Beware! There will be even more false information online

“The bottom line is: We take misinformation seriously.  There are many respected fact-checking organizations . . . and, while we have reached out to some, we plan to learn from many more.”

Mark Zuckerberg, personal Facebook post, November 2016

No wonder the world has so many problems.  More and more people believe the false news and half-baked truths they read online.  That's one of the reasons why Donald Trump was elected to the highest office in the land last November.  So many voters were misled or fooled by his lies.  So, Trump will be quite pleased about the recent news concerning social media.

Meta, the social networking giant which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp and Threads, has announced that it will end its longstanding fact-checking program.  The fact-checking program was started in order to restrict the spread of false information across its social media apps.  Meta will now allow more speech, and the onus will be on users to correct inaccurate and false posts.  

Obviously, it is impossible to correct all misinformation.  Readers cannot entirely be relied upon to monitor inaccurate information or outright lies. The danger is that some readers will endorse the misinformation, further spreading lies and propaganda.               

Unfortunately, there has been a mass brainwashing in America.  For example, many Americans actually believe that January 6th is of little consequence, that the attack on the Capitol in Washington was as harmless as a walk in the park.  They regard the January 6th insurrectionists as Capitol tourists.  They won't believe or can't believe what is clear to anyone who watches the videos of that horrible day.  A violent mob of white supremacists and right-wing extremists, encouraged by Donald Trump, attempted to overthrow the duly elected government of the United Sates.  That mob called for the hanging of then-Vice President Mike Pence.  It is truly frightening that the man who engineered that attack on democracy will  soon be back in the Oval Office. He wishes to pardon the January 6th insurgents and he regards them as patriots.

To please Donald Trump, Meta has opted for a wild west approach to free speech.  In other words, it has chosen a recipe for chaos.  Unfettered free speech is the law of of the jungle.  Free speech must have limits.   It should also be kept in mind that the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States does not protect the right to yell "fire" in a crowded theatre.

Not surprisingly, right wing Supreme Court Judge and Trump stooge, Samuel Alito, in his 2022 remarks to the conservative Heritage Foundation, repeated the myth that yelling "fire" in a crowded theatre is "unprotected free speech."  Alito, however, did acknowledge that the First Amendment doesn't protect all speech, including "extortion and threats," defamation., and "shouting 'fire' in a crowded theatre."

The world certainly has more information than ever before, but is humanity really better off when the truth is more difficult to find?  There's no turning back from the internet, social media and AI.  They are very useful tools when used properly.  Used improperly, they can be profoundly dangerous, especially when there is a lack of critical thinking. 

Like it more not, the internet and social media are the way of the future.  They are locked in forever.  It is foolhardy not to adjust to this reality.  Sometimes, though, books and hardcopies of newspapers seem far more trustworthy.

Meta is obviously positioning itself for Trump's inglorious return to the White House.  It is no coincidence that this decision by Meta has come just before Trump's inauguration.  Could it be that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is trying to curry favour with the Dear Leader?   

According to a report on Semafor. Zuckerberg paid homage to Trump by visiting his Mar-a-lago palace on Friday, January 10, 2025.  It was confirmed to Semiafor that Zuckerberg was spotted at Trump's Florida compound on that day.  It wasn't Zuckerberg's first visit to the compound. either.  According to CBS News, on November 28th, 2024, soon after the presidential election, the Mega chief had Thanksgiving dinner with Trump at the exclusive club.

It is no accident that just days after Mark Zuckerberg's January 10th visit to Mar-a-lago, Meta announced its new policy, ending two sources of aggravation for Trump and his supporters: fact-checking and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.  In a video, Zuckerberg stated that the changes were implemented due to "too many mistakes and too much censorship."

Below is a September 19, 2019 photo of Zuckerberg meeting Trump in the Oval Office.

It is absolutely disgusting how so many bow down to Trump.  It is tragic how he is being allowed to build his authoritarian regime, with very little impunity.  I am sickened.  How can so many seemingly educated people have forgotten the rise of fascism in the 1920s and 1930s?  Trump is using fascist language and fascist tactics.  America, what have you done?

Note:  I will try my best to practice what I preach.  I pledge to aim for the accuracy of the factual information presented on Number 16.  I will reveal my sources.

SOURCES: New York Times, "Meta Says It Will End Fact-Checking Program on Social Media Posts," Mike Isaac and Theodore Schliefer; January 9, 2025; Freedom Forum; "Is It Illegal to Yell 'Fire' in a Crowed Theater?" by Freedom Forum; Reason (reason.com), "Yes, ," by Emma Camp, October 22, 2022; Semafor,"Trump, Zuckerberg meet at Mar-a-lago," by Shelby Talcott, January 10, 2025.

- Joanne

Here is why Alpha males are not real men

 

This may sound contradictory, but it's not.  Alpha males such as Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu project an image of toughness and aggressiveness, but they are truly weak. Unfortunately, millions of men, and also many women, buy into their false bravado.  Many are attracted to their vision of masculinity.  That's one of the major reasons why Trump won the 2024 U.S.  presidential election, an election in which he should not have been permitted to run as a candidate, given his crimes.  

