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Welcome to the totalitarian state of WA.

Don't panic, the McGowan government isn't hoarding missiles in the bowels of Parliament House aimed at our eastcoast counterparts for greedily hogging too much GST.

It's just the new Labor government seems hell bent onconstricting the flow of information to journalists.

Labor has only been in power a couple of months, yet it is already squeezing the control of information tighter than a farmer tying an elastratorbandaroundthe neck of the lamb's scrotum.

Last month, when WAtoday asked questions about the trouble-plagued Perth Stadium, the response from the government read like a manual from a 1971 Datsun 1200 coupe.

Shortly after, a Labor minister told this reporter to "never" ring their ministerial number again.

And only last week, the ABC reported government departments were directed by the Premier's office not to respond to their questions.

But, the state government does have a method of disseminating information to Sandgropers.

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Itcomes via the art of the "drop" - stories handed to journalists by the government of the day on an exclusive basis. And they tend to go toSevenWest Media.

Drops happen. They'veexistedsince the first newspaper rolled off the printing press andno one canlayblame at the hands ofSevenWest for accepting information served upto them on a platter.

And I'm by no meanssuggesting that all the journalists at SevenWest are dining out on"drops" from the government, that would undermine the number of hardworking talented scribes who are tirelessly digging away in an attempt to "keep the bastards honest".

But with drops seemingly increasingand information from the government appearing to tighten up, most hacks in Perth have had enough.

Especially when the drops becomes farcical. Labor put out embargoed media alert on May 1 about WA joining the Our Watch program - a national organisation to prevent violence against women and children - 24 hours AFTER the story appeared in the Sunday Times.

A former senior Liberal minister joked a few weeks out from the March election, that the government of the day wouldn't "survive" if it didn't drop to The West or The Sunday Times.

And on Wednesday it all came to a head.

Labor went to such extraordinary levels to keep an "exclusive" interview with 7 News and acting Premier Roger Cook under wraps itread like a poorly scripted episode from the political TV satire The Thick of It.

Labor wanted to put the boots into the state's opposition's new whistleblower website, which it ironicallyfound out about after a tweet by an ABC journalist.

While that foul-mouthed and vociferous spin doctorMalcolm Tucker in The Thick of It manages to maintain some "control" despite the chaos that exists around him, Labor's attempt to keep the lid on its SevenWest lovefest was nothing short of what he'd call an"omnishambles".

The thing journalists embrace more than an open baris a leak.

So when word got out that Mr Cook and SevenNews were about to get cosy at Parliament House, journalists around Perth skedaