Troll Recognition 101

A story on a troll site could very well be true, but it is the overall site itself that is the problem, not just an individual story. That's how a lot of troll sites work so they have an air of legitimacy. They mix together true, half true, and completely false stories, give them a left or right-handed slant, and post them in social media or other online groups. 

This is a huge part of the reason we got where we are right now, with an ignorant moron in the White House who presents himself that very same way. All that is needed are groups of people who are looking only for what they want to see and are too busy or naive to keep from being hoodwinked. 

To keep from being fooled, you have to look at things like:

1. Is the story's author is clearly identified with a first name, a last name and maybe even a brief bio?


2. Is the story dated? This is a huge and easily spotted RED FLAG. No reputable media site will ever post an undated story unless somebody made an error.


3. Does the piece cite legitimate sources to back it up? Using things like tweets as references even works if the tweets have links to legitimate sources.


4. Is the story based on old news? Sites designed to inflame will often regurgitate old stories and use headlines that make them appear to be breaking news.


5. Can you find the news anywhere on a legitimate news site? If so, is the story you are checking out copied word-for-word (but not quoted or cited) from parts of legitimate stories?


6. Is it actually a story or is it SATIRE? Sometimes it is very hard to tell. Most satire sites identify themselves as such, but not always very clearly. There are also "hybrid" sites that contain both satire and real news. Keep your eyes wide open when a story is on a site that is new to you.


7. What is the quality of the writing (or lack thereof)? I have seen a lot of troll sites where the writing is absolutely laughable and looks like it was obviously written by somebody who doesn't have full command of the English language.


8. What are the other stories on the site like? Are there wacky conspiracy theories or other dubious looking stories?


9. How well does the site itself explains its mission, origins and ownership?


10. Find the WHOIS information regarding who registered the site's domain name (abcdefg.com) and when it was registered. Google "WHOIS" and you will find lots of sites where you can look this info up.

I know - it takes some time to do all or even just some of this. If you don't have the time to check it out, though, then DON'T RE-POST it and don't comment your opinion on it as if it was based on facts. We can't be basing our views and votes on stories from fake and/or intentionally inflammatory websites.

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Note from the author:

I recently got my bachelors degree in the Technical Communications field and I did some pretty extensive study on this issue in the process. It is imperative to the survival of our democracy that we educate ourselves and do not let ourselves become easy targets for the master-manipulators who are behind some of this fake and misleading stuff. It is NOT just fun and games; they have an agenda.

Desperate Cheeto and Puerto Rico

DESPERATE CHEETO - Randy Rainbow Song Parody 

Randy breaks into song as he interviews Trump about Puerto Rico and the damage that Hurricane Maria caused.

Like Randy? Check out his YouTube Channel: Randy Rainbow

What if You Knew Her?

I've watched the entire Vietnam War series on PBS so far. I've found it to be an excellent documentary, with voices from all perspectives and sides telling their stories. I've learned a lot about what was actually going on. Some of it has made me angry. All of it has been eye-opening.

Tonight it was different, though. Tonight the program covered the shootings of the four students at Kent State in May 1970. Tonight my emotions overwhelmed me as the program ended with the playing of the song, "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

I think for me, this was the turning point where I felt the war hit home. I was 14 in 1970; the students who were killed were not much older than I was. Killed in f***ing cold blood by a bunch of scared boys about the same age in Army uniforms whose leadership were bungling fools.

I don't know about others my age, but Kent State opened my eyes and brought a kind of reality to the war that I hadn't felt before. After that I watched it much more closely.

We were lucky; March 1973 was when the last combat troops left Vietnam. We didn't turn 18 until later in 1973 and 1974. We were also lucky that we lived here and not there. I can't imagine what it was like to live through what the people in Vietnam lived through.

We were part of it, though. We went through our critical adolescent period as the world we were prepared and groomed for started falling to pieces. The mirror cracked for me with Kent State in 1970. And tonight in 2017 the flood gates opened when the images and the music met again,

What if you knew her and found her dead on the ground?
How could you run when you know?

How Do You Solve A Problem Like Korea?

How Do You Solve A Problem Like Korea? - Randy Rainbow Song Parody 🚀🎶🇰🇵

Randy discusses the inherent dangers of having two little boys with big heads with their hands on the nuke codes.

Like Randy? Check out his YouTube Channel: Randy Rainbow

Yes! We Have No Steve Bannon!

YES! WE HAVE NO STEVE BANNON! 🍌👋🏻 - A Randy Rainbow Song Parody

Music to my ears, Randy! Too funny for words!

