tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41481709610784763112024-03-14T00:50:46.156-07:00MARK MARTINEZ' BLOGMark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.comBlogger4373125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-23405902794182863352022-07-15T23:09:00.001-07:002022-07-15T23:09:02.630-07:00THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT NOW ...<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfE8EtQuXtGmFqJ9JLIORFLvLMw2cms7ZzRehPHHfP_WC_yzTn1pYo9z9sdzsc0JkTrWyk1p4hplxYMQzx3yIXmQaPixkOZmlckwJynjaslUQZ9eQJIG8QqRj1gTcWwHmrZIs1HcU1qObpu1X1xdvskM42oq1hyoiUv80ExIPnPMm2lG453l5gJ6tHA/s534/PatriotismVsNationalism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="526" height="577" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfE8EtQuXtGmFqJ9JLIORFLvLMw2cms7ZzRehPHHfP_WC_yzTn1pYo9z9sdzsc0JkTrWyk1p4hplxYMQzx3yIXmQaPixkOZmlckwJynjaslUQZ9eQJIG8QqRj1gTcWwHmrZIs1HcU1qObpu1X1xdvskM42oq1hyoiUv80ExIPnPMm2lG453l5gJ6tHA/w568-h577/PatriotismVsNationalism.jpg" width="568" /></a></p><br /><div>- Mark</div>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-40172912740901953852022-06-24T12:03:00.003-07:002022-06-24T12:03:29.473-07:00ROE v. WADE ... RIP<p> America's Orwellian Dystopia begins ...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxl62VO5U-fIAaNeOyVqKdZYjMP7Fs9jAYWCtwMrW5531SOqjNQwcBUi7Q4jd0xoSFAG0CCNb_MGI6TWsWo9t24karFw9AEgKN3RaVSkA1PtMzWdYcw9At8maoJZSA1H2AAY9rWc7rbKwp04YKeFzZLBhZnGoYR_6IiUkKB3dfnNNGPem8qdDRRpzeWA/s1916/abortion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1916" data-original-width="885" height="916" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxl62VO5U-fIAaNeOyVqKdZYjMP7Fs9jAYWCtwMrW5531SOqjNQwcBUi7Q4jd0xoSFAG0CCNb_MGI6TWsWo9t24karFw9AEgKN3RaVSkA1PtMzWdYcw9At8maoJZSA1H2AAY9rWc7rbKwp04YKeFzZLBhZnGoYR_6IiUkKB3dfnNNGPem8qdDRRpzeWA/w498-h916/abortion.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><p></p><p>- Mark</p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-45552003241145323092022-04-18T10:46:00.001-07:002022-04-18T10:46:26.238-07:00We Need to Break Up Big Tech | Robert Reich<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/ora9KUXR7DY" width="480"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">- Mark</div>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-88544605511516341942022-03-11T23:23:00.001-08:002022-03-11T23:23:21.843-08:00WHEN YOU LIE SO MUCH YOU DON'T NOTICE WHEN YOU BEGIN TO LIE TO YOURSELF<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcs5AMIu-7r2YvLNNDY4ugqDgmtuk4rCSvNoLv19YOntj3j7UmuDOhFJCsbdCBwk1t3_sZGMq6yvesGGDiWeBvyH6ZvJKGRc6YrXtRdzmLvWxg5F2g6g7Cmi6338b_nRLJbNX-vuZoNSpydIfxWXtu41KCJnaEAoRJ641M777haeXHLEiYT5SJ7aEd6w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1052" data-original-width="1034" height="663" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcs5AMIu-7r2YvLNNDY4ugqDgmtuk4rCSvNoLv19YOntj3j7UmuDOhFJCsbdCBwk1t3_sZGMq6yvesGGDiWeBvyH6ZvJKGRc6YrXtRdzmLvWxg5F2g6g7Cmi6338b_nRLJbNX-vuZoNSpydIfxWXtu41KCJnaEAoRJ641M777haeXHLEiYT5SJ7aEd6w=w653-h663" width="653" /></a></div><p></p><p>- Mark</p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-5530030513001066152022-03-07T23:59:00.002-08:002022-03-07T23:59:23.923-08:00EL VALIENTE ... UKRAINE'S VOLODYMRY ZELENSKY<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Those who play <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lotería and support Ukraine's resistance against Russia understand why this is awesome. A special game should be set created and sold with Ukraine's President </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; white-space: nowrap;">Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the cover guy. Kudos to Lalo Alcaraz for creating this ...