Never mind that "Big Elephants In-The-Room" thing, either here in Mesa or in Phoenix in the Arizona State House (there are a lot of "Jack-Ass" Democrats there too) let's shift to our own home turf and home-grown Dinosaur politicos: State Senator David Farnsworth.
What's he been up to lately? Is he failing to evolve like what made Dinosaurs extinct? Or just up to censoring what people see on state roads? Blogger's Note: According to Ballotpedia , Professionally, Fransworth has been involved in 'entrepreneurial endeavors'. He has owned multiple companies, several of which were related to the automotive industry. He has also worked in retail department management.[3]. He earned his A.A. from Mesa Community College in 1979.[3] From another source, he's been representing District 16 since his appointment September 11, 2013 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Rich Crandall.[3]
Of course he's entitled to his own opinions on any subject and to express them, just like every one of us in the land of the free and the home of the brave. His family's been here for generations mostly as real estate developers on citrus properties and former agricultural lands and has roots as they say "deep in the community" in one way or another, a cohort of friends-families-and-related businesses in local government and Arizona politics. Now what's up?
First one story then another- one from Howie Fischer who covers the times in the Arizona State Capitol and one from Stephen Lemons writing on Front Page Confidential about censorship and freedom speech. Throw a little Pot into that fertile mix and we get at least two stories all about what David Farnsworth saw and didn't like while driving around, maybe to-and-from work - it wasn't this roadside billboard shown in the image to the left by Stephen Lemons for his report.
First let's have Howie tell the story his story his way about a popular referendum originating with voters and overwhelmingly approved, in spite of Arizona legislative opposition.
GOP lawmaker seeks to ban billboards
advertising medical marijuana
By: Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services December 13, 2017 , 12:08 pm The way Sen. David Farnsworth sees it, the decision by voters to legalize the sale of marijuana for medical uses does not mean they get to promote it.
So the Mesa Republican has introduced legislation which would ban billboard advertising for the drug in places they’re most likely to be seen. SB 1032 would make it illegal to advertise any drug illegal under federal law — and that includes marijuana — along state roads.
Whether that’s legal or not is up for debate.
Attorney Jeff Kaufman who has specialized in legal issues surrounding marijuana questioned whether the state could enact special rules for a product that is legal, at least under state law. He pointed out that judges in Arizona have said the state can’t use the federal prohibition as a reason to enact regulations that hamper the ability of marijuana dispensaries to operate. . ." Entire article in link below. Suffice it to say that both legal sources say any bill drafted by Farnsworth would either be eventually stricken down or simply that states cannot ban ideas.
He specifically complained to Capitol Media Services about a billboard he saw which says that there has been no increase in teen use of the drug in Colorado since marijuana was legalized for recreational purposes. Farnsworth says that’s “totally false.” “I personally have been offended in my own neighborhood when I see a billboard that’s promoting marijuana usage,” he said. Here's the link if U want to read more > http://azcapitoltimes.com
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Some people may be familiar with Stephen Lemons who published this just yesterday on 16 Dec 2017 Arizona Legislator Seeks to Ban Fact-Based Billboards That Promote Marijuana
An Arizona state senator has proposed a law to censor billboards that promote legal weed. "The ACLU correctly points out that the signs are protected by the First Amendment.