Like Randy? Check out his YouTube Channel: Randy Rainbow

The Sycophant Italiano

THE SYCOPHANT ITALIANO 👋🏻🇮🇹 - Randy Rainbow Song Parody

Randy fills us in on the quick entrance and exit of the "Mooch."

Like Randy? Check out his YouTube Channel: Randy Rainbow

When Your Wig Dye Seeps Into Your Brain ...

COVFEFE: THE BROADWAY MEDLEY! 🎭A Randy Rainbow Parody

Randy follows the rest of the internet in mocking Trump's Twitter typo, covfefe. Of course, though, he does it in his own special way, to the tune of a Broadway medley using songs from Mary Poppins, Shall We Dance, Music Man, Cats, Oliver, West Side Story and ending with a rousing Randy Rainbow rendition of the song Oklahoma:

• • Coooovfefe, it's when your wig dye seeps into your brain.
  • And your crazy tweets are incomplete
  • But you don't delete 'cause you're insane.
  • We know that it might sound absurd
  • But the "President" says it's a word
  • And although he's
  • Unbalanced as can be
  • We know at least that we'll be just fine
  • With covfefe, that's covfefe
  • Spelled C O V F E F E

Like Randy? Check out his YouTube Channel: Randy Rainbow

Love, Mothra

The "Mango Tour"

Donald Trump's MANGO TOUR! ✈ A Randy Rainbow Song Parody

Breaking!! It's Randy Rainbow reporting (with a little help from his "friends") about Trump's world tour. Randy calls it the "Mango Tour" using Evita's "Rainbow Tour" as the venue for his report.

Like Randy? Check out his YouTube Channel: Randy Rainbow

Love, Mothra

Russian Connection

THE RUSSIAN CONNECTION🐸🎶🇷🇺 - Randy Rainbow Song Parody

Randy covers several aspects of the Trump-Russia connection in ways that only Randy can. The parody starts with an "interview" with Trump where Randy asks him about the firing of FBI Director Comey. When Trump says the he's a "showboat" Randy takes off with it: "A showboat, well those are pretty harsh words coming from the Titanic."

When the subject turns to the administration's incessant lying, Randy starts in with the song, The Russian Connection, sung to the tune of The Rainbow Connection from the finale of The Muppet Movie.

The video wouldn't be complete without some sort of reference to Sean Spicer in the bushes, and Randy delivers. Enjoy!

Like Randy? Check out his YouTube Channel: Randy Rainbow

Love,  Mothra

Unpopular

UNPOPULAR! - 🎶 Randy Rainbow Song Parody 💄

Randy Rainbow explains to Donald Trump (using both words and song) just how unpopular he is. No further explanation needed! Watch the video and see for yourself. 💩

Like Randy? Check out his YouTube Channel: Randy Rainbow

Love, Mothra

Preconceived Notions

preconceived notion

1.
 n   an opinion formed beforehand without adequate evidence

Synonyms: parti pris, preconceived idea, preconceived opinion, preconception, prepossession

Type of: opinion, persuasion, sentiment, thought, view

a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
(from the Vocabulary.com Dictionary)

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We all hold preconceived notions, often based on what we've seen in the past or on what somebody else has told us. It is all part of our brain's process of reasoning and decision making.

The internet and the digital age in general have made preconceived notions a huge problem, though. Any idea, no matter how outlandish it might seem, can be planted into the heads of millions in a matter of minutes and generate preconceived notions. The threat that holds for the free world is dire. Let's consult an expert ...

It has happened before and it is happening right now in the United States of America, folks. Some of what is going on follows the known formula for fascist takeover as if it came right out of a textbook. The relentless assaults on the truth, the use of the Christian religion to divide us, the blowing the perceived Muslim threat out of proportion using cherry-picked and even completely false information, the constant distractions , the bashing of the free press, the barring of the free press ... what have I missed? 

This isn't some wild-assed conspiracy theory - it is what is happening, right now. And the planting of preconceived notions is playing a major role. People, many of whom are fiercely independent and value their freedom, are being brainwashed with a bucket of lies and half-truths being spread on the internet.   

The internet also has the capability of undoing some of the damage that it has helped to bring about. The video below is a good example of how the internet can debunk some of our preconceived notions:

How many of these did you get right? Do you think that any preconceived notions you had played a part in your choices?

Let's all try to be aware of what our own preconceived notions are and wary of those who are trying to generate new ones.

Our Democracy depends on it!