</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmTUgjAkQaR5SNEQPgemKEd4rdyOkhvr7wk88ozi0m7GjtC6mkf92nW_xgPpfNtT0wdHSl4hy_HV0_isRgf-uvawLzLV89DXNYkpzCZIDpubinb__bufjM6NBNXiPcF4bQubapr345eQOJFYNTr7_U18lLQzSVxBMlchHn99Vx0NTOhvQW7Z4ZJKnXDw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="461" height="723" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmTUgjAkQaR5SNEQPgemKEd4rdyOkhvr7wk88ozi0m7GjtC6mkf92nW_xgPpfNtT0wdHSl4hy_HV0_isRgf-uvawLzLV89DXNYkpzCZIDpubinb__bufjM6NBNXiPcF4bQubapr345eQOJFYNTr7_U18lLQzSVxBMlchHn99Vx0NTOhvQW7Z4ZJKnXDw=w461-h723" width="461" /></a></div><p></p><p>- Mark</p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-80227414675774907922022-03-07T12:24:00.003-08:002022-03-07T12:24:47.866-08:00UKRAINE: HOW WE GOT HERE, HOW WE BEGIN THE RESET<p><i>My latest article published in the <a href="https://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/community-voices/community-voices-ukraine-how-we-got-here-how-we-begin-the-reset/article_58382ee8-9b42-11ec-88f6-930f9e0088d5.html">Bakersfield Californian</a> yesterday ...</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFDbYdaeku3kQ6RYxR7xKsxoWRbWIKcWWUTMwLwUckzyMJAgdX9OzkDweYFg2zqLhWaxsCthO2d_vTsySq7SymHzLhL9HW2BCbkpbW1kCbM9TN2rzFNcqcvAWG-85sL62pAOIbIiTIHvWW4skfPskuaLbrJ3Dk50Dm327n-awhBdHMdCFxpVbXhWijhg=s1359" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1359" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFDbYdaeku3kQ6RYxR7xKsxoWRbWIKcWWUTMwLwUckzyMJAgdX9OzkDweYFg2zqLhWaxsCthO2d_vTsySq7SymHzLhL9HW2BCbkpbW1kCbM9TN2rzFNcqcvAWG-85sL62pAOIbIiTIHvWW4skfPskuaLbrJ3Dk50Dm327n-awhBdHMdCFxpVbXhWijhg=w634-h434" width="634" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A</b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">lmost 60 years ago
President John F. Kennedy was faced with the Cuban Missile Crisis. Alarmed over
the Soviet Union’s placement of nuclear-armed missiles in Cuba, Kennedy imposed
a naval blockade around Cuba which ended a crisis many believed would start
World War III, or a nuclear exchange.</span></div><p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Cuban Missile Crisis is
instructive today because the U.S. is currently trying to force Russia out of
strategically significant Ukraine. While the political players have changed –
communist Russians replaced by a kleptocratic dictator – Russia’s objectives
are again tied to broader geostrategic concerns. Unfortunately for Russia’s
Vladimir Putin, the threats he sees are the product of a dictator’s delusional
fantasies.</span></p><p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">There’s no Cold War.
Ukraine, unlike Cuba in 1962, wants nothing to do with Russian security
obsessions. Perhaps more importantly, Vladimir Putin and his billionaire
oligarchs have gotten fabulously rich playing in an international community
made stable by a remarkably durable post-war world order created by a complex
set of U.S.-led political, military, and economic alliances.</span></p><p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Put another way, Putin’s
acting like a paranoid strongman from another era, complete with sycophantic
oligarchs too self-serving to discourage his geostrategic delusions. The
oligarchs inability to reign in Putin is a product of crushing tyranny at home
and incremental developments around the globe which has Putin believing he’s
smarter than he is.</span></p><p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Among these developments
include how Putin’s aggressive political gambles in Georgia (2008), Crimea
(2014), and eastern Ukraine (2014) paid off. In each of these instances Putin
understood Western allies wouldn’t have the stomach to back up U.S. threats
because of how both Presidents Bush and Obama bungled America’s post-9/11
responses in Afghanistan and Iraq. Bush’s war of aggression and Obama’s
nation-building failed so miserably their blustering threats over Putin’s land
grabs were effectively ignored.</span></p><p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Simply put, America had a
credibility gap.</span></p><p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Putin’s also been buoyed by
the ascent of the dictators. Kim Jung Un, Xi Jinping, Jair Bolsonaro and Recep
Tayyip <span style="background: white; color: #202124;">Erdoğan</span> (among
others) have created a sense around the world that democracy’s in trouble.
