Aviation VOL

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Aviation VOL ToNIGHT Mostly Cloudy. Low of 38. Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews Search for The Westfield“W NewsE CANNOT Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews MAKE GOOD IME IS THE ONLY Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “T NE WS OUT OF WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUTBAD PRACTICE .” TONIGHT AMBITION.” — Edward Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Search forR. The Mu WestfieldRRoW News Westfield350.comWestfield350.orgLow of 55. Thewww.thewestfieldnews.com WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 centsCRITIC WITHOUT VTONIGHToL. 88 N o. 97 SATuRDAY, APRIL 27, 2019 75AMBITION Cents .” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com WTA Aviation VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 Elks Lodge to hold 75 cents senior Jared donation drive for Fournier homeless veterans named By PETER CURRIER Correspondent WESTFIELD- The Westfield and West Springfield Vocational Elks Lodge will hold a donation drive for homeless veterans on Saturday, May 4th at Stanley Park from 8 Technical a.m. to noon. The drive is meant to collect home furnishings that will be donated to the Homeward Vets organization. Student Homeward Vets is a veteran’s support organization that helps formerly homeless U.S. veterans stock their of the Year new house or apartment with appliances, furniture, By AMY PORTER and kitchen supplies. Correspondent “We’re looking at the countertop stuff,” said Chris WESTFIELD – Jared Fournier, a Chistolini of the Elks Lodge, “We’re looking for senior in the first graduating class of things like toasters, microwaves, chairs, tables, and the Aviation Maintenance Technology Friday Night Artwalk utensils.” (AMT) program at Westfield Technical Chistolini said that this is the 5th year that the Elk’s Patty Stephens, right, points out a favorite scratchboard painting to artist Academy has been named the WTA Lodge has held this drive. Each year, a truck is pulled Donna Carmel at Two Rivers Burrito. See additional photos Page 8. (Photo by Vocational Technical Student of the in to Stanley Park and it is filled with the day’s dona- Marc St.Onge) Year, and was honored on April 11 at tions. When the drive is over, the truck goes to a ware- a banquet at Mechanics Hall in house owned by Homeward Vets and unloads. Veterans Worcester which celebrated all of the in need, some of whom have come out of substance state’s award winners. abuse programs, are then allowed to go and choose Peter Taloumis, Career Technical Education Director at WTA, said that Next 350 lecture to discuss See Donation, Page 3 the state awards banquet is for stu- dents who excelled in their academic and technical areas, and is sponsored history of whips in the Whip City every year by the Mass. Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA) By PETER CURRIER Proposed marijuana and the Mass. Vocational Assoc. Correspondent (MVA). Dept. of Elementary and WESTFIELD- The Westfield 350 facility holding Secondary Education (DESE) Historical Lecture Series will continue Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley was Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Scanlon there to hand out the plaques, he said. Banquet Hall with a talk by author and local historian Bruce Cortis about the outreach meeting Taloumis said the qualifications for By GREG FITZpaTRICK history of the whip industry in Westfield. the honor at WTA include a GPA of Correspondent Cortis’ lecture will follow the whip 3.5 or higher, high competency skill SOUTHWICK – As required by the commonwealth, industry in Westfield from the 18th cen- set in their trade area, and attendance Paul Dellatorre of Southwick Greenhouses Inc., will tury to the mid-20th century. He will among other criteria. All the shops hold an outreach meeting on Thursday at Roma’s nominate a student, and the one with discuss the earliest companies, inven- The next lecturer, Bruce Cortis, with his Restaurant at 6:30 p.m. for his proposed marijuana the highest rating in the school tions, and labor issues that accompanied book and the ‘family tree’ of whip compa- growing and production facility. receives the honor. The purpose of the outreach meeting is to allow See 350 Lecture, Page 7 nies behind him. (Photo by Peter Currier) Taloumis submitted the following people in the community to become aware of his busi- description of Jared Fournier for the ness and the details of it. It was also required that awards banquet: Dellatorre send letters to abutters within 300 feet of his Jared Fournier, son of Mark and property. ‘Totally 80s Party’ to benefit YMCA Southwick Greenhouses Inc. at 27 Hudson Dr. has See Aviation, Page 7 been operating in town since 1983 growing roses, is By LORI SZEPELAK “They