Love, Mothra

Science Under Fire

I am a firm believer that there is a purposeful agenda by the right to "dumb down" the American people. Other than likely interference and possible Trump campaign collusion with Russia, I believe that this dumbing down is part of why Donald Trump was elected. Alternative facts were (and still are being) planted in the brains of many people who either never learned or forgot how to think critically.

Some of the worst and most dangerous alternative facts that have been planted have to do with science. Scientists, collectors of real data, are being usurped by idiot conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones, religious zealots preaching the ridiculous literal Bible story of creation over the theory of evolution, and especially Donald Trump himself who constantly gets his "facts" from dubious sources or just makes them up. 

For this reason, I went out and marched in the St. Paul, Minnesota March for Science. Many people have asked me, "Why the March for Science?" What I said above is the main reason. A lot of people feel similarly. 

We had over 10,000 show up in St. Paul and there also were more than 600 other cities worldwide that had marches. It was so cool to look around and see the size of the crowd and some of the signs were awesome. The speakers were impressive and the signs people were carrying were great. This was my first "march" and it was a great experience.

I'll end this post with some photos from the St. Paul, Minnesota March for Science.

There is No Planet B - March for Science, St. Paul, Minnesota, 4/22/17

Break the Cycle, Rise Above, Focus on Science - March for Science, St. Paul, Minnesota, 4/22/17

We Don't Have Enough Funds to Make A Better Sign - March for Science, St. Paul, Minn,

No Science = No Beer! March for Science, St. Paul, Minnesota 4/22/17

May the Facts Be With You - March for Science, St. Paul, Minnesota, 4/22/17

Danger, Alternative Facts Removal - March for Science, St. Paul, Minnesota, 4/22/17

Crowd dispersing at the March for Science, St. Paul, Minnesota, 4/22/17

Keep the Earth clean, it's not Uranus. - March for Science, St. Paul, Minnesota, 4/22/17

Invasive Species - trumpelon - March for Science, St. Paul, Minnesota, 4/22/17

Think!!!

Reality Check

If you think you have a right to an opinion that is based on "alternative facts" or out of context cherry-pickings, think again. 

Yes, we all have a right to our own opinions, but if an opinion is based on lies, it is not an opinion. It is a joke, it is a show of ignorance, you have no right to spread it around as if it was fact, and anybody who has checked the facts has every right to cross you on it.

This applies to both left and right, but the bulk of the "alternative facts" epidemic has come and still comes from the right. We desperately need to get out of our black hole of ignorance. Every single thing we see and hear via every type of media (radio, TV, print and especially online) needs to be verified to see if it is reality.

Too much work to check a story out before you share it? Keep it to yourself, then. Here are a few tips about posting. I'd be glad to list other tips, too, if you have them.

• If the article you want to post is mainly speculation but you'd like to put it out there to discuss it, identify it as such in your post. Don't put it out there like it's something that is for sure going to happen. It makes you look like a conspiracy-theorist idiot.

• If the headline is extremely misleading or false click-bait, even if the article checks out, don't post it.

• Is the article undated?  Red Flag!  No reputable media outlet will post something without dating it. Don't post it unless you thoroughly check it out, and then only if you state that you thoroughly checked it out.

• If it is old news or it is referencing old news as if it just happened, don't just post the article without stating the relevant date in your post.

• Look on the site you are re-posting from and make sure that it is not a satire or hybrid (part reality, part satire) site. Don't make yourself look like a fool by getting up in arms about a piece of cynical humor.
• "But it goes along with my views! I want to post it!" Don't post it unless you check the facts, especially when it is something that people know fits right in with your views. Keep your credibility; check it out first.

• "It's a free country - I can post whatever I damned well please!" If you want it to stay a free country, realize what a threat the spreading of false information is to our democracy and in turn, our freedom. Stick with facts!

• Be careful what you believe! Many political entities have an agenda, and that agenda is to get you to think the way they want you to think, any way that they can do it. Step back and look at the possible motives behind an article. Take the blinders off, hold it up to the light and question it with an open mind. That's not called being a liberal, it's called critical thinking.

Love, Mothra

Kill the Release

KILL THE RELEASE! - Randy Rainbow Song Parody

This is Randy Rainbow's New York Times Video Op-ed, published March 18, 2017. You can view it in the NYT here: Randy Rainbow's New York Times Video Op-ed

Disney released Beauty and the Beast on March 17th and it features their first openly gay character. Not surprisingly, conservative fundamentalists are in an uproar, planning boycotts etc. but most moviegoers are saying that a mountain is being made out of a mole hill. The "gay" aspect of the movie is minor according to most people who have seen it. It's just sort of "there" as the film progresses but there is no sex involved nor is there even anything that could be considered risque.