Putin, in turn, believes democracies are too weak to respond to “muscular”
policies from the world’s wannabe biker guys.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhy2uud30TmOGB5HvI5n8nUbOupMbO4C0yTH7klxSt2tMrXdXFvqt64m4ABzapeVEnQ6A6d4ZWl8Azo2giymMxLpwJIvJLva2aFys4xYApqqjDG8NCju8_wuE24mTZFsl4Z16I69N-PJbsXB9cyXHIfLezBJAzC5UYP3lseAIDjfqgYnWr00pMVaAZtQw=s773" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="773" height="415" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhy2uud30TmOGB5HvI5n8nUbOupMbO4C0yTH7klxSt2tMrXdXFvqt64m4ABzapeVEnQ6A6d4ZWl8Azo2giymMxLpwJIvJLva2aFys4xYApqqjDG8NCju8_wuE24mTZFsl4Z16I69N-PJbsXB9cyXHIfLezBJAzC5UYP3lseAIDjfqgYnWr00pMVaAZtQw=w552-h415" width="552" /></a></div><p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Perhaps the most disturbing
development is what Robert Mueller characterized as Putin’s successful
“interference” in America’s 2016 elections. What Putin got in return paid off
in spades.</span></p><p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Because Putin’s position is strengthened
every time Western alliances are weakened, his global hand was enhanced when
Donald Trump applauded Brexit, undermined NATO unity by contemplating leaving
the alliance after complaining about “deadbeats” (an untrue characterization),
sabotaged the Trans-Pacific Partnership and pulled America out of the Iranian
nuclear deal. But Putin really profited when Trump turned Ukrainian policy over
to Rudy Giuliani and crafted pro-Russian policies his own national security
advisors, Fiona Hill and John Bolton, have made clear undermined America’s
security interests.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5lM6FirvITvnFOgZxRK1w6LeLFkspZixepjznH3ugDNv-7KPCY8YhPoiOfCgSuECUnNem7_J0viVKL6bqUa4bUiOuxRypDnT6JZ4F-ThB5FQd2sDAMoPLtKdo_kGkcg67fjXwrj1IJJ8Xtk9c3Vlmeyqo7fqLWRoWAHlTwwYSXRQpu2Q6Ggp7TxGKfQ=s801" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="801" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5lM6FirvITvnFOgZxRK1w6LeLFkspZixepjznH3ugDNv-7KPCY8YhPoiOfCgSuECUnNem7_J0viVKL6bqUa4bUiOuxRypDnT6JZ4F-ThB5FQd2sDAMoPLtKdo_kGkcg67fjXwrj1IJJ8Xtk9c3Vlmeyqo7fqLWRoWAHlTwwYSXRQpu2Q6Ggp7TxGKfQ=w520-h378" width="520" /></a></div><p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">These geostrategic
developments enhanced Russia’s position globally (while diminishing America’s).
Putin’s meddling in American politics really paid off when his political
avatar, Donald Trump, tried to extort Ukraine’s President Zelensky for already
agreed upon weapons by asking for a personal “favor” – an investigation into
Joe Biden’s son. For his troubles Trump would secure his first impeachment.</span></p><p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Trump’s national security
advisor for Europe and Russia, Fiona Hill, saw through all of this and pointed
out trying to extort President Zelensky –as Trump pursued Russian-friendly
policies, while lavishly praising Putin – effectively told Russia “Ukraine was
[their] playground.”</span></p><p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Putin understood how<span style="color: red;"> </span>these developments were augmented by America’s
growing political divide domestically, which was inflamed by the attempted
overthrow of America’s democracy on January 6<sup>th</sup>.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Specifically, Putin
learned millions of Americans have absolutely no problem abandoning America’s
constitutional principles.</span></p><p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">America’s growing political
divide combined with the GOP’s cult of personality obsession reinforces Putin’s
hand on many levels. A divided America – which the “Big Lie” and Trump’s praise
for Putin’s Ukrainian invasion contribute to – ensures America’s Ukrainian response
will be relatively muted.</span></p><p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">This is unfortunate because
as Fiona Hill points out, “The polarization of American society has become a
national security threat, acting as a barrier to collective action” against
legitimate external threats.</span></p><p class="xmsonormal0" style="background: white;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #201f1e; font-size: 14pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">The world<u> is</u> now confronted with a genuine crisis in
Ukraine that could spin out of control quickly. With Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq
in America’s shadow, blustering macho buffoonery can no longer carry the moment
with our allies. Reckless wars from our past, coupled with a divided America
gripped in a toxic cult of personality environment, have created a precarious
moment in our time. </span></p><p class="xmsonormal0" style="background: white;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #201f1e; font-size: 14pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Incredibly, while past failed military engagements and the coup
attempt inspired by the “Big Lie” have stained American prestige, know the
