“The godfather of fake news.”

“Meet one of the world’s most prolific writers of disinformation”

“Christopher Blair takes a sip of his coffee.

“Then he carefully focuses on one of the three screens in front of him.

“He’s in his home office, 45 minutes outside Portland, Maine, on the US East Coast.

“Stroking his thick beard, he looks at his bookmarks bar.

“He takes another sip before his coffee goes cold, inhales long and hard, then logs into the back end of one of his many websites.

“He begins by choosing a subject. Which “lucky” politician will be on the receiving end of his attention today?

“Bill Clinton? Hillary Clinton? One of the Obamas?

“Or maybe the subject of his story won’t be a person, but a policy. Gun control? Police brutality? Feminism? Anything that will push buttons.

“Next, the details.

“Perhaps he’ll make up a controversial incident, a crime, a new law or a constitutional amendment.

“Changing’ the US constitution is particularly fun – he’s already written more than 30 fake amendments. (There are only 27 genuine ones,” by Anisa Subedar, UK’s BBC. Read more

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“Report: Most of the internet is fake, including its users”

“If you think 2016 Russian disinformation was bad, that was just the tip of the iceberg. What if the entire internet is a fraud?”

“The dystopian aspects of the current internet became impossible to ignore,” by “All In With Chris Hayes,” MSNBC.

Click here for the video.

“Ten Ways 2018 Brought Us Closer to Climate Apocalypse”

“The 20 warmest years ever recorded have been within the last 22 years, and the four warmest of those have been 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The WMO has stated that if these trends continue (and there is no reason to believe they won’t), global temperatures may rise from between 3-5 degrees Celsius (3-5°C) by 2100. The organization warned that if humans exploit all known fossil fuel reserves, ‘the temperature rise will be considerably higher’ than even those catastrophic levels.’

“Yet even with this stark wake-up call, it may well already be too late, given that we are already living in the Sixth Mass Extinction.”

“The vast majority of governments around the globe are responding in ways that range from laughable to pathetic, given the consequences that are upon us already,” by Dahr Jamail, Truthout.

Read more

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“Trump’s retreat on the environment is affecting communities across America”

By Eric Lipton, Steve Eder and John Branch, The New York Times News Service.

“Beyond the glare of official Washington, the story of President Donald Trump’s retreat on the environment is unfolding in extraordinarily consequential ways for the health and safety of Americans.

“In just two years, Trump has unleashed a regulatory rollback, lobbied for and cheered on by industry, with little parallel in the past half-century. Trump enthusiastically promotes the changes as creating jobs, freeing business from the shackles of government and helping the economy grow.

“The trade-offs, while often out of public view, are real — frighteningly so, for some people — imperiling progress in cleaning up the air we breathe and the water we drink, and in some cases upending the very relationship with the environment around us.”

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Trump in 2013: The President is solely responsible for government shutdowns!

• Editor’s Note: As Yelm Community Blog readers well know, I have written extensively that President’s Trump’s exponential budget deficits were going to hit the public directly in their wallets in the last quarter of 2018! Stay tuned for a wild and erratic ride in 2019.

“‘Pouring Salt Into the Wound’ Amid Shutdown, Trump Signs Executive Order Freezing Pay of Nearly 2 Million Federal Workers”

“‘It is shocking that federal employees are taking yet another financial hit. As if missed paychecks and working without pay were not enough, now they have been told that they don’t even deserve a modest pay increase,’ declared Tony Reardon, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents around 100,000 federal workers.”

“With hundreds of thousands of federal employees currently furloughed or working without pay due to the ongoing government shutdown, President Donald Trump delivered another blow to struggling workers on Friday [Dec. 28] by signing an executive order that will freeze the pay of around two million public employees in 2019,” by Jake Johnson, Common Dreams.
Read more

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“What Trump was saying during the last government shutdown” in 2013 about Obama

The President is solely responsible for a government shutdown!

