fight against disinformation

Before you share something that is sensational use “SIFT”: Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, Trace the claims to the original source.

The disinformation goal is to confuse and overwhelm us with so many falsehoods and contradictory messages that we no longer know — or even care — what is true or false and to discourage us from acting. It’s up to us not to let them. Or worse: to do their work for them. Don’t help them pollute the information space by repeating their lies — not even their words. Deny them an audience. Don’t give them any oxygen. Just 100% ignore. Even — especially! — if you’re outraged: step away. Go for a walk, have a coffee, cuddle your pets.

Here’s how to avoid spreading propaganda inadvertently.

The DON’Ts

• DON’T engage with lies/disinfo/propaganda. Deny them an audience by not giving them any traction. That means:
• DON’T retweet lies/disinfo/propaganda ¹
• DON’T quote-retweet lies/disinfo/propaganda ^{1, 2}
• DON’T like lies/disinfo/propaganda ¹
• DON’T reply to lies/disinfo/propaganda — not even to correct them ^{1, 3}
• DON’T link to lies/disinfo/propaganda ^{1, 4}
• DON’T cross-post lies/disinfo/propaganda between social media platforms ⁵
• DON’T use their hashtags — unless you are sure you can outnumber them with your own message ^{1, 6}
• DON’T use their words, terms, frames, concepts ⁶
• DON’T reinforce associations between things that in reality have no connection ⁶
• DON’T repeat lies/disinfo/propaganda — not even to counter them ⁶
• DON’T tag or @mention the account if you absolutely must fact-check or report about it ¹
• DON’T follow accounts that post or regularly spread lies/disinfo/propaganda ¹

The DO’s

• DO flood the zone with your narrative and with positive truths (not denials of untruths)⁷
• DO repeat truths, and keep repeating them, a thousand times
• DO amplify independent, unbiased, high-quality journalism
• DO unfollow accounts that post or regularly spread lies/disinfo/propaganda
• DO mute accounts that post or regularly spread lies/disinfo/propaganda ⁸
• DO block and report accounts that reply to your tweets with intentional lies/disinfo/propaganda
• DO call out lies and hold officials to account — but in a responsible way: use our do’s and don’ts
• DO use screenshots of posts, articles, videos — ideally watermarked “false” — but only if you absolutely must fact-check or report about them
• DO provide context if you absolutely must fact-check or report about lies/disinfo/propaganda
• DO use the “truth sandwich“ technique (see below) if you absolutely must fact-check or report about lies/disinfo/propaganda

All the information presented here is from the below site and all credits go to Win Without War.

Kinghts Templar Diet

“All credits to Atlas Obscura” link at the end of this text

The knights’ diets seem to have been a balancing act between the ordinary fasting demands on monks, and the fact that these knights lived active, military lives. You couldn’t crusade, or joust, on an empty stomach. (Although the Knights Templar only jousted in combat or training—not for sport.) So three times a week, the knights were permitted to eat meat—even though it was “understood that the custom of eating flesh corrupts the body.” On Sundays, everyone ate meat, with higher-up members permitted both lunch and dinner with some kind of roast animal. Accounts from the time show that this was often beef, ham, or bacon, with salt for seasoning or to cure the meat.

It’s likely that these portions were considerable: If the knights weren’t allowed meat due to a Tuesday fast, the next day it would be available “in plenty.” One source suggests that cooks loaded enough meat onto their plates “to feed two poor men with the leftovers.”

But on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, the knights ate more spartan, vegetable-filled meals. Although the rules describe these meals as “two or three meals of vegetables or other dishes eaten with bread,” they also often included milk, eggs, and cheese. Otherwise, they might eat potage, made with oats or pulses, gruels, or fiber-rich vegetable stews. (The wealthier brothers might mix in expensive spices, such as cumin.) In their gardens, they grew fruits and vegetables, especially Mediterranean produce such as figs, almonds, pomegranates, olives, and corn (grain).* These healthy foodstuffs likely also made their way into their meals.

Once a week, on Fridays, they observed a Lenten fast—no eggs, milk, or other animal products. For hearty fare, they relied on dried or salted fish, and dairy or egg substitutes made from almond milk. Even here, however, there are pragmatic concessions. The weak and sick abstained from these fasts and received “meat, flesh, birds, and all other foods which bring good health,” to return them to fighting shape as quickly as possible.

All the while, brothers drank wine—but this too was restricted. Everyone had an identical ration, which was diluted, and they were advised that alcohol should “not be taken to excess, but in moderation. For Solomon said … wine corrupts the wise.” In the Holy Lands, they allegedly mixed a potent cocktail of antiseptic aloe vera, hemp, and palm wine, known as the Elixir of Jerusalem, which may have helped accelerate healing from injuries.

Franceschi describes other regulations beyond the Primitive Rules that were “specifically designed to avoid the spreading of infections.” These included mandatory handwashing before eating or praying, and exempting brothers in charge of manual tasks outdoors from food preparation or serving. Some of these innovations, picked up without any awareness of germs, may have resulted from interactions with Arab doctors, renowned during the period for their superior medical knowledge. By medieval medical standards, Templar Knights were at its apex, able to treat many illnesses and to take care of their weak.

The order was one of the richest in the world—yet these rules prevented the knights from sitting on their laurels or gorging themselves on fatty, cured meat. In fact, many of these rules resemble modern dietary advice: Lots of vegetables, meat on occasion, and wine in moderation. A meal fit not for a king on a throne, but a knight with some serious crusading to do.

*Update: This post has been updated to clarify that “corn” was (and still is!) used as a term for wheat or grain generally in Britain.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-the-templar-knights-ate?utm_source=Atlas+Obscura+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=120337d524-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_02_22&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f36db9c480-120337d524-70922829&mc_cid=120337d524&mc_eid=248b0bf054

Russia Invades Ukraine – Goodby Minsk Accord

Yes, this is expected news but I am using this blog as a diary entry to remind myself of various timelines ( just like I did for Iraq ).

“Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered troops into two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine after announcing Monday evening that he would recognize their independence.

U.K. Health Minister Sajid Javid said Tuesday that “the invasion of Ukraine has begun.” U.S. President Joe Biden has not yet used the word “invasion” to describe the current activity.

The world responds to Russia’s military escalation.”

Personally, IMO, it was our former guy 45’s fault since it emboldened Putin by his attitude and the attitude of many of his followers.

Rekindled Geocaching Interest.

We have rekindled our interest in geocaching this winter. The hobby gets us out of the house & walking plus takes us to various areas and venues that we would otherwise never even think about or know of.

Yesterday, Valentines Day 2022, we found 6 caches. This brings us to 775 caches found since 2002. This is not very many compared to lots of longtime cachers – some have 20K+ caches!

Check it out! https://www.geocaching.com.

5 G Antennas for the RV Community

Geomagnetic storm: 40 sats doomed

“A powerful geomagnetic storm has doomed 40 Starlink satellites launched by SpaceX last week, the company has announced.

Elon Musk’s company launched a Falcon 9 rocket bearing the 49 satellites from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday (Feb. 3), but a geomagnetic storm that struck a day later sent the satellites plummeting back toward Earth, where they will burn up in the atmosphere.” Shown below is an Astra launch and not a SpaceX launch shown for dramatic effect

https://www.livescience.com/geomagnetic-storm-downs-spacex-satellites?utm_source=SmartBrief&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=368B3745-DDE0-4A69-A2E8-62503D85375D&utm_content=DDC893C5-CA69-4F2A-93BA-B6F608705BD6&utm_term=2dccb43f-c9e2-4522-9f1e-2796da3ebe15