world is once again looking to the U.S. for leadership. This is a good thing.</span></p><p class="xmsonormal0" style="background: white;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #201f1e; font-size: 14pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">With sanctions applying pressure, air space cut off and Russian
oligarchs seeing their assets seized around the world, Putin cannot be pleased
knowing Ukrainians are preparing for a drawn-out urban warfare scenario – just
as supplies begin arriving from Europe. </span><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 14pt;">Let’s remember the 13 days in October
1962 ended precisely because alliances, informed negotiations, and diplomatic
entreaties – not always on the front pages – worked.</span></p><p class="xmsonormal0" style="background: white;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #201f1e; font-size: 14pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Expect these dynamics, along with the institutional relationships
being rebuilt by Western leaders, to have a similar impact. Bet on it.</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Mark A. Martinez, Ph.D., is professor and chair of the
Department of Political Science at CSU Bakersfield. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj09gs6-PiPkfzbMn4oPPcvf7rdg8AujFX95A8tF55aZih9mt6mb-noVUrir9qZNqaJSY1pU5K6UwUWqeLfxIV1ZJEE40FX9sBNiYgrCkO-y9PsXfeG0ctXZN64A2ptaGu8vQrORXrGaJrAN6ncCtHuVjTre2pywb1kl6O5F0_ybVL0hL1SusSCwAikUg=s811" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="811" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj09gs6-PiPkfzbMn4oPPcvf7rdg8AujFX95A8tF55aZih9mt6mb-noVUrir9qZNqaJSY1pU5K6UwUWqeLfxIV1ZJEE40FX9sBNiYgrCkO-y9PsXfeG0ctXZN64A2ptaGu8vQrORXrGaJrAN6ncCtHuVjTre2pywb1kl6O5F0_ybVL0hL1SusSCwAikUg=w594-h364" width="594" /></a></p><p>- Mark</p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-87923796776707545072021-07-13T10:47:00.004-07:002021-07-13T10:47:38.711-07:00THIS IS NOT NORMAL<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C4v-t8bKLvo/YO3ReJ64W_I/AAAAAAAAcQw/rsfiVYpDoNwkivB3iQ01iwb3yxa7ZJn7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s684/TrumpDelusional.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C4v-t8bKLvo/YO3ReJ64W_I/AAAAAAAAcQw/rsfiVYpDoNwkivB3iQ01iwb3yxa7ZJn7wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/TrumpDelusional.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>- Mark</p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-9305688364604895682021-06-28T14:59:00.000-07:002021-06-28T14:59:08.759-07:00CRITICAL RACE THEORY ISN'T THAT COMPLICATED<p> Critical Race Theory isn't that complicated. It's simply saying that we have a set of laws... that don't always get applied across the board equally. Seriously. It's that simple.</p><p style="text-align: center;">___________________________________</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rLS6a-Ycop0/YNpELWNRh6I/AAAAAAAAcKw/M8XD6XG2gU8So_EwcwUlHJ4Zl6EMjtVuQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1574" data-original-width="1079" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rLS6a-Ycop0/YNpELWNRh6I/AAAAAAAAcKw/M8XD6XG2gU8So_EwcwUlHJ4Zl6EMjtVuQCLcBGAsYHQ/w439-h640/image.png" width="439" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">___________________________________</div><div><br /></div><div>If you're looking for a good book that explains how the systematic exclusion of people of color was made possible under the law you can read Ira Katznelson's book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/When-Affirmative-Action-White-Twentieth-Century/dp/0393328511">When Affirmative Action Was White</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-03s4IioOcI4/YNpFsODEyUI/AAAAAAAAcK4/zbDgHjd_3PQ2snCOzgDR9BWy0UBe-RUMgCLcBGAsYHQ/s916/IraKatznelson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="585" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-03s4IioOcI4/YNpFsODEyUI/AAAAAAAAcK4/zbDgHjd_3PQ2snCOzgDR9BWy0UBe-RUMgCLcBGAsYHQ/w408-h640/IraKatznelson.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>- Mark</p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-59569815983238492962021-03-25T11:46:00.004-07:002021-03-25T11:46:42.646-07:00BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT-COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bLunGbwuhuU/YFzaahJLjGI/AAAAAAAAcDQ/p8RSllZ6ZSo-HQN5R3r1cSI1eA3CaP2QQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1219/BPD-CCteam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="1219" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bLunGbwuhuU/YFzaahJLjGI/AAAAAAAAcDQ/p8RSllZ6ZSo-HQN5R3r1cSI1eA3CaP2QQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/BPD-CCteam.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since July 2020, I’ve served as a co-chair - </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">with colleagues Traco Matthews, Dr. Michael Burroughs, and </span><span style="font-family: arial;">NaTesha Kindred Johnson </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">of the Bakersfield Police Department's (BPD) reform initiative. Over the past six months we've been working with a dedicated team of 26 community-minded individuals, broken up into four committees. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nt4vrmzOAe8/YFjUa_f4yzI/AAAAAAAAcCw/3TFtOacQsUUZfrBPKU03-F6FMne40G0dgCLcBGAsYHQ/s997/BPD-CC-infographic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="571" height="889" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nt4vrmzOAe8/YFjUa_f4yzI/AAAAAAAAcCw/3TFtOacQsUUZfrBPKU03-F6FMne40G0dgCLcBGAsYHQ/w508-h889/BPD-CC-infographic.jpg" width="508" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Made up of four committees and a team of 26 dedicated community-minded individuals, we officially submitted our report and its recommendations to the Bakersfield (California's 7th largest city) City Council and the BPD this past Friday (March 19). The reform and trust-bui</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">lding process is just beginning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">The</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> Bakersfield Police Department-Community Collaborative report-recommendations can be found by <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MOVgrc-JZoqeblT3AD6a43BpzFfHLV7rY64R9Auz5G0/edit">clicking here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">- Mark</span></p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-80573633745488522021-03-16T23:13:00.001-07:002021-03-16T23:13:24.616-07:00WHEN HYPOCRISY & RACISM FIND COMMON GROUND...<p> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DVBQPlBZlgE/YFGdIDdvutI/AAAAAAAAcCM/6GuMWvExrTUG_Zei_fHtYfhN7CZLHwjBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s541/AndyBorowitzKMc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="505" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DVBQPlBZlgE/YFGdIDdvutI/AAAAAAAAcCM/6GuMWvExrTUG_Zei_fHtYfhN7CZLHwjBgCLcBGAsYHQ/w598-h640/AndyBorowitzKMc.jpg" width="598" /></a></p><p>- Mark</p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-58371502344888346872021-03-12T15:18:00.001-08:002021-03-12T15:18:35.033-08:00LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Leadership matters... </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fldqx1EXcY8/YEv2XPIJs1I/AAAAAAAAcCA/GaS_8rmEUvMAWQO9z_yGcNhQ49tjS_wsgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="807" height="464" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fldqx1EXcY8/YEv2XPIJs1I/AAAAAAAAcCA/GaS_8rmEUvMAWQO9z_yGcNhQ49tjS_wsgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h464/image.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">- Mark</span></p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-23690441618814580972021-03-11T19:21:00.001-08:002021-03-11T19:21:11.870-08:00FOR THE PEOPLE ACT<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> You can access and read "For the People Act" (H.R.1) by <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1">clicking here</a>, but this is what the bill does in a nutshell...</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CWSytYBO72U/YErdIYpNA3I/AAAAAAAAcB4/oFKatA35qE4Dz_UCB1wnbo5kMvQfNDE0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s750/HR.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="750" height="434" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CWSytYBO72U/YErdIYpNA3I/AAAAAAAAcB4/oFKatA35qE4Dz_UCB1wnbo5kMvQfNDE0ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h434/HR.1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">- Mark</span></p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-36890211659288858742021-03-08T10:38:00.002-08:002021-03-08T10:38:34.719-08:00WEHN DYSFUNCTION IS YOUR DRUG<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mYVpdal4ql0/YEZu8ASV9nI/AAAAAAAAcBM/AjNfh6LsMPcIPxblUhGzwo3CRfpMAIrPACLcBGAsYHQ/s807/GOPaddiction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="807" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mYVpdal4ql0/YEZu8ASV9nI/AAAAAAAAcBM/AjNfh6LsMPcIPxblUhGzwo3CRfpMAIrPACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/GOPaddiction.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>- Mark</p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-54281322137585332912021-03-08T10:32:00.003-08:002021-03-08T10:32:23.963-08:00WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS...<p> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Q0u4TYS9Pg/YEZtmOASmoI/AAAAAAAAcBE/Jdij5p3djRghZp7vwrCvY8ANR4iMI0CfgCLcBGAsYHQ/s750/GOPhypocrites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="750" height="438" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Q0u4TYS9Pg/YEZtmOASmoI/AAAAAAAAcBE/Jdij5p3djRghZp7vwrCvY8ANR4iMI0CfgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h438/GOPhypocrites.