Click here for the video to hear Trump in his own words in Autumn 2013, from CNN.

Two excellent options to avoid getting behind the wheel drunk:
– Bill’s Towing & Recovery Tipsy Tow Service
Bill’s Towing & Recovery is offering Tipsy Tow service on New Years to provide a safe alternative to drinking and driving on Yelm area roads.

The service will be available in the greater Yelm, Rainier, and McKenna area from 9:00 p.m. on New Years Eve, December 31st to 3:00 a.m. New Years Day, January 1st.

Motorists, bartenders, restaurant managers, party hosts or passengers of a drinking driver can call 360-458-5963 between the hours above and request a free tow home of up to ten miles. Callers simply tell the dispatcher, “I need a tipsy tow,” to receive the free tow and ride home.

Callers need to keep in mind that the service excludes rides for passengers, is restricted to a one-way, one-time ride for the driver, and the destination is limited to the drivers residence. Reservations are not accepted, and tows over ten miles are subject to normal rates.

Drinking drivers frequently fail to seek and obtain alternative ways to get home because they are concerned about retrieving their vehicle, the expense of taxis and the inconvenience of alternative transportation. Tipsy Tow is intended to give motorists a safer option for getting themselves and their vehicles home, instead of driving while intoxicated,” quoting Bill’s Towing & Recovery.
Read more


– Kelly Kab Taxi Service for the Yelm, Rainier, Clearwood, Roy.

– Kelly Kab is an excellent option, then return to pick-up your vehicle the next day.
Call them at (360) 791-1925.
Read more


Blogger Klein is a Bill’s Towing & Recovery customer.

Nisqually Valley Brewing Tap House

• Editor’s note: Be sure to ask for the big beer with a Double IPA 8.5% 100 IBU, a collaboration by Don Schmidt and John Johnson, Owner/ Brewer.

704 West Yelm Avenue, Yelm
New Year’s Eve: 5:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Cost: $20 advanced, $25 at door

If you are looking for something in Yelm to do for the big night, check out Nisqually Valley Brewing Company. They are planning on music, prizes and great food to ring in 2019.

By Kristina Lotz, in Thurston Talk.

Read more

• A look back at top 2018 Yelm Community Blog stories:

Yelm Schools Bond officially fails – vote count certified Feb. 23, 2018

SRO’s “Arsenic & Old Lace” returns to Yelm this month at The Triad –
A Review: Outstanding Cast with Outstanding Director,
Quality Community Theater adds to Yelm’s diversity!

Yelm inventor JZ Knight receives U. S. Patent for The Blu Room®

Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment (RSE) created/based here 30 years ago, May 1988.

Yelm Council agrees to buy Fairpoint Bldg and adjacent land –
Split 4-3 vote, lack of transparency and public process cited – City did not use a real estate agent to act in public’s behalf!

Rep. Denny Heck opens Yelm’s 1st Memorial Day event –
Free 5K run, walk, bike is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

Yelm Farmers Market opens in city park with WOW factor!

Bombshell revelation presented at council tonight,
Yelm accepted 640 acres of Thurston Highlands land for LID-default tax debt,
Where is transparency? The public has not been presented with this information! Mayor Foster did not inform his own city council!

KING-5 TV in Seattle visited Yelm’s UFO Fest in July!

Yelm’s 2nd annual Jazz in the Park, Saturday, Aug. 4, 5pm –
“We want to make everybody feel like they are in Paris”

Yelm proudly highlights Purple Heart City status with signs,
Purple Heart Day 2018 is Tuesday, Aug. 7th

Yelm’s Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses targeted again!

Yelm’s sonic booms from F-15’s scrambled to intercept stolen Horizon Air plane,
Aircraft crashed off Steilacoom on remote Kerton Island

Worst air quality ever recorded in Western WA!

