND money. In my opinion (!)
maybe in 3 years or so, some attention could be put to changing that.
If you've a mind, please consider sending a similar message (but, please, use your own words).
Subject:
I am in favor of extreme redistricting to answer Texas
Message:
Dear Governor Hochul,
I read with interest the Times Union coverage of your "Hochul declares 'war' amid Republican redistricting battle in Texas," August 4, by Raga Justin.
I am pleased that you demonstrated support for the Texas Democratic lawmakers who broke quorum to prevent the Texas Republicans from carrying out Donald Trump's plan to add 5 Republican House districts.
I think you should carry out this plan, even though it requires a NY Constitutional amendment. Trump and his Republican Party are only interested in advancing Trump's autocratic powers, wrecking our democracy, stealing billions of dollars to give to the rich and ultra-rich, and detaining hundreds, if not thousands, of honest, law-abiding people from our communities.
If, and only if, Republican state houses across the country return to democratic methods of redistricting, then Democrats would do the same.
In the meantime, let's act to preserve our democracy and our freedoms.
Donald Trump is going to look a lot like Marie Antoinette as he stands in front of Americans telling them how wonderful it all is. At the same time they’re experiencing the effects of the moronic trade war he started with the rest of the world.
The 3 pound can of coffee I buy is up $3 because he put 50% tariffs on Brazil because they had the temerity to practice actual justice against his fellow authoritarian wannabe Bolsonaro.
Elise Stefanik has proudly donned the Ultra MAGA mantle and the stench isn’t going to wash away. She owns whatever comes from Daddy’s blundering. The gilded atrocity the WH has become is on her, too.
I’m going to ask a question which might be considered naive by many. Are places such as the Smithsonian without backups for the information held within their walls? Is the “scrubbed” information gone forever or just not on display for everyone to see? If it is, in fact, gone…..does that mean that no one has a memory of what has transpired? I know my memory fails me on occasion, but if it’s written anywhere, I would think there’s a back-up somewhere. There are so many places that the truth remains, I assume it can all be recreated. I absolutely despise our current leader, but I’m hopeful for the day that he’s nothing more than a bad memory and we get our country back on track better than before all of this mess occurred.
That’s my hope and wish as well. We got into this authoritarian mess of a regime because the country had already gone off track, and too many people were susceptible to a con man who said he alone could fix it. I hope once they all wake up and realize WE TOGETHER can fix it, Trump and his flunkies will be in jail where they belong!
I'm a bit more cynical than jail or prison alone. What they've done to this country ever since Trumpty Dumpty as a "citizen" called for the capital punishment of the Central Park youths (later proven innocent) and claiming (falsely) that Middle Easterners in New Jersey were jumping for joy at the sight of 9/11, to coming down that escalator at his NYC palace, looking like an orange Benito Mussolini (not the only time) to announce his candidacy, is nothing short of treason. How better to give aid and comfort to our enemies than to destroy American democracy? We need to have our own version of the Nuremberg trials to fumigate and cleanse America.
There is so much wrong with what's going on now. Today's most depressing bad news for me is that Yates, Hamilton and Schuyler counties do not have a single practicing pediatrician for New York children. For now I'm just going to turn off the news and watch Alexander Hamilton and the Schuyler sisters in the musical...
I am (and have been for two hmpy trmPEDOphile terms) been bias about disasters..
ª Part of this is the fact most of the disasters now can be considered man-made and man-exasperated.. The first because of climate change and the second because people won't leave places where disasters are(, will or did) happening.
ª I get both parties do it logic (because clearly democrats have had the chance to stop climate change, but when exxon is funding your election.. you stay mum).. but the gQpedos party clearly WANT climate change
ª
Both sides lie.. Yes democrats are not always 100% honest and some do lie. But RIGHT NOW I am not sure if republicans like pos_tfnKKK can tell the truth AT ALL. Considering how far hmpy has pushed them out on the dishonesty branch of reality... they are now just repeating lies.
º example: I was watching an interview on CNN with a republican. He seemed to be making good points.. but the interview lasted longer than 30 seconds and then you realized he was all dishonest. At one point the reporter was prepared... the gQpedo made the statement: "CNN never covers x." to which the reporter played five clips of CNN holding democrats feet to the fire*... and the response was golden: "well I am glad CNN had all that time to fact check me" then he went on to repeat his lies
*more than they ever do republicans
====
Austin Texas. This is probably one of the most liberal cities in the United States. Also, the most gerrymandered. the city is split up like a pie, with each slice extending well past the city into republican/rural area.
