I think so, Brain … but has Curious George had all his shots?
Author Archives: wjjhoge
Truth and Disinformation
The reporting on the Disinformation Governance Board (ДГБ) here at Hogewash! began last February when it was still in the planning stage. The first post, Experts Recommend, was fairly brief.
The New York Times reports that experts recommend the Biden administration put together a cross-agency task force to tackle disinformation and domestic extremism, which would be led by something like a “reality czar.”
The Gestapo, Stasi, and KGB were run by experts.
So I was not surprised when the existence of the ДГБ (that’s DGB is the Russian alphabet) leaked last month. My 28 April posts noted It’s A Bad Idea, But Is It Also Illegal? and presented the official portrait of The Central Scrutinizer.It turned out that Congress has authorized the Department of Homeland Security to get involved in the analysis of certain kinds of propaganda attacks, but it’s my opinion the the agency vastly exceeded its authority in creating the ДГБ.
On 29 April, I posted a viral video Nina Jankowicz had created and posted online herself. I did not edit the video. It’s as she originally posted it to TikTok. It’s also cringeworthy, a self-inflicted wound to her credibility.
Also on the 29th and the 30th, I posted a pair of Are You Pondering What I’m Ponderings that took aim at the ДГБ and the reason for its creation.
There was a great deal of blowback concerning the anti-free speech and anti-free press overreach embedded in the very idea of the ДГБ, especially from the right side of the blogosphere. I posted the Quote of the Day for 2 May in support of that theme.
I would never want to see our executive branch have that sort of power.
—Nina Jankowicz
As more information turned up about Ms. Jankowicz’s background, it began to appear she had been more of source of disinformation than an opponent of it. On 5 May, I posted a portion of her resume on LinkedIn which suggested that when she claimed that Hunter Biden’s laptop was “Russian disinformation,” her point of view could have been through The Lens of Experience.
On 12 May, my post When THE Science Follows THE Narrative dealt with how the Biden Administration is itself spreading misinformation. The post quotes the head of the FDA as claiming that misinformation is “the leading cause of death in the US.”
On the 13th, I posted this Dictionary Update—
Effective immediately, all agents, employees, and contractors of the Disinformation Governance Board (ДГБ) shall be referred to as checkists.
Indeed, it seems that those who would check our speech have real philosophical and spiritual connection to the original Chekists.
Yesterday’s post, Democracy Dies in Derpness™, was about Taylor Lorenz’s scoop about the “pausing” of the ДГБ and Ms. Jankowicz’s “resignation.” Part of the spin in Lorenz’s WaPo story is the false narrative—the disinformation—that Nina Jankowiicz was unfairly attacked. Now, it may be true that someone somewhere said something unfair about her, but the overwhelming balance of the coverage of her consisted of accurate reporting of her own statements, publications, and music videos, all reported in proper context. As noted above, her wounds were self-inflicted.
For now the ДГБ is “paused,” a victim of the Xiden Administration’s general incompetence. Its functions will have to move to some other part of the Deep State.
A Black Hole Primer
Video Credit: NASA
Team Kimberlin Post of the Day
Yesterday, Hogewash! reported that the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit had denied Brett Kimberlin’s remaining Speedway Bombing appeal.
Speaking of failed appeals, the TKPOTD for seven years ago today dealt with another of The Dread Deadbeat Pro-Se Kimberlin’s appeals.
* * * * *
The Dread Pro-Se Kimberlin mailed his informal brief in his appeal of the RICO Madness LOLsuit to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals on the last day allowed for it to arrive in Richmond. The Court will probably accept his brief anyway.
Aaron Walker has a copy posted over at Allergic to Bull.
I got a hold of a copy this afternoon and have managed to stop laughing long enough to write a first draft of my informal reply. I’ll review and edit it for a few days before filing it. Meanwhile, I don’t have any further comment on TDPK’s filing until after the Court decides whether or not to let the appeal go forward.
Stay tuned.
* * * * *
Kimberlin has said he has a pro bono lawyer to represent him in a certiorari petition to the Supreme Court for a further appeal of the case the Seventh Circuit denied in March. There’s nothing on the Supreme Court’s docket yet, but he has several weeks before time to file runs out. I’ll keep watch.
Stay tuned.
Quote of the Day
A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed.
—Henrik Ibsen
Don’t Know Much Biology
Q: "Do you believe that men can become pregnant and have abortions?" –@RepDanBishop
A: "Yes." -Democrat witness pic.twitter.com/TfxboajSJU
— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) May 18, 2022
This witness appears to be a Science Denier.
Are You Pondering What I’m Pondering?
I think so, Brain … but no one seems to have taken a second slice of the turnip and liverwurst pizza.
