Sunday, January 01, 2017

WhoWhatWhy: A Leading National + Global News Source

Whoever said "Never say never" ? ....never has there been a more urgent need for bold investigative journalism and fresh, insightful analysis.
In 2017 WWW plans to continue its nonprofit news organization's rapid growth - team’s ranks multiplied five-fold in 2016 -  toward becoming a leading national and global news source — and to introduce a number of important new beats.
They hope you will send your tips and ideas, volunteer if you can, and, of course, help them cover the cost of doing what WWW can do . 

It's a very lean operation but they still urgently need to cover the basics.

News beats they are working on:
  • Election System Integrity
  • What Is Happening to America?
  • The (Invisible) Daily Business of Government
  • Climate So-What?
  • Deep Politics Deepened
  • Increased International Focus
 

Friday, December 30, 2016

Mormons Making Fun of Themselves (Missionary Parody)

2 dudes who name themselves Joseph + Smith - how original is that, folks? -  know how the other side [they call Mormon-haters] thinks, using Adele's mega-hit.
Not home when they come knockin'?
Now what about that LDS Smile?
Published 8 months ago . . . got a listen on BBC today

Open, Transparent & Accountable Here in Mesa? ...Then Why Do We Only Get "Approved Minutes" ???



It's not easy and instead of an actual transcript of Mesa City Council regular meetings and study sessions or the goings-on at frequent public board and committees?
If - and when - these 'approved minutes' are made available doesn't seem to follow the prescribed regs in the city code for the timely publication of public actions taken by taxpayer-funded city government. . . never mind what's done in private although all officials earn their salaries on the public dime.
How's it supposed to work?
mebbe something like this:
Where 'a minute-taker' is usually [or sometimes-not] physically present at meetings.
In other words there is a human intervention in the flow of information who writes down notes on the public discussion that somehow produce outcomes accurately while getting passed up the chain-of-command to another person - usually the Mesa City Manager Chris Brady - who provides a document that gets passed to the City Clerk for publication on mesaaz.gov .
For example
Go to this this page City Council Approved Detailed Minutes  where you will find a 7-page document, only available in .PDF format, for the December 5, 2016 meeting.
There is an added subheading with this tidbit
If the document you are searching for is not found below, please email clerk.info@mesaaz.gov with your request.

Go to this this page Calendar/Council, Board & Committee Research Center and you will find only 3 listings of publicly-available Minutes out of 13 meetings on the December 2016 calendar - none from the City Council although meeting and study sessions took place on Dec 1, 8 and 12.


 

City Observatory Moves Into The Void About "Affordable"

Urban myth busting: New rental housing and median-income households
By Joe Cortright      

Hail To The Chief With Empty Raised Hands! . . . It's NOT His Fault?

ASU president paints bleak picture of Arizona’s economy, future
Compare reality...the data and empirical research...with the fairytales and fantasies the AZ GOP is advancing for political power.
Here's the biggest, pants are on fire, fairytale of all: if we just cut taxes, the economy will expand, we'll all have jobs, and live happily ever after.
Read through the Crow presentation and if you still think the GOP trickle down, voodoo economic model is working for you...or has a chance of success, then I suggest you just place your head between your knees and kiss your ass goodbye.

Pie's End-of-Year Rant. 2016 > Hold On for 9:29 Minutes!

Tim's gone to get pizza
Published on Dec 30, 2016
Views: 18,624
Pie's annual Christmas Party drunken round-up of 2016.

CDMX >> Mexico City Named The World Design Capital For 2018

Earlier this year, Mexico City beat out strong competition from another Latin American destination to be named the Americas’ first World Design Capital. This biannual honour is to be bestowed on the Mexican capital in 2018, and will no doubt draw even greater global attention to the city that the New York Times named 2016’s top traveller destination.
Source: Culturetrip
Article written by Lauren Cocking Updated:

The underlying intention of the World Design Capital initiative, which began back in 2008 and has so far bestowed its eponymous title onto six cities worldwide, is to promote the use of design as an effective tool for social, economic and cultural development. Cities which can effectively demonstrate their ability to use design in such a way, through projects that can be applied in other cities across the world, are elected biannually as the World Design Capital.
The principal reason Mexico City was bestowed with this prestigious honour was due to its use of design in several public spheres such as security, health and communications, with one great example being the newly introduced bike sharing scheme.
Officials involved with the programme also acknowledge that ‘Mexico City has a powerful story to share on the world stage, as a model for other megacities around the world using design to tackle the challenges of urbanization and ensure a more liveable city.’
. . . At the signing ceremony which officially confirmed Mexico City as the World Design Capital in March of this year, the city’s signature colour was unveiled; a deep shade of pink.

 

It’s no coincidence that just recently official taxis became pink and white and the newly appointed official acronym for the city – CDMX – sprung up everywhere in various hues of magenta; in fact, this deliberate election of pink by the WDC committee for Mexico only reinforces the collaboration between design and social spheres.