I have created a graphic of how New York, Illinois and Colorado COULD redistrict so there is NO republican representation. (I made the graphic, but I took the information from a post on social media and wikipedia)
Come on, Ken. You are not being fair to Trump. Did you not see his chart showing that under his presidency all Americans have had a raise in their annual income of over $1,000 in just the past six months. Another six months of Trump and we'll all be able to afford steak again at least once a week. No lie.
He'll be gone before the snow flies. It's now a matter of containing him somehow, but I fear the repubs don't have the 'intestinal fortitude' to do so.
Some cannot afford private insurance and turn to agencies like Planned Parenthood for their healthcare because it charges on a sliding scale. Abortion may be the least frequent procedure it provides. But don't try telling that to the Anti-Choice zealots, they believe PP and the like exist to "kill babies.". Nothing more....
Ken you write “Here at home we've been watching an assault on the truth for most of the time that Elise Stefanik has been our congresswoman, especially after she refused not to lie during her 2018 campaign.”
Rep. Stefanik takes no-lies pledge. Michael Goot Jul 12, 2018https://poststar.com/news/local/rep-stefanik-takes-no-lies-pledge/article_6ca77deb-7a09-5708-92a7-1480dbd65a53.html#tncms-source=login
Having cancelled my subscription to the Post-Star I am unable to read the article. Now, if you have alternate facts, this might clear up my confusion, Both conditions cannot be true.
As to Governor Hochul abandoning the Independent Redistricting Commission -
Every 5 year old, confronted with misdeeds, cries out "but he did it first!!!!" It's not an attractive excuse at any age.
The "Independent Redistricting Commission" was not as effective as you might think from the title - the Legislature was allowed to override it.
If we need to attack gerrymandering in Texas and other states - let's do it. Let's attack the problem, not wangle our way into another one.
MaryKate Owens, Albany, NY
Democrats bring pea shooters to gunfights. No?
"It is hard to be biased politically during a disaster." / [Yes, but] Not for trump/maga/republicans-- who seem inured to all human suffering [although they, obviously, relish inflicting it] unless, of course, it should be visited upon them...
“I can’t believe what you say when I see what you do.” - James Baldwin.
What they do is despicable.
“Thou shall not bear false witness…”
I feel like religion falls into three groups or perhaps a spectrum between the three (like a color circle)
believers, non-believers and those who look at believers and think: "how can you say in the name of good (or god) you accept that"
I guess that last group could be believers or non-believers who look at 'religious' hmpy trmPedo supporters and wonder...
Really? A commemorative status for a sports event? I watched it and it was thrilling - not saying it wasn’t. But wouldn’t that $125,000 donation have done more good going to save NCPR? We need everyone in a position to make a donation, large or small, but especially large, to take a hard look at their priorities as our country is ripped away from us.
Let's face it. Sports get a LOT of attention, and money, nowadays. Just look at how college sports teams are funded, and praised.
Nothing like that amount of money, or attention, or praise, for music programs, art exhibits, writing institutes, science fairs.
funny story... I was at a school board meeting... and there was an informal award given to a student..with a $50 prize for designing a logo. I quipped: "Interesting, all the money the district spends on sports and as far as I can tell this is the first student to make money off of what she learned here."
The way the board members looked down at their fingernails.. I could tell this was not well received.
*I should point out I love sports, follow sports and often played the,
"Interesting, all the money the district spends on sports and as far as I can tell this is the first student to make money off of what she learned here."
-- Brilliant!
And sadly it was only $50... the school students had not received a sports scholarship in 17 years.. but had received many stipends and scholarships for education....
===
as I said at the end... I support sports.. but come'on
If you happen to drive through Saranac Lake, check out the monstrosity being erected in front of the high school
the lighting alone cost $582,855,
https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2025/06/saranac-lake-school-athletics-field-project-under-apa-review/
https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2025/01/turf-time/
Many people seem to think that sports are more important than academics. Sports definitely gets better attention. But, if you need surgery, would you like a doctor or a linebacker?
if you need surgery.. might be because you are a linebacker who failed physics and math = leading you to have your femur (which after you wake you... the surgery will have to explain where your femur is) had a compound fracture.... ha
I need to be honest.. living some athletic life might help you to live longer.. so learning yoga, weight training, diet, etc would be more helpful
Add to this, sports supposedly teach you teamwork and sportsmanship.. in several of my careers I witnessed sports first hand... and I would say a large percentage of coaches focused on winning..
ª cutting players who couldn't help win
ª teaching all how to play, but only allowing some play
ª arguing with referees
Some would even cheat if it meant a chance at winning or scoring more runs/points.
====
in some ways it is a pyramid scheme.. getting children to believe they have a future in sports... even if it is as a coach or management
but in reality, only the top of the pyramid profits
I get irked every school year when seemingly every school district in our area (probably statewide) arranges for a big press conference -- during class time! -- to trot out their student athletes so they can sign their letters of intent to attend/play sports at their chosen colleges. And the area media, especially the moribund TV sports reporters, gush all over these children. Some events are followed by a "happy hour" of refreshments and back slapping. So, why isn't the same done for graduating seniors on the National Honor Roll Society (some of whom are athletes) or similar school group that recognizes academic achievements?
Hi Tom I am unable to answer the why of your question although if you think a bit about my questions, you may find your own answer.
When was the last time you went to a chess tournament, how many people were in attendance?
When is the last time you attendant a sporting event, how many people were there?
Now if have never attendant neither event, I am lost I am out of questions,
Ok one more, was your question a rhetorical question? They are hard to pull off in the written language.
Especially considering that NCPR coverage of Lake Placid events is ongoing. Even a 10% donation of $12,500 would've had an impact to keep NCPR intact.
I am sure all donations are helpful
According to my calculations the yearly budget is: $2,625,000
and $315,000 has been cut
https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/51830/20250604/president-s-proposed-rescission-would-slash-315-000-from-ncpr-s-budget
Wow! Excellent point!
Thats what I was thinking - but I dont have a "dog in this fight" - since I dont live in your district. As Bob says below - sports get a LOT of attention AND money. In my opinion (!)
maybe in 3 years or so, some attention could be put to changing that.
I don’t live in the district either, but I hear what expletive are saying about the importance of NCPR in such a large rural district.
Thanks, Ken, for this morning’s informative, insightful columns. Again, A. Lincoln said, “History is not history unless it is the truth.”
Today, I would add this Shulerism: Facts are not facts unless they are the facts.
Thanks for standing for the truth and sharing the facts!
About NY doing redistricting, here's my message to Governor Hochul, using the web form at
https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form
If you've a mind, please consider sending a similar message (but, please, use your own words).
Subject:
I am in favor of extreme redistricting to answer Texas
Message:
Dear Governor Hochul,
I read with interest the Times Union coverage of your "Hochul declares 'war' amid Republican redistricting battle in Texas," August 4, by Raga Justin.
I am pleased that you demonstrated support for the Texas Democratic lawmakers who broke quorum to prevent the Texas Republicans from carrying out Donald Trump's plan to add 5 Republican House districts.
I think you should carry out this plan, even though it requires a NY Constitutional amendment. Trump and his Republican Party are only interested in advancing Trump's autocratic powers, wrecking our democracy, stealing billions of dollars to give to the rich and ultra-rich, and detaining hundreds, if not thousands, of honest, law-abiding people from our communities.
If, and only if, Republican state houses across the country return to democratic methods of redistricting, then Democrats would do the same.
In the meantime, let's act to preserve our democracy and our freedoms.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Stromberg, Round Lake, NY
Donald Trump is going to look a lot like Marie Antoinette as he stands in front of Americans telling them how wonderful it all is. At the same time they’re experiencing the effects of the moronic trade war he started with the rest of the world.
The 3 pound can of coffee I buy is up $3 because he put 50% tariffs on Brazil because they had the temerity to practice actual justice against his fellow authoritarian wannabe Bolsonaro.
Elise Stefanik has proudly donned the Ultra MAGA mantle and the stench isn’t going to wash away. She owns whatever comes from Daddy’s blundering. The gilded atrocity the WH has become is on her, too.
I’m going to ask a question which might be considered naive by many. Are places such as the Smithsonian without backups for the information held within their walls? Is the “scrubbed” information gone forever or just not on display for everyone to see? If it is, in fact, gone…..does that mean that no one has a memory of what has transpired? I know my memory fails me on occasion, but if it’s written anywhere, I would think there’s a back-up somewhere. There are so many places that the truth remains, I assume it can all be recreated. I absolutely despise our current leader, but I’m hopeful for the day that he’s nothing more than a bad memory and we get our country back on track better than before all of this mess occurred.