Democracy Dies in Derpness™
Taylor Lorenz has a “scoop” over at WaPo reporting the Disinformation Governance Board (ДГБ) is being “paused,” and that Disinformation Tsarina Jankowicz in considering resigning from the Department of Homeland Security. When I tried to retweet (with a comment) Lorenz’s tweet, Twitter posted this:However, her tweet is available. I screen capped this after my tweet was posted:
Gentle Reader, it would appear that Twitter is engaging in disinformation.
Hmmm.
At the Heart of the Serpent
UGC 10143 is a giant elliptical galaxy that is the largest and brightest member of the Abell 2147 galaxy cluster around 480 million light-years away in the constellation Serpens. Abell 2147, in turn, is a part of the Hercules Supercluster of galaxies.
Image Credit: NASA / ESA
Team Kimberlin Post of the Day
Almost 40 years after Brett Kimberlin’s convictions in the Speedway Bombing case, he moved for DNA testing of some hair samples presented at one of his trials. His motion was untimely, and the District Court denied his motion. Yesterday, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the District Court’s denial.
The money quotes—
We need not resolve the question how this interpretation of § 3600A interacts with § 3600(a)—both are part of the Innocence Protection Act of 2004—because another basis exists upon which this appeal may be decided—untimeliness.
—and—
We have considered Kimberlin’s remaining arguments, and none has merit.
And so The Deadbeat Pro-Se Kimberlin maintains a perfect 0.000 batting average this century in the courts of appeal.
Quote of the Day
I have filed over a hundred lawsuits and another one will be no sweat for me. On the other hand, it will cost you a lot of time and money.
—Brett Kimberlin
Correlation Is Not Causation, But …
Dominion Voting Systems was unavailable for comment.
Are You Pondering What I’m Pondering?
I think so, Brain … but maybe the sport they’re illustrating is sumo.
Sonification: NGC 1569
Video Credit: NASA
Team Kimberlin Post of the Day
The real underlying basis for Brett Kimberlin’s campaign of lawfare against people reporting truthful things about him and his activities was his butthurt over being exposed for who he is. The TKPOTD for eight years ago offered him some relief.
* * * * *
Judge Grimm does not seem inclined to provide any temporary relief for The Dread Pro-Se Kimberlin’s butthurt. He has denied TDPK’s request for file a sanctions motion against the lawyer representing Twitchy. However, Amazon offers this remedy—
* * * * *
Of course, butthurt is not a proper cause of action for a civil suit, so The Dread Deadbeat Pro-Se Kimberlin’s LOLsuits were doomed from the start.
Quote of the Day
History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives.
—Abba Eban
I’m So Old …
… I remember seeing pretty women on the cover of Sports Illustrated‘s swimsuit issue.
Are You Pondering What I’m Pondering?
I think so, Brain … but wouldn’t the leftover lead styphnate be considered hazmat?
Imaging A Black Hole
Video Credit: ESO
Team Kimberlin Post of the Day
Brett Kimberlin created the Breitbart Unmasked website in 2012, and used it to attack his perceived enemies. Here’s an example of a false post from six years ago today.The Gentle Reader will note that the second paragraph in the BU post mentions some embedded audio that is no longer in the post. There were two problems with that audio. The first was that it had been edited to create a false record. The second was that it’s a violation Maryland Court Rules to publish courtroom audio recordings.
Publication of printed transcripts are OK, and when I made the printed record available, the embedded audio was taken down.
Breitbart Unmasked. It’s my prime source for news, hearsay, lies and innuendo. Oh, yeah. Smears, too!
—Bill Schmalfeldt
Quote of the Day
In the liberal remake of Casablanca, the police captain comes upon the scene of the shooting and orders his men to “round up the usual weapons.” It’s always the weapon and never the shooter.
—Charles Krauthammer
Are You Pondering What I’m Pondering?
I think so, Brain … but wouldn’t that require taking the kumquats over the state line?
Sonification: The Black Hole at Our Galactic Center (X-Ray)
Video Credit: NASA
Team Kimberlin Post of the Day
This episode of Blognet first ran seven years ago today.
* * * * *
MUSIC: Theme. Intro and fade under.
NARRATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
MUSIC: Up, then under …
NARRATOR: You’re a Detective Sergeant. You’re assigned to Internet Detail. A blogger has been accused of stalking and harassment. Your job … get the facts.
MUSIC: Up then under …
ANNOUNCER: Blognet … the documented drama of an actual case. For the next few minutes, in cooperation with the Twitter Town Sheriff’s Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the good guys through an actual case transcribed from official files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Blognet is the story of the good guys in action.
MUSIC: Up and out. Continue reading
Quote of the Day
A word to the wise is infuriating.
—Hunter S. Thompson