Meet the buzzkill: Arizona state Sen. David Farnsworth (Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons)When it comes to Arizona state Sen. David Farnsworth’s fixation on pro-marijuana billboards, an admonition from Jack Nicholson’s character Col. Nathan R. Jessup in the 1992 drama A Few Good Men comes to mind: “You can’t handle the truth!” The Arizona Daily Star reports that Farnsworth introduced legislation that he thinks will bring down the billboards, many of which proliferate in the Phoenix metro area courtesy of Weedmaps, a company that crowdsources reviews of marijuana dispensaries and various strains of weed. . . A Republican of the über-conservative stripe whose district is located in Mesa, east of Phoenix, Farnsworth was referring to a specific billboard. It reads, “Since legalizing marijuana in 2012, Colorado has had no increase in youth marijuana use. Neither has Washington.” Farnsworth contends that the claim is “totally false.” But the billboard goes so far as to cite sources that back up the statement. Two sources, to be exact: a study in Colorado and another in Washington. Senator Farnsworth is not one to let facts get in the way of his distastes, however. Lemons goes on to note: "As written, Farnsworth’s measure applies only to highways, so it wouldn’t affect billboards in his neighborhood. But the senator told the Star he’ll deal with that loophole later. The bill has other flaws too, though. . .READ MORE > Front Page Confidential
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Sorry, kids, after living in NYC for more than 20 years, Trump was usually kept on the back-pages while craving to be always on front-page attention --- now it's your turn to enjoy twitting an overblown-ego
Published on Dec 12, 2017
Jonathan Pie added a new video: Enough is Enough! Pie has, quite frankly, had enough of Donald Trump!
Today, Christmas trees can be found all over the world, but medieval Germans were the first to fully embrace the tradition. Even before that, many cultures, including ancient Egyptians, worshipped evergreen trees and branches as a symbol of eternal life. Following is the text of the video. Trees have long been used to decorate homes. Ancient Chinese, Hebrews, and Egyptians viewed evergreens as symbols of eternal life. European pagans "decked the halls" with evergreen branches to bring in life during the dark days of winter. But, medieval Germans are credited with starting the Xmas tree tradition. They brought fir trees inside on December 24. The trees were decorated with wafers, candles, and red apples. These "paradise trees" symbolized the Garden of Eden. 17th-century German settlers brought the tradition to North America. The tradition didn't catch on with most Americans until Queen Victoria popularized it. In 1846, Victoria and her German husband, Prince Albert, put up a Xmas tree. They decorated it with toys, candy, popcorn, and cakes. Once word spread, the popularity of Christmas trees took off. It became a tradition throughout England and North America. Now, they can be found all over the world.
Your MesaZona blogger got 'wired' first thing today - hitting up a source that's not been connected with in far too long a time: Wired, one of the information sources for publishing this blog. Needless to say, the original George Lucas' Star War franchise was sucked-up by Disney who produced the last few episodes, with this being the most recent feature on the big screen. We now almost every year get Santa Claus and Star Wars at the same time: Make-Believe or not, convenient fiction or fantasy, or not - they both have their fans in holiday season. https://www.wired.com/story/star-wars-last-jedi-inclusion/ Star Wars: The Last JediWill Bother Some People. Good Angela Watercutter 15 Dec 2017
The Last Jediisn’t here to appease the old guard. And that goes for both categories of reactionaries—the Star Wars fan upset that the franchise’s heroes now include (::clutches pearls::) womenandpeople of color, and the misogynist, racist, classist, dark side of the populace that’s always been present, wielding power in one form or another. In themes and plot, The Last Jedi asserts again and again that monolithic dominance isn't good for anyone. The movie isn't here to Make the Galaxy Great Again. It's to tell the stories of the people who want to actually fix it.This, of course, manifests itself in ways large and small. . . But the real issuesThe Last Jedibrings to the fore emerge not in character traits, but over much longer arcs. . . Some of the best bits ofThe Last Jediare open to interpretation, and over-analysis would suck out all the fun. But suffice to say, The Last Jediisn't without a point of view, and the Force-sensitive will see it right away. . . Every Star Wars movie from here on out will probably be considered in the context of the period and political climate surrounding its release. Jedi have always been leery of politics and politicians, and George Lucas himself has said that George W. Bush is Darth Vader and Dick Cheney is Emperor Palpatine. But writer-director Rian Johnson’s movie seems to be turning those covert ideas into overt messages—first by portraying a universe with a more inclusive cast of characters, and then by making them actually talk about what it means to “resist” (aka be in the Resistance) and how to achieve those goals.. . . the movie that will likely resonate for a long time: that the latestStar Warsseems far more interested in reinventing the franchise than merely re-reawakening it. This is true for both its narrative, and characters used to tell it. There may always be people who don’t want more broad representation in cinema, who would rather things stayed the same, or even reverted. This isn’t going to happen with Star Wars, so perhaps it’s time that those people take a piece of advice from Kylo himself—and let the past die. ________________________________________________________________ One insert here about the original character Princess Leia
To start with, it's no spoiler to say that Carrie Fisher is pretty bloomin' awesome in The Last Jedi. As Princess Leia, she continues to guide the Rebellion, even as it looks to be in its death throes, and inspires her small but spirited army in the fight against the First Order and her angsty son Kylo Ren. But Fisher, who passed ...