The truth is that Alpha males like Trump, Musk, Putin and Netanyahu have very little inner strength.  They are weak inside.  They are made of jelly.  They remind me of the Wizard of Oz, all snoke and mirrors.  They pretend that they are larger than life.  They demand unwavering loyalty.  They bully so that they appear to be mighty and strong.  However, we all know that it's a mirage.  It's all a front to cover up their lack of courage and fortitude.  The truth is that they are really insecure cowards.  They have to put others down in order to raise themselves up.  They falsely believe that empathy is a feminine trait.  

Unlike Donald Trump, real men don't brag that they can do anything to women because they are powerful, rich and famous.  They don't dismiss such words as "locker room talk."  Unlike Elon Musk, real men don't attempt to insult the Prime Minister of Canada by referring to him as "girl."  

Real men are secure.  They are comfortable in their own skin.  They have no need to bully and they have no desire to do so.  Real men respect women.  They don't put them down or treat them like chattels, sex objects, playthings or servants.  Real men are not afraid of "uppity women."  They don't think that women should know their place or answer to men.  They are not threatened by well-educated, intelligent, creative or ambitious females.  They see women as equal partners.  In fact, they encourage women to be the best they can be.  They know that life will be better for everyone when it is better for women.  Real men are secure in their masculinity.  They don't need to prove it by knocking down others.

- Joanne

My 2025 Wish List

Last year I posted my personal wish list for 2024.  I promised to let you know which of my wishes came true and to write another wish list for 2025.  

To be perfectly honest, very few of my 2024 wishes came true.  I was truly broken-hearted that Donald Trump has been returned to office.  He represents almost everything I find repugnant. However, I will not lose hope and I will continue to support democracy.  Unfortunately, I believe that the whole world is in for a rough ride.

In sports, I wished all the Toronto teams the best of fortune in 2024.  Only the Toronto Argonauts delivered.  They won the Grey Cup.  The Toronto Maple Leafs played well in the regular season, but didn't get past the first round of the playoffs.  As for the Toronto Blue Jays, they had a miserable season.  They were a disappointment as they finished last in the American League East.  The Raptors are rebuilding and they had a lot of injuries to key players.  Not much was expected of them, and they weren't contenders.

I wished that the Summer Olympics in Paris would be successful.  They were, despite worries about terrorism and unrest.  Summer McIntosh, a true champion swimmer, made Canada proud.  She won three gold medals and one silver.

Trump, Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu are an unholy trio.  They are all Alpha males in their 70s and they have caused an enormous amount suffering, death and destruction.  All three pose a threat to world peace.  Unfortunately, they are still in power.  We don't know how long we'll have to endure Putin and Netanyahu, but Trump will be president for four years (or longer).

Putin

 Netanyahu 

Trump

My final wish for 2024 was that there would be more civility in the world in, and less political and social polarization.  Trump's return to power does not bode well for that.  However, life goes on, and I can only hope that the pendulum swings in another direction. I had hoped for a greater connection between people and less isolation. I continue to hope.  I have to admit that I am glad 2024 is on its way out.  

Here is my 2025 wish list:

I continue to hope for more civility in the world, and an end to conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.  The world needs leadership as never before.  It needs stability.  I hope for stability in my own country, Canada, which is at a crossroads.  Canadians will be going to the polls in 2025.

One bright spot in 2024, was the fall of Assad in Syria.  It is my wish that life in Syria improves in 2025.  Syrians deserve a better future.

As usual, I hope that Toronto sports teams do well.  Unfortunately, I am not optimistic about the 2025 Toronto Blue Jays.  The Maple Leafs do well enough in the regular season, but they won't impress me until they win playoff games.  The Raptors have talent, but they have to put some wins on the board.  The Argos have been doing well, and I hope they continue in that direction.

All the best to you and yours in 2025.  I wish you happiness and good health.  In January of, 2026, I will write another wish list and I will let you know if any of my 2025 wishes came true. 

 Happy New Year!

     

- Joanne        

Photos from Centennial Park Conservatory (Part Two)

I always relish a visit to the Centennial Park Conservatory in Etobicoke, Ontario (in the west end of Toronto).  At this time of year, I especially appreciate its Christmas theme.  Here is a second batch of photos of the greenhouse that I took two days ago.  I hope you enjoy them.  I hope they delight you.

- Joanne

Photos from Centennial Park Conservatory (Part One)

I always relish a visit to the Centennial Park Conservatory in Etobicoke, Ontario (in the west end of Toronto).  At this time of year, I especially appreciate its Christmas theme.  Here are some photos of the greenhouse that I took two days ago.  I hope you enjoy them.  I hope they delight you.

- Joanne

Note:  I have posted a separate second batch of photos from the Centennial Park Conservatory.