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></p><p>- Mark</p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-38829940956656899452021-03-07T15:22:00.005-08:002021-03-07T15:29:38.806-08:00THE ECONOMICS OF POVERTY; YEAH, IT'S A CHOICE<p><span><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">The economics of poverty. It's not rocket science. It's a choice. </span></span></p><p><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">Walmart has chosen to dump the survivability of its workers on to the American taxpayer. In the past it was called "poor relief" in the name of parish serfdom; today it's called "food stamps" in the name of corporate welfare. </span></p><p><span face="Segoe UI Historic, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eD7bS64CSfI/YEVfcjL7D4I/AAAAAAAAcA8/UVAQXfR7s30vw_ZIqIbA8u-_Y4S99fU9QCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="595" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eD7bS64CSfI/YEVfcjL7D4I/AAAAAAAAcA8/UVAQXfR7s30vw_ZIqIbA8u-_Y4S99fU9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/image.png" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>- Mark</p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-63698440683241126062021-03-06T17:57:00.002-08:002021-03-06T17:57:15.707-08:00FOR OUR CONSERVATIVE SNOWFLAKE FRIENDS...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x6aLGwFvsLA/YEQy0bb3L-I/AAAAAAAAcA0/fFWD11GyBBcL9H69gs2_iBSDOJES-QMbQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="812" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x6aLGwFvsLA/YEQy0bb3L-I/AAAAAAAAcA0/fFWD11GyBBcL9H69gs2_iBSDOJES-QMbQCLcBGAsYHQ/w541-h640/image.png" width="541" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>- Mark</p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-42040348625894733642021-03-04T11:06:00.003-08:002021-03-04T11:37:57.684-08:00GIVE THE FLYNN BROTHER(S) THE ROSENBERG TREATMENT?<p style="text-align: center;">___________________________________</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cMO60O6RGOg/YEEsd0zi8FI/AAAAAAAAcAs/-pseYq-SM1cu1wESQFJXG1sWfOwkAmJFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s844/TraitorsFlynns.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="844" height="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cMO60O6RGOg/YEEsd0zi8FI/AAAAAAAAcAs/-pseYq-SM1cu1wESQFJXG1sWfOwkAmJFwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h600/TraitorsFlynns.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">___________________________________</div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Selling state secrets and contributing to an attempted <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/army-flynn-brother-capitol-riot-response_n_60099a84c5b62c0057c42aaa?fbclid=IwAR1HZLpzg5YYiFwRi_Zr3ELBL5PdnWHAmZDcdTIrXPzfw8QntPGfRdk8Zic">overthrow of our democracy</a> seem oddly similar on the traitor scale, wouldn't you say? If it's true that the Flynn brothers contributed in any way to the events of January 6th we need to make an example of them. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I say we should give them the Rosenberg treatment. Traitors. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">For those of you unfamiliar with the Rosenbergs, <a href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rosenbergs-convicted-of-espionage">click here</a>. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;">___________________________________</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WBzFm-_d4MU/YEErwrUVm3I/AAAAAAAAcAk/tXoKZDuADC8VwLzHC1gQPq_MoGn3W35hACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Rosenbergs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WBzFm-_d4MU/YEErwrUVm3I/AAAAAAAAcAk/tXoKZDuADC8VwLzHC1gQPq_MoGn3W35hACLcBGAsYHQ/w473-h640/Rosenbergs.jpg" width="473" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">___________________________________</div><p><span style="font-size: large;">- Mark</span></p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-89153737366122677062021-03-04T10:06:00.002-08:002021-03-04T10:06:41.152-08:00CONCEPTUAL CONFUSION IN THE GOP<p> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q10jUFq0TRI/YEEhfF2bJzI/AAAAAAAAcAY/fUWYC-R0P1EOIcrg1aMTaFiFdqYipjeYACLcBGAsYHQ/s526/Socialism3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q10jUFq0TRI/YEEhfF2bJzI/AAAAAAAAcAY/fUWYC-R0P1EOIcrg1aMTaFiFdqYipjeYACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/Socialism3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></p><p>- Mark</p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-91687311624012936212021-03-03T15:38:00.002-08:002021-03-03T15:43:30.980-08:00FROM "MYKEVIN" TO "MYINSURRECTIONIST"?<p>This is what desperate servitude looks like... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fUHud42FVf0/YEAX37fqyvI/AAAAAAAAcAQ/ZetJixOML_Y_ezXtgyc4c1K0Xdv5OMHCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s920/KevinMcCarthyDrSeuss.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="920" height="382" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fUHud42FVf0/YEAX37fqyvI/AAAAAAAAcAQ/ZetJixOML_Y_ezXtgyc4c1K0Xdv5OMHCQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h382/KevinMcCarthyDrSeuss.