Daniel Shaver Killing Sergeant In CommandHad Prior Discipline For Abusive Behavior 12/13/2017 1:47 PM PST The Sergeant who repeatedly threatened to kill Daniel Shaver in the moments leading up to his death was under review for his abusive attitude ... TMZ has learned. Charles Langley was the supervisor on scene in January 2016 when officer Philip Brailsford gunned down Shaver at a Mesa, Arizona hotel. You hear Langley bark a series of threats, including, "You do that again we're shooting you, do you understand?!"
Turns out Langley was disciplined back in 2010 for bad behavior. Internal affairs reprimanded him for "personal behavior, conduct and attitude toward coworkers and superiors, defaming or discrediting coworkers," and most significantly -- "failure to lead subordinates consistent with the mission and vision of the Mesa Police Department" ... this according to police documents obtained by TMZ. Langley was ordered to improve his work ethic and required to take training courses, and if he didn't get better, he was threatened with termination. Langley retired in April 2016, just 3 months after Shaver's death, and moved to the Philippines.
He wasn't in the country to face punishment for his role in the shooting. We're told Shaver's family plans to use this information as evidence in their lawsuit against the Mesa PD, claiming Langley was unfit to be leading the unit that resulted in Brailsford killing Shaver.
Happy Hanukkah 2017: What the Jewish festival of lights is all about It started on December 12th ... and has a long history [see more]
It’s the start of the eight-day festival of lights and that means more than a week’s worth of celebrations. That means getting the family together, exchanging presents and lighting eight very special candles. Chanukah or Ḥanukah) is a Jewish holiday about the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt.
Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. It is also known as the Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication.
The Background Story from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah
Judea was part of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt until 200 BCE when King Antiochus III the Great of Syria defeated King Ptolemy V Epiphanes of Egypt at the Battle of Panium. Judea then became part of the Seleucid Empire of Syria.[24] King Antiochus III the Great wanting to conciliate his new Jewish subjects guaranteed their right to "live according to their ancestral customs" and to continue to practice their religion in the Temple of Jerusalem.[25] However, in 175 BCE, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the son of Antiochus III, invaded Judea, at the request of the sons of Tobias.[26] The Tobiads, who led the Hellenizing Jewish faction in Jerusalem, were expelled to Syria around 170 BCE when the high priest Onias and his pro-Egyptian faction wrested control from them. The exiled Tobiads lobbied Antiochus IV Epiphanes to recapture Jerusalem ..