never disappoint,” looking to grow and produce marijuana in their facil- Correspondent said Allard. ity. Dellatorre is looking to get approval for a special WESTFIELD — For area Allard said the commit- residents who remember tee has set a goal of raising See Outreach Meeting, Page 5 the funky and totally awe- $45,000. some 1980s, an evening to “Last year’s event – celebrate the decade is ZBTB – was a smashing planned as a fundraiser for success,” said Allard, not- the YMCA of Greater ing that close to 275 area Westfield on June 1. residents attended the Environmental Billed as a “Totally 80’s party. “Over $43,000 was Party,” the event commit- raised and all who attended study set for North tee prefers to keep most of had rave reviews. This year the details of the “premier programs are specifically will prove to also be fun party” under wraps to designed to develop the and entertaining.” Pond property ensure delightful surprises whole person in spirit, While a silent auction By GREG FITZpaTRICK for attendees. mind and body.” and live auction will be Correspondent “Funds raised from this The seventh annual pre- highlights of the evening SOUTHWICK – The Franklin Land Trust has a goal event will support the mier event begins at 6 p.m. affair, what everyone will to purchase the 146-acre North Pond property that sur- important work of the and will be conducted on be talking about is the rounds Congamond Lake in late May and is in the YMCA and the programs it the campus of Westfield entertainment, also under process of completing the purchase for the remaining provides to our communi- State University with a wraps at press time. 60 acres. WTA senior Jared Fournier is a ty,” said Andrea Allard, menu of “delicious choic- “The entertainment will On March 19, Southwick voting residents voted in member of the first-ever Aviation CEO, YMCA, adding, es” provided by Westfield favor of a total of $1.7 million which will preserve the graduating class. (Photo submitted) “These signature YMCA State Dining Services. See Totally 80s, Page 5 remaining 60 acres of the North Pond land. A combina- tion of two warrant articles, the first warrant article was to see if the town would allow the CPC (Community Preservation Committee) to allocate $500,000 out of their account. The second article was to see if the town Nonprofit seeks to build ‘villages’ across area could bond the remaining $1.2 million, which will affect the tax rate. By LORI SZEPELAK Village, a nonprofit based in Cummington. Before the Franklin Land Trust can complete the Correspondent The May 11 event, free and open to the purchase of the remaining 60 acres, they needed a 21e WESTFIELD — Building bridges and “vil- public, is slated from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the environmental site assessment to be conducted. lages” to assist families in the region is part of Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield, 28 Franklin Land Trust is hiring Environmental Risk an overall strategy for one hill town organiza- West Silver St. Advisors of Wilbraham to conduct the 21e. The duty of tion. Clothing and supplies are free to everyone, the environmental consultant service is to see if there’s “We are hosting our first Village Closet regardless of income or town of residence, any contamination or hazardous materials on or under- Pop-Up and Westfield Family Resource Fair and bags will be available, noted Hartford. neath the property. so local families can get the baby gear they “We realized families were coming to us Environmental Risk Advisors began by conducting a need without the long drive to Cummington,” from the Westfield area and mentioned they phase-one process, which involves doing a records said Mollie Hartford, co-executive director and development manager for It Takes a See Villages, Page 7 See North Pond Property, Page 8 PAGE 2 - SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Where is The Westfield News? Paige Stomski and her friend Brianna Reiser made sure to bring a copy of The Westfield News while on a spring break cruise to Belize and Mexico. Remember, when you’re traveling take a copy of The Westfield News with you and show us where you’ve been. E-mail the photo with a brief description to pressreleases@ thewestfieldnews.com. ODDS & ENDS New study says TONIGHT SUNDAY MONDAY universe expanding faster and is younger By SETH BORENSTEIN Associated Press Rain Likely. Sunny WASHINGTON (AP) — The universe is expanding faster than it used to, meaning it’s about a billion years younger than we thought, 52-54 57-59 a new study by a Nobel Prize winner says. And that’s sending a shudder through the world of Today: A slight chance of showers between 2pm and 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. West wind 8 to 15 mph, with physics, making astronomers re-think some of gusts as high as 26 mph.
Recommended publications
  • 2018 NASCAR Drivers (Last Name)
    Name: ___________________________________________________________________ 2018 NASCAR Drivers (Last Name) 1 K 2 3 B Y R O N K 4 B M E 5 U C C N 6 7 K U B U S C H D B O W M A N 8 9 A C A O S I 10 11 L T H S W O H N 12 L D T E R A G A N G 13 14 M I D A L E M L T 15 16 17 18 K E S E L O W S K I A D I L L O N L O G A N O N L A B N S I R N 19 20 D O L Y E L E Y J O N S 21 22 I N L N O N O B N 23 24 25 N K A H N E B A Y N E S T E N H O U S E G C D E W W 26 27 28 E G A S E E J O H N S O N T R U E X Y M R T E A 29 30 31 32 W H I T T E L L I O T T R N 33 A O A M 34 35 S U A R E Z J B C V O L M 36 37 I A L M I R O L A B U E S C H E R C E N R 38 K M E N A R D Y A Y Across 31.
    [Show full text]
  • June, So 3.) Alton Georg………………………………...…………..2139 Mark Those Calendars and Get Your Young- 4.) Eric Pohlenz………………………………...…………
    GCF&G ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEES FOR 2020 ARE DUE ON 12/31/19. YOUR RENEWAL DUES FOR 2020 CAN BE PAID STARTING ON 10/01/19. A RENEWAL FORM WILL BE MAILED OUT FIRST CLASS TO ALL GCF&G MEMBERS IN SEPTEMBER, PLEASE MAKE A NOTE. PRESIDENT’S COLUMN. 2019 RIM-FIRE OFF-HAND LEAGUE RESULTS! The big event for this month is our 1.) Jack Evans………………………………….…………..2234 “Junior Outdoor Training Day” (formerly known as JAKES Day). 2.) Drew Watkins…………………………...…………….. 2221 nd This will be held on the 22 of June, so 3.) Alton Georg………………………………...…………..2139 mark those calendars and get your young- 4.) Eric Pohlenz………………………………...…………. 2135 sters out to the club to participate. 5.) Keith White…………………………………………….. 2114 I see a lot of the same kids year after 6.) Neal Ontko……………………..………………..…….. 2103 year, and they always seem to enjoy the 7.) Terry Allen…………………………………..…………. 2094 activities. We need more youth involve- 8.) Ray Titcombe…………………………………...…….. 2079 ment! They are the future of our club and 9.) David Parsley..………………………………………… 2065 our hunting and shooting sports. Several clubs like ours have closed up 10.) Al Sawyer……………………………………………...2057 in recent years for one reason or another. 11.) Randy Titcombe……………………………………...2023 We have programs at our own club that 12.) Bill Austin……………………………………………...1918 are suffering from a lack of participation. 13.) James Tweed……………………….......................1906 If there is a program you like at the 14.) Barry Ingle.…………………………………………….1883 club, tell your friends, bring them out, have 15.) Melissa Russell………………………………………. 1882 fun and promote it to keep it active and 16.) Bill Barney……………………………………………..1859 growing. 17.) Randy Wimer………………………………………….
    [Show full text]
  • Trevor Bayne, 2011 Daytona 500 Winner
    Trevor Bayne, 2011 Daytona 500 Winner The youngest driver to win the great American race gave the historic wood brothers team its fifth Daytona 500 victory it is first since 1976 with david pearson and bayne did it in a no 21 ford that was retrofitted to resemble persons famed ride. He still competes as schedule at homestead Miami speedway this weekend in the nationwide and spirit cup series finales. It is a matter of joy that just one day after celebrating his 20th birthday and leaving his teenage yearsTrevor Bayne, 2011 Daytona 500 Winner and behind the aw shucks Tennessean who shaves once a week and considers Rugrats his favorite TV show capture the sport’s biggest race. When he found himself at the front and victory just two laps away he never thought that it would last. Bayne was comments and just to say he had been leading at the start of the green white checkered. It is so amazing matter that after that issue occurred he continues his race. After then he says “I am little bit worried that one of them is going to come after me tonight, he said “I am going to have to sleep with one eye open. That’s why I said I felt a little undeserving. I am leading and I am saying, ‘who can I push??? Bayne thought for sure Tony Stewart or someone else would attempt to pass andNobody did. As the field approached the green flag race leader DavidRegan moved into the bottom lane before crossing the start/finish line and was black flagged.