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>In his continuing attempt to stay in Donald Trump's good graces, "MyKevin" (R-Qanon) is <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/kevin-mccarthy-slams-democrats-house-floor-outlawing-dr-seussthey-didnt-1573327">now suggesting</a> that Democrats control corporate publication decision-making surrounding Dr. Seuss books. Then, without evidence, he irresponsibly claims that "...future voters could be dead, or illegal immigrants, or maybe even registered two or three times." </p><p>Channeling his inner <i>apologista</i> for Trump's role in the January 6th insurrectionist, MyKevin®️ deflects from what the rest of the world understands is reality with "...I guess Democrats just don't care as long as they get reelected."</p><p>Ignoring what happened January 6th, to float make-believe lies about Republican electoral fantasies, is doing real damage to American democracy. MyKevin®️ is fast becoming the next level "MyInsurrectionist" - he plays make believe that January 6th didn't happen by trying to suffocate the truth with an avalanche of lies. </p><p>MyKevin®️ may not have stormed the Capitol with the insurrectionists, but he's doing his level best to make sure the rest of us forget that it happened.</p><p>This is embarrassing, even by the standards of traditional suck ups. Unfortunately, it passes for the Republican playbook today.</p><p>- Mark</p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-58262010284457900952021-03-02T13:15:00.000-08:002021-03-02T13:15:01.205-08:00NO, IT'S NOT JUST A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION...<p> It's not just a difference of opinion. These people are nuts...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-guZn6K_ht5I/YD6qiLkS9yI/AAAAAAAAcAI/KVgh_0GhusorGkUAsj-HaxyGmG2pqnFSACLcBGAsYHQ/s1297/GOPlizardpeople.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="1297" height="368" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-guZn6K_ht5I/YD6qiLkS9yI/AAAAAAAAcAI/KVgh_0GhusorGkUAsj-HaxyGmG2pqnFSACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h368/GOPlizardpeople.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>- Mark</p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-41962080556591537442021-03-01T17:52:00.001-08:002021-03-01T17:52:15.323-08:00NOT A DIFFICULT CONCEPT TO UNDERSTAND...<p> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ktAsWjbI0Rs/YD2Z5zQou7I/AAAAAAAAcAA/oNOTjyPHGJEesY86eqTLJuX7KiQb3QHtQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1080" height="626" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ktAsWjbI0Rs/YD2Z5zQou7I/AAAAAAAAcAA/oNOTjyPHGJEesY86eqTLJuX7KiQb3QHtQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h626/image.png" width="640" /></a><br />- Mark</p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-28668058375177385602021-03-01T12:24:00.003-08:002021-03-01T12:24:30.908-08:00HOME INSECURITY IN AMERICA<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CnVNfOnf5E/YD1L-FBdrvI/AAAAAAAAb_s/sXrsYrRaea46MjZHtSqMfb2CAnLXVhObACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/HousingInsecurityEviction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CnVNfOnf5E/YD1L-FBdrvI/AAAAAAAAb_s/sXrsYrRaea46MjZHtSqMfb2CAnLXVhObACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/HousingInsecurityEviction.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">From the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which was created after Wall Street almost collapsed the economy in 2008, we learn that <strong><span style="color: #101820;">over 11 million people</span></strong><span style="color: #101820;"> – nearly 10 percent of
U.S. households – may be at risk of losing their homes unless immediate action is taken. </span></span><span style="color: #43484e; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">More homeowners are behind on their mortgages now than at any time since 2010, which was the peak of the Great Recession.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3Mq4R9LDfQ/YD1MbZqAlhI/AAAAAAAAb_0/EZdH6OpFj2g4a6TJD3SMm9dkoaLhePf6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s599/HousingInsecurity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="599" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3Mq4R9LDfQ/YD1MbZqAlhI/AAAAAAAAb_0/EZdH6OpFj2g4a6TJD3SMm9dkoaLhePf6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/HousingInsecurity.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #101820;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #101820;">What's worse, with the pandemic, communities of color