A Guest Opinion from Peter Sepp published yesterday in AZ Capitol Times where he mentions joining AZ Senator Jeff Flake at something called "an employee town hall" at GECO here in Mesa on November 17th that readers of this blog might remember more for the open mic gaf where Mayor John Giles called President Trump an idiot. How did we all miss anything Peter Sep might have wanted to say when Giles stole the spotlight from the both of them? So let's give Peter Sepp a chance . . keeping in mind how these conservatives - adding AZ Congressman to the cohorts - organize or benefit from political action committees
With Jeff Flake getting wobbly on voting in favor of a Republic Tax Reform Bill that no one's seen or hasn't been finalized, and more Senators coming out against, AZ Senator John McCain in the hospital, way too many variables and everyone bucking for positions in deals, this is becoming a cause overwhelmingly lobbied for by conservative groups, that could bite the dust in the Congressional bin halls. Passing comprehensive tax reform is vital for Arizona businesses, families 14 Dec 2017 5:42 pm (Source link after opinion)
" Our federal tax code is long overdue for a complete overhaul – it has saddled businesses with some of the world’s highest tax rates, deprived families of their earnings, and served as an obstacle to the growth of the national economy. That’s why I was pleased on November 17 to join Arizona Senator Jeff Flake for an employee town hall meeting on tax reform at Geco, a Mesa-based aerospace technology company. It was truly an occasion for taxpayers to celebrate, coming just a day after Senator Flake’s colleagues in the House of Representatives passed a tax reform bill through their chamber. Opinion continues after this insert: ________________________________________________________________ Here's a vid from two years ago
_________________________________________________________________________________ Now for the first time in years, federal lawmakers are moving legislation that would provide deep and lasting tax relief for Arizona businesses like Geco and for families across Arizona. Under both the House’s and the Senate’s proposals, our nation’s corporate tax rate would be slashed to just 21 percent, with tax rates for small businesses (so-called “pass-throughs”) also dropping to historically low levels. This means businesses of all sizes would be empowered to expand, invest more capital, and hire more employees. Tax reform is therefore key to creating new jobs in Arizona and building a platform for sustained growth that can benefit the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Pete Sepp
The current plans now advancing through Congress would also deliver much-needed relief for middle-class families. And according the Tax Foundation, thanks to the economic growth unleashed by the bill, the typical Arizona family could expect almost $2,200 in after-tax additional income. There’s equally exciting news on the way. The Senate’s iteration of tax reform could mean even greater gains for families as the legislation is prepared for floor action. Tax reform presents still other important opportunities. By simplifying the law, we can help update and improve a tax system that President Trump has called “ridiculously complex” and ensure that taxpayers are no longer forced to waste nearly 7 billion hours and spend more than $262 billion complying with a broken tax code. The reality is that everyone would benefit from pro-growth, simplified tax reform, especially American workers. And make no mistake, corporate tax changes can have this effect, too. Even the Congressional Budget Office, which has a skeptical analytical outlook, acknowledges that one-fourth of the corporate income tax burden is attributable to workers “in proportion to their labor income.” Other research puts that proportion more than twice as high, showing that in the end bad business tax policy hurts workers the most, in the form of fewer opportunities and depressed wages. On the other hand, sensible tax policy would help workers immensely. As Senator Flake and his colleagues pursue their efforts to reform our tax code, it is critical that they treat all sectors of our economy equally, avoiding punitive taxes that target specific industries. By striving to treat all businesses fairly and focusing on delivering real tax relief, our elected officials can help change the direction of our economy and unlock the American dream for millions more of us. Through advocacy on Capitol Hill, public outreach, ads, and other implements in our “Tax Reform Toolkit,” National Taxpayers Union is working hard to move legislation across the finish line. Together with Senator Flake – a stalwart taxpayers’ friend – we can get the job done. http://azcapitoltimes.com
__________________________________________________________________________________ Pete Sepp is president of the National Taxpayers Union, taking over the position in 1988. He has made Congressional testimonies, policy papers, initiated tax revolts and played a role in the creation of the Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment. Through appearances on Fox, CNN and CNBC as well as publications such as the Wall Street Journal and USA Today, Sepp has made a large impact over his time in the Presidency. Re: Political Action Committee (PAC) National Taxpayers Union from Open Secrets Link to some information that is based on data released by the FEC on December 15, 2017 except for independent expenditure and communication cost, contributions to federal candidates, and contributions from individual donor data, which were released by the FEC on November 06, 2017.
Of course he's entitled to his own opinions on any subject and to express them, just like every one of us in the land of the free and the home of the brave. His family's been here for generations mostly as real estate developers on citrus properties and former agricultural lands and has roots as they say "deep in the community" in one way or another, a cohort of friends-families-and-related businesses in local government and Arizona politics. Now what's up? 
First one story then another- one from Howie Fischer who covers the times in the Arizona State Capitol and one from Stephen Lemons writing on Front Page Confidential about censorship and freedom speech. Throw a little Pot into that fertile mix and we get at least two stories all about what David Farnsworth saw and didn't like while driving around, maybe to-and-from work - it wasn't this roadside billboard shown in the image to the left by Stephen Lemons for his report. 