    [Show full text]
  • There Are No Small Efforts Meet the Staff
    National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Holiday 2010 A Newsletter for Fire Service Survivors THere are no Small efforts ll of us who work with the Foundation have great stories of people who work behind the scenes to help the Foundation in countless ways throughout Athe year. We want to bring some of those stories to light, both as a way to give well deserved credit, and as a way to let others know that there are many ways, small and large, to contribute to the Foundation and its mission. We appreciate every effort. Skillful HandS Lt. Eric Evers of the Summit Fire Department in New Jersey volunteers with the command staff during the annual Lt. Paul Imbimbo, Lt. Eric Memorial Weekend. But he has also donated his time and Evers, Lt. David Guida, FF Brian Harnois, and BC Joe labor as a skilled carpenter, constructing display cases for Wurtzbacher at the Memorial merchandise in the Foundation store, as well as flag cases. importance of families and friends. As for the little things I It’s a beautiful example of one person using his particular have done personally over the years for the Foundation, each gifts for the greater good. In Eric’s own words: of us has our own quiet way of contributing. Making and Being involved in the Memorial Weekend is an honor and building things is mine. Even better that it is for such a good a standing tradition for the Summit Fire Department. Not cause—honoring and supporting the families of our fallen only does it give us a chance to interact with the staff and the brothers and sisters.
    [Show full text]
  • IWF Defends E-Cigs Without Disclosing Funding from E-Cig Industry
    Pay-to-Play: IWF Defends e-Cigs without Disclosing Funding from e-Cig Industry independentwomensforum.org/news/pay-to-play-iwf-defends-juul-without-disclosing-juul-funding May 23, 2019 The Independent Women’s Forum has published more than a dozen posts advocating for deregulation of e-cigarettes and promoting the benefits of vaping since 2018. Those pieces downplay the adverse health effects of nicotine, an addictive substance derived from tobacco plants which has been linked to heart disease. But there is much more to this story. By Evan Vorpahl and Lisa Graves Some of IWF’s claims backing e-cigs and attacking their regulation have appeared in USA Today, the Hill, and The Washington Examiner. Its representatives have also made such claims in media appearances on local radio stations and on the National Rifle Association’s video arm, NRATV. But in all of these outlets IWF has failed to disclose that it has been funded by tobacco and vaping companies determined to re-normalize the use of tobacco. IWF/V does not disclose its corporate funders in articles. After its recent Koch funding was revealed by others, it put the 2018 gala program on its website, with no disclosure of its history of corporate and trade group funding. However, we have documentation of tobacco funding since at least 2017. When it first began accepting tobacco money is not known. Those documents show that Philip Morris International was an underwriter in 2017. PMI’s most famous products are cancer-causing Marlboro cigarettes. According to Reuters, Philip Morris “has spent more than $3 billion developing new smoking platforms like iQOS,” an electric cigarette that heats tobacco into a vapor rather than burning it.
    [Show full text]
  • Fighting Fire with Fire at Goethe from Raids 17,500 Acres of Controlled Burns Planned for Goethe State Park
    CHIEFLAND Thursday, January 17, 2019 Proudly serving Chiefland and Levy County for 69 years C2 sections, 20 pages ITIZEN Volume 69, Number 47 www.chieflandcitizen.com Chiefland, FL 32644 $.75 City releases monies seized Fighting fire with fire at Goethe from raids 17,500 acres of controlled burns planned for Goethe State Park SUZETTE COOK SUZETTE COOK Reporter Reporter Chiefland Police Chief ou can hear Scott Anderson was the blades given the go ahead by Yspinning in the City Commission to the distance. Florida spend $15,000 out of Forest Service crew the $51,811 deposited members are hoping into the Law Enforce- that the helicopter ment Trust Fund last on its way from week. Withlacoochee to the According to City Goethe State Forest Manager Mary Ellzey, headquarters will be the deposited cash was a big one. forfeited monies seized “Hear the bird?” during the raid of eight one firefighter yells internet cafes on Nov. out. “Sounds like the 3. With that the depos- Huey!” it, the fund balance Within 10 minutes, reached $60,697.38 as a Bell UH-1H, aka of Jan. 14. “the Huey,” with the See RAID Page 4A No. 24 on its nose, comes into view, makes a smooth landing and is Love March to greeted by Incident Commander Jerry honor Dr. King Horton. A Community Love Everyone’s happy March and celebration to have the Huey will be held in honor of because of the extra SUZETTE COOK/Citizen Dr. Martin Luther King, room. Not only will Mitigation Specialist and Public Informations Officer Ludie Bond ensures there is effective communication between Jr.