continue to be disproportionately impacted. Indeed, </span></span><span style="color: #43484e; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Black and Hispanic families are </span><span style="color: #43484e; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-weight: 600;">more than twice as likely</span><span style="color: #43484e; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"> to report being behind on their housing payments than white families. Specifically,</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span style="color: #43484e; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">* The number of homeowners behind on their mortgage has</span><span style="color: #43484e; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-weight: 600;"> doubled</span><span style="color: #43484e; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"> since the beginning of the pandemic—6 percent of mortgages were delinquent as of December 2020.</span></p><p><span style="color: #43484e; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">* </span><span style="color: #43484e; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-weight: 600;">2.1 million homeowners</span><span style="color: #43484e; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"> are more than 90 days behind on payments - which is 5 times larger than when the pandemic began - making them “seriously delinquent”. </span></p><p><span style="color: #43484e; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">* </span><span style="color: #43484e; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-weight: 600;">Nearly 10 percent of renters</span><span style="color: #43484e; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"> reported that they’re likely to be evicted in the next two months, with the rates highest among Black and Hispanic households.</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #101820;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">You can read the CFPB report by <a href="https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/new-report-highlights-housing-insecurity-and-the-need-for-aggressive-action/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=General">clicking here</a>.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #101820;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">- Mark</span></span></p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-37793622794954657212021-03-01T10:14:00.005-08:002021-03-01T10:16:03.902-08:00SEATTLE AT NIGHT<p>Just a cool picture. Courtesy of <span style="font-family: inherit;">Sigma Sreedharan Fine Art Photography.</span></p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pkIYx4MQ-a4/YD0udhq150I/AAAAAAAAb_k/CFE86G9uOOQyQ8cWm5Ri0yZPWDiSOtsrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/SeattleFullMoon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pkIYx4MQ-a4/YD0udhq150I/AAAAAAAAb_k/CFE86G9uOOQyQ8cWm5Ri0yZPWDiSOtsrwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h800/SeattleFullMoon.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>- Mark</p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-61685563377971611892021-02-22T13:34:00.001-08:002021-02-22T13:35:06.153-08:00TODAY'S WEATHER vs. CLIMATE CHANGE <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sxnEFkqk0ew/YDQis_baUxI/AAAAAAAAb_E/uVZubx_LlQIwu2MQTVC5Mtgu-74Y1PBjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s836/ClimateChange.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="836" height="413" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sxnEFkqk0ew/YDQis_baUxI/AAAAAAAAb_E/uVZubx_LlQIwu2MQTVC5Mtgu-74Y1PBjwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h413/ClimateChange.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> - Mark<p></p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4148170961078476311.post-48900266106599458542021-02-17T18:40:00.001-08:002021-02-17T18:40:19.437-08:00"YO MAMA'S SO MAGA..."<p> Could this be the next rolling punchline? "<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23YoMamasSoMAGA&src=trend_click&vertical=trends&fbclid=IwAR0ghiFNlOMcWOj9A5zx318ken4ZTiB_FGu_EwBnj3Ms4YSg_4mLGw3YDfc">Yo Mama's So MAGA...</a>"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HmLM3fY_elU/YC3LIlFMwlI/AAAAAAAAb-s/Lfbw4RlBrDMwtxDo7enwack4i3CcwTIKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s948/MAGA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="948" height="540" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HmLM3fY_elU/YC3LIlFMwlI/AAAAAAAAb-s/Lfbw4RlBrDMwtxDo7enwack4i3CcwTIKwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h540/MAGA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">___________________________________________________</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ClNYcHKEkE/YC3S2DI__oI/AAAAAAAAb-4/JNEEA78LhQM2tCED0MKlbRakr2U2MzLWwCLcBGAsYHQ/s537/MAGAmomSister.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="537" height="472" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ClNYcHKEkE/YC3S2DI__oI/AAAAAAAAb-4/JNEEA78LhQM2tCED0MKlbRakr2U2MzLWwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h472/MAGAmomSister.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23YoMamasSoMAGA&src=trend_click&vertical=trends&fbclid=IwAR0ghiFNlOMcWOj9A5zx318ken4ZTiB_FGu_EwBnj3Ms4YSg_4mLGw3YDfc">Click here</a> for additional "Yo Mama's so MAGA..." tweets.</p><p>- Mark</p>Mark A. Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627797237995623782noreply@blogger.com0