That’s my hope and wish as well. We got into this authoritarian mess of a regime because the country had already gone off track, and too many people were susceptible to a con man who said he alone could fix it. I hope once they all wake up and realize WE TOGETHER can fix it, Trump and his flunkies will be in jail where they belong!
I'm a bit more cynical than jail or prison alone. What they've done to this country ever since Trumpty Dumpty as a "citizen" called for the capital punishment of the Central Park youths (later proven innocent) and claiming (falsely) that Middle Easterners in New Jersey were jumping for joy at the sight of 9/11, to coming down that escalator at his NYC palace, looking like an orange Benito Mussolini (not the only time) to announce his candidacy, is nothing short of treason. How better to give aid and comfort to our enemies than to destroy American democracy? We need to have our own version of the Nuremberg trials to fumigate and cleanse America.
I would expect there are a lot of backups, redundancies.
There is so much wrong with what's going on now. Today's most depressing bad news for me is that Yates, Hamilton and Schuyler counties do not have a single practicing pediatrician for New York children. For now I'm just going to turn off the news and watch Alexander Hamilton and the Schuyler sisters in the musical...
Can't go wrong there.
Thoughts at large:
I am (and have been for two hmpy trmPEDOphile terms) been bias about disasters..
ª Part of this is the fact most of the disasters now can be considered man-made and man-exasperated.. The first because of climate change and the second because people won't leave places where disasters are(, will or did) happening.
ª I get both parties do it logic (because clearly democrats have had the chance to stop climate change, but when exxon is funding your election.. you stay mum).. but the gQpedos party clearly WANT climate change
ª
Both sides lie.. Yes democrats are not always 100% honest and some do lie. But RIGHT NOW I am not sure if republicans like pos_tfnKKK can tell the truth AT ALL. Considering how far hmpy has pushed them out on the dishonesty branch of reality... they are now just repeating lies.
º example: I was watching an interview on CNN with a republican. He seemed to be making good points.. but the interview lasted longer than 30 seconds and then you realized he was all dishonest. At one point the reporter was prepared... the gQpedo made the statement: "CNN never covers x." to which the reporter played five clips of CNN holding democrats feet to the fire*... and the response was golden: "well I am glad CNN had all that time to fact check me" then he went on to repeat his lies
*more than they ever do republicans
====
Austin Texas. This is probably one of the most liberal cities in the United States. Also, the most gerrymandered. the city is split up like a pie, with each slice extending well past the city into republican/rural area.
Consequently in the TX legislature, Austin has little if any representation. (https://bestneighborhood.org/conservative-vs-liberal-map-austin-tx/ ) so when it comes to voting on redistricting.. it is decided by a mainly republican Texas Legislature.
Arnold Schwarzenegger video on gerrymandering (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2EnuHsRJd4)
I have created a graphic of how New York, Illinois and Colorado COULD redistrict so there is NO republican representation. (I made the graphic, but I took the information from a post on social media and wikipedia)
https://i.ibb.co/NdsrcCPJ/redistrict-ny-il-co.jpg
Come on, Ken. You are not being fair to Trump. Did you not see his chart showing that under his presidency all Americans have had a raise in their annual income of over $1,000 in just the past six months. Another six months of Trump and we'll all be able to afford steak again at least once a week. No lie.
And his approval rating is 71 percent.
Please call your senators and demand they stop being complicit to genocide.
These other things are all important, but starving children to death is something America is complicit to.
He'll be gone before the snow flies. It's now a matter of containing him somehow, but I fear the repubs don't have the 'intestinal fortitude' to do so.
Storm the Bastille time?
Some cannot afford private insurance and turn to agencies like Planned Parenthood for their healthcare because it charges on a sliding scale. Abortion may be the least frequent procedure it provides. But don't try telling that to the Anti-Choice zealots, they believe PP and the like exist to "kill babies.". Nothing more....
Ken you write “Here at home we've been watching an assault on the truth for most of the time that Elise Stefanik has been our congresswoman, especially after she refused not to lie during her 2018 campaign.”
Rep. Stefanik takes no-lies pledge. Michael Goot Jul 12, 2018https://poststar.com/news/local/rep-stefanik-takes-no-lies-pledge/article_6ca77deb-7a09-5708-92a7-1480dbd65a53.html#tncms-source=login
Having cancelled my subscription to the Post-Star I am unable to read the article. Now, if you have alternate facts, this might clear up my confusion, Both conditions cannot be true.