    [Show full text]
  • Discovering Fake News Embedded in the Opposing Hashtag Activism Networks on Twitter: #Gunreformnow Vs
    Open Information Science 2019; 3: 137–153 Research article Miyoung Chong* Discovering fake news embedded in the opposing hashtag activism networks on Twitter: #Gunreformnow vs. #NRA https://doi.org/10.1515/opis-2019-0010 Received October 19, 2018; accepted June 3, 2019 Abstract: After Russia’s malicious attempts to influence the 2016 presidential election were revealed, “fake news” gained notoriety and became a popular term in political discourses and related research areas. Empirical research about fake news in diverse settings is in the beginning phase while research has revealed limitedly that “what we know about fake news so far is predominantly based on anecdotal evidence.” The purpose of this study is to investigate fake news included in politically opposing hashtag activism, #Gunreformnow and #NRA (The National Rifle Association). This study attempted to lay out the process of identifying fake news in the hashtag activism network on Twitter as a two-step process: 1) hashtag frequency analysis, top word-pair analysis, and social network analysis and 2) qualitative content analysis. This study discovered several frames through a qualitative approach. One of the prominent fake news frames was intentionally misleading information that attacks the opposing political party and its advocators. The disinformation tweets overall presented far-right wing ideologies and included multiple hashtags and a YouTube video to promote and distribute their agendas while calling for coalition of far-right wing supporters. However, the fake news tweets
    [Show full text]
  • 601Kidderstreet,Wilkes-Barre,PA
    Can gas really fall Want to hear music below $3 a gallon? under the stars? BUSINESS, 8B THE GUIDE, INSIDE WILKES-BARRE, PA timesleader.com FRIdAy,JuLy 5, 2013 50¢ Wyoming Google’s new ceremony mixes doses project is a of humor real inside job and history ‘Street View’ cameras will be in our area to capture virtual Mark Guydish [email protected] images of business interiors WYOMING — It was a day of heat and humor, of history’s hidden Roger duPuis tidbits and lessons on how they can [email protected] help mold the future. Serving as chairman of the Google’s “street view” photographers are 135th annual commemorative ser- coming back into Northeast Pennsylvania — vice of the Battle and Massacre literally. of Wyoming, Kingston Mayor Web surfers accustomed to cruising the James Haggerty on Thursday PEtE G. WILCoX/thE tImES LEAdER streets of cities worldwide via Google Maps’ brought his usual wit. In introduc- People get treated to a dazzling fireworks show over Kirby Park on Thursday during the annual Fourth of July Celebration in panoramic images will soon be able to click ing the Wyoming Commemorative Wilkes-Barre. open some front doors, touring the interiors Association president, Haggerty of participating businesses under Google’s riffed on Frank Conyngham’s 24 new virtual tour feature. years in the post. Photo crews will be in the Wilkes-Barre and “I asked why he stayed on so Scranton areas between July 29 and Aug. 2 long,” Haggerty said. “He said he to create 360-degree virtual tours inside busi- thought he was eligible for a pen- Going FOURTH to have fun nesses that register for the program, said sion after 25 years.” Ithaca, N.Y.-based Google photography coor- Conyngham, well known for dinator Jim Hilker.
    [Show full text]
  • Participatory Propaganda Model 1
    A PARTICIPATORY PROPAGANDA MODEL 1 Participatory Propaganda: The Engagement of Audiences in the Spread of Persuasive Communications Alicia Wanless Michael Berk Director of Strategic Communications, Visiting Research Fellow, SecDev Foundation Centre for Cyber Security and International [email protected] Relations Studies, University of Florence [email protected] Paper presented at the "Social Media & Social Order, Culture Conflict 2.0" conference organized by Cultural Conflict 2.0 and sponsored by the Research Council of Norway on 1 December 2017, Oslo. To be published as part of the conference proceedings in 2018. A PARTICIPATORY PROPAGANDA MODEL 2 Abstract Existing research on aspects of propaganda in a digital age tend to focus on isolated techniques or phenomena, such as fake news, trolls, memes, or botnets. Providing invaluable insight on the evolving human-technology interaction in creating new formats of persuasive messaging, these studies lend to an enriched understanding of modern propaganda methods. At the same time, the true effects and magnitude of successful influencing of large audiences in the digital age can only be understood if target audiences are perceived not only as ‘objects’ of influence, but as ‘subjects’ of persuasive communications as well. Drawing from vast available research, as well as original social network and content analyses conducted during the 2016 U.S. presidential elections, this paper presents a new, qualitatively enhanced, model of modern propaganda – “participatory propaganda” - and discusses its effects on modern democratic societies. Keywords: propaganda, Facebook, social network analysis, content analysis, politics A PARTICIPATORY PROPAGANDA MODEL 3 Participatory Propaganda: The Engagement of Audiences in the Spread of Persuasive Communications Rapidly evolving information communications technologies (ICTs) have drastically altered the ways individuals engage in the public information domain, including news ways of becoming subjected to external influencing.