Randy's video hilariously mocks the fundamentalist views of gayness, such as the fear of "catching" it like some communicable disease. Kick back and have a laugh!

Like Randy? Check out his YouTube Channel: Randy Rainbow

Love, Mothra

Randy Interviews Ivanka

Randy Rainbow Interviews Ivanka Trump

Randy Rainbow interviews Ivanka Trump about all her titles, ("career woman, mother, daughter, wife, daughter-wife...") among other things. Some highlights: "President's daughter (not Tiffany) discusses her new fake job." Ivanka: "Ass-Hat to the administration." Heh heh.

Like Randy? Check out his YouTube Channel: Randy Rainbow

Love, Mothra

The Big Lie

The Big Lie Behind the Rise of Donald Trump

In the following video, Bill Moyers, Chris Lebron (Political Philosopher at Yale University), Nell Painter (Historian, Princeton University, Emeritus), Khalil Gibran Muhammad (Historian, Harvard Kennedy School), and Philip Klinkner (Political Scientist, Hamilton College) discuss the big lie that Donald Trump rode to power on.

I quite honestly find it bone-chilling. The reason why I find it bone-chilling is because people I know are right there in the thick of it. So many are people I have worked with, played with, people I grew up with, went to Sunday School with, my neighbors, my friends... They are buying into this big lie, and in fact they are willing to ignore facts in order to cling to it. 


White supremacism and the utter ignorance and blindness that goes along with it is alive and well in the good old U. S. of A. What can we do about it?

Love, Mothra

Sorry Mr. Murrow!

Edward R. Murrow on McCarthy: 

We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason.

Yes we will, and yes we are - so full of fear that a we have put an incompetent, dishonest, immature, mentally ill sociopath man-child in the White House. Actually, "we" didn't do it. Trumpers did it with the help of rabid Bernie Sanders fans.

At best, the right-wing agenda is going to dismantle parts of our democracy that have taken decades and even centuries to achieve. All under the guise of being things that will create more jobs. Ummm, just look at history and see how that approach does NOT work. The only thing that putting more money into the hands of the uber-wealthy ever does is make the wealthy wealthier. It doesn't trickle down, people. It never has. It never will.

At worst, Trump and along with his sidekicks Bannon-Himmler and Miller-Goebbels are in the midst of creating a dictatorship based on their white supremacist views, likely in collusion with Russia, and the right wingers who currently control the House and Senate are so intent on pushing through their "feed the rich" agenda that they are ignoring the warning signs.

I wonder how many years it will take to undo the damage that this is doing to our country. 

Love, Mothra

Overcoming Hatred

Yes, We CAN Overcome Hatred!

Refugee Family Helps Man Overcome Hatred
This man’s Syrian refugee neighbors changed his outlook on Muslims for the better
Posted by NowThis on Sunday, March 26, 2017

I would love to see things like this happen more often. I went through this change several years ago, thank God. I am far from perfect, but I am now usually able to stop myself when I start jumping to conclusions about people that I do not know. 

Try it yourself!

Love, Mothra

Nail on the Head

The nail on the head.... Obama on the Republican theory of economics:

It’s a theory that says, if we do little more than just cut taxes for those at the very top, if we strip out regulations and let special interests write their own rules, prosperity trickles down to the rest of us. And I take the opposite view. And I take it not for ideological reasons, but for historic reasons, because of the evidence.

We know from the facts that are there for all to see that America does better, our economy does better, everybody does better when the middle class does better and we’ve got more ladders for people to get into the middle class if they’re willing to work hard. We do better when everyone grows together — top, middle, bottom. We do better when everyone has a chance not only to benefit from America’s success, but also to contribute to America’s success. And we know from more recent history that when we stray from that ideal it doesn’t turn out well. We’ve now got evidence there is a better way, there is a better approach. And I’m calling it middle-class economics.

Exactly! Trickle down economics is the biggest fallacy to ever hit the economic world. It hasn't worked. It doesn't work. It will never work. Greed makes the trickle down theory impossible to achieve.

Love, Mothra

Don't Be A Sucker!

Are You Being A Sucker?

Step back. Watch this 1940's movie from the US War Dept and then think. Think about how it correlates to what is happening today.

Our dads and granddads fought and DIED in WWII to stop this shit. This is exactly why I have been posting so many "wake up" stories. It is exactly why I have been brutally honest with some people about their support for the forces that are trying to drive our country apart by employing the same practices that are seen in this film.

History is quite possibly repeating itself, people. Watch this old film and think about it. Then open your eyes and WAKE UP!