Most expensive property ever listed for sale in Pierce, Thurston, or Mason counties,
$11 Million home for sale in Tenino

SPSCC brings exciting new opportunities, options to Yelm this Fall

A Review: SRO’s ‘Shrek The Musical’ debuts at Yelm’s Triad Theater,
A Thanksgiving holiday treat for the whole family thru Dec. 9!

Tye Menser now certified County Commissioner, Dist. 3 –
Incumbent/Opponent Blake out-raised Menser by 24% and lost

Nisqually Tribe, Yelm officials meet, agree to cooperation

WA State Parks are free to access on these 2019 dates:

▪ Jan. 1, New Year’s Day

▪ Jan. 21, Martin Luther King Jr. Day

▪ March 19, the State Parks’ 106th birthday

▪ April 20, a spring free day

▪ April 22, Earth Day

▪ June 1, National Trails Day

▪ June 8, National Get Outdoors Day

▪ June 9, Free Fishing Day

▪ Aug. 25, the National Park Service’s birthday

▪ Sept. 28, National Public Lands Day

▪ Nov. 11, Veterans Day

▪ Nov. 29, an autumn free day

To find a park to visit, check here.

Read more

From Yelm city councilor Joe DePinto’s Facebook post:

“The Washington State Legislature will start the 2019 Legislative Session next month.

“If you are a student at least 14 years old and haven’t turned 17, there is an amazing opportunity to apply to the Senate and House Page Program. You would learn about state government as well as participate in the legislative process by delivering correspondence and materials to Legislators.

“I have linked the sites below to learn more about the programs. Your three State Legislators (you would be sponsored by one) are Senator Becker, Representative Wilcox and Representative Barkis (Yelm is in the 2nd Legislative District). I would be happy to guide you through the process as much or as little as you like.

“Please take advantage of this unique experience and let me know if I can help!”

Read more about the Washington State Legislature House Page Program.

Read more about the Washington State Legislature Senate Page Program.

“Christmas Tree Recycling for Thurston County Residents”

“Multiple drop-off and pick-up locations”

“All Thurston County residents: Trees are accepted at the Waste and Recovery Center located at 2420 Hogum Bay Road NE in Lacey from December 26 – January 13 (closed January 1). Hours of operation are Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and Saturday – Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.”

“Rainier residents: Take trees to the Rainier Drop Box Facility at 13010 Rainier Acres Rd. from December 28 – January 13. Hours of operation are Friday – Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Yelm residents: Residents can place trees in a designated dumpster at Yelm City Park anytime from December 28 – January 11, or until the dumpster is full,” quoting Thurston County.

Read more

“A note of thanks from new Commissioner”

“As I prepare to take office as your new Thurston County Commissioner, I want to thank voters for putting their trust in me.

“I got to meet residents from Jubilee to Yelm to Rochester to Steamboat Island during the campaign, and I learned from each of them. I also learned about the important work being done by community groups on major issues like homelessness and economic development. I plan to partner with these groups.

“I want to thank incumbent Commissioner Bud Blake for his service. The closeness of the vote shows both campaigns had messages important to voters. I will be mindful of his as I move forward to help find solutions to important problems.

Big challenges lie ahead:

▪  Water quality: More than half of our lakes and rivers have severely degraded water quality.

▪  Affordable housing: Commissioners must do a better job of collaborating with city governments on a regional approach to the growing housing crisis.

▪  Budget responsibility: I will advocate for rebuilding the county’s budget reserves, even when that results in hard choices.

▪  New courthouse: The challenge will be where to build it and how to manage costs.

“As the only Democrat on the Commission, I’m likely to lose some votes, but I expect Commissioners Hutchings, Edwards, and I will find common ground as we tackle these issues. To learn more about my priorities, visit: tyeforthurston.com/newly-elected-ready-to-work-for-you.

There’s much to be done. I look forward to working on behalf of all Thurston County residents. Thanks for the opportunity to serve.”

Read more

Blogger Klein was a Menser for Commissioner campaign supporter, volunteer, and contributor.