    [Show full text]
  • Black Women Gun Enthusiasts Computational Propaganda in the United States
    Black Women Gun Enthusiasts Computational Propaganda in the United States The effects of propaganda on marginal members of social and issue groups ABSTRACT Theories of propaganda and misinformation have assumed that the effectiveness of such messages lies with the characteristics of the message or the messenger. However, theories of social identity in psychology and of audience Bree Trisler reception and interpretive communities in media studies suggest that PhD Researcher, University of Minnesota audience characteristics are equally important in determining whether untruthful messages will be accepted and further disseminated by Alexandra Filindra Associate Professor of Political Science, group members. Position within a social group and identity salience University of Illinois at Chicago can be important factors that mediate the effect of disinformation. eW provide a preliminary qualitative test of this theory by studying Black ABOUT THESE PAPERS women gun enthusiasts. These women are participating members This case study series explores the within a group but, given their intersectional identities, their position social implications of computational within the gun rights community is at the margins. Our qualitative data propaganda. Each report outlines (drawn from closed-ended interviews and focus group transcripts) how tools and tactics, including reveal a selective and critical community of women providing their bots, disinformation and political own interpretations based on their lived experiences, who are not harassment, were used over social passive recipients of propaganda messages disseminated by the media in attempts to silence social National Rifle Association (NRA) about the media and about firearms. and issue-focused groups prior to the 2018 US midterm elections. We argue that the study of social group members based on their role and position within the group can have important implications for both theory and practice.
    [Show full text]
  • What Pizzagate Teaches Us About Literacy.Pdf (477.5Kb)
    What Pizzagate Teaches Us About Literacy Lauren Burgess RHE 679HB Special Honors in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing The University of Texas at Austin May 2018 Mark Longaker Department of Rhetoric and Writing Supervising Professor Diane Davis Department of Rhetoric and Writing Second Reader 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Biases in Human Behavior ................................................................................ 3 Chapter 2: Pizzagate.com.................................................................................................. 11 Chapter 3: The Evolution of Pizzagate ............................................................................. 19 Chapter 4: Other Persuasive Tactics ................................................................................. 43 Chapter 5: Literacy as a Solution ...................................................................................... 53 End Notes .......................................................................................................................... 55 Bibliography ..................................................................................................................... 61 3 CHAPTER ONE Biases in Human Behavior The tendency to believe information without verifying its truth is a human trait founded on both evolutionarily-based psychological processes and sociological groupings. Many readers do not realize they are sharing information that is not completely true or perhaps exaggerated, and often do not devote more than a glance to
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction
    INTRODUCTION Facebook and Google have earned millions of dollars from advertising by the National Rifle Association over the past two years, according to an analysis by the Tech Transparency Project, which found that the gun lobby’s spending on tech platforms spiked after mass shootings. Even as their top executives publicly expressed horror at gun massacres, the tech companies have offered the NRA a crucial platform to spread its message. In particular, the study found, they gave the group a way to mobilize and recruit supporters as public pressure mounted for regulation following episodes of gruesome gun violence. Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, in a March 2018 post after the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, called the U.S. the “only country in the world that allows our children to live in fear and die because of truly terrible public policy on guns.”1 But the social network went on to collect more than $2 million in advertising fees from the NRA starting in May of that year, the TTP analysis found. It’s a similar story with Google, whose former chief executive, Eric Schmidt, called for U.S. leaders to pass gun control measures after the Parkland massacre.2 Meanwhile, Google collected more than $690,000 in advertising fees from the NRA since May 2018, the starting point for the company’s political ad database. In fact, NRA ad spending reached its highest levels on Google and soared on Facebook following the worst week for mass shooting casualties in the period analyzed by TTP, amid a wave of calls for action to halt the killings.
    [Show full text]