Love, Mothra

Cure-All

Impeachara ®

Oh, my, my, my, but I need me some of this!!

Enjoy!!

Love, Mothra

Microwaves are Watching YOU!

MICROWAVES (Are Watching You!) - Randy Rainbow Song Parody 👀

Hmmm, I think this was pretty predictable, eh? Randy Rainbow interviews Kellyanne Conjob (oops Conway) and, of course, picks up on the microwave angle for his latest song parody! I can't stop laughing about this one ...

Like Randy? Check out his YouTube Channel: Randy Rainbow

Love, Mothra

Trump Knew About Flynn

Michael Flynn's Foreign Connections

The Trump administration definitely knew about Michael Flynn and his Turkish ties that were complete conflicts of interest. The administration also knew about Flynn's Russian ties. Yet Trump appointed Flynn as National Security Adviser, anyway. National SECURITY Adviser!

Why?

Here are a couple of articles about the Flynn situation.

How Did Michael Flynn Ever Get Hired as National Security Adviser?

Trump transition knew of Flynn's pro-Turkey lobbying before White House appointment

If this doesn't make you wonder what is going on, then you need to go back to college and re-learn how to think critically.

Love,  Mothra

Putin and the Ritz

PUTIN AND THE RITZ - A Randy Rainbow Song Parody 🇺🇸💘🇷🇺

Randy Rainbow interviews Jeff Sessions about the Russian scandal and then entertains us with his latest song parody.

"Isn't the "Russian Probe" Donald Trump's secret nickname for Vladimir Putin?" LMFAO!!!!

Like Randy? Check out his YouTube Channel: Randy Rainbow

Love, Mothra

Bannon's Paranoid, Twisted World View

This Stunningly Racist French Novel Is How Steve Bannon Explains The World 

Above is a link to a Huffington Post article published on March 4, 2017 that points out the chilling ties between this ultra-racist book and Steve Bannon's world view. Bannon, in case you didn't know, is Trump's right-hand man and insiders say that he has a great deal of influence over Trump.

The novel, which depicts the western white world being overrun by non-white immigrants, specifically to topple it didn't do all that well when it was originally published in 1973. According to the HP piece, though, it was republished in 1983 by wealthy heiress Cordelia Scaife and got a cult following. When she republished the book again in 2001, it again gained a cult following among anti-immigration groups of the time and eventually the white supremacist alt-right nut-cases of today. 

The article and its accompanying video bring to light that Bannon has cited the despicable novel time after time in his fear-mongering talks on radio etc. Bannon's Breitbart also has referenced the novel several times.

It goes on to say:

Now Bannon sits at the right hand of the U.S. president, working to beat back what Bannon calls “this Muslim invasion.” And Trump is all in on the project. During the campaign, he called for a ban on all Muslims entering the country. His Jan. 28 executive order, since blocked in the courts, turned this campaign idea into executive policy.

Below is a video that I found on YouTube further explaining Bannon and his KKK-like beliefs.

What on earth is happening in our country? I'm white; I don't always agree with or like the things that immigrants and/or people of color do, but they are NOT the enemy. The thousands of refugees from the Middle East that are flooding Europe and the rest of the world are not part of some master plan to spread Islam all over Christendom. They are men, women and children whose cities and homes are now piles of rubble. 

I seem to recall that the Sunday School that I went to at an all-white, Christian church said that Jesus' teachings said that we should help these people. Something about which hand of God you will be sitting at on judgement day (See Matthew 25).

Love, Mothra

Manipulating the Free Press

NPR: Spicer/White House Lash Out
Trump, Spicey, Bannon-Himmler, Miller-Goebbels and Conway and all of the alt-right media are calling things that have been witnessed and recorded by the entire world "false stories and inaccurate facts." Things we have seen with our own eyes and heard with our own ears are being called false. The press is being "mean" because they criticize things like this administration's trying to push its way through the checks and balances that exist to protect us from exactly what they are doing. To Trump, anything that doesn't fit is schoolboy agenda is called "fake news" and rejected. The supposed leaders of the free world have been blatantly and purposely delegitimizing the free press. 
Now they are starting to bar entities of the free press that criticize them. We aren't even on a slippery slope anymore - we are flying down the slope. WAKE UP, Trumpers! They are blowing smoke up your ass because they know they can - you have allowed them do it. Trump picks up a cookie and says it is a hand grenade or Spicer points to black and says it is white and you believe them. It has got to stop! You guys have got to open your eyes and start standing up to it!

The survival of our DEMOCRACY and the rest of the free world hangs in the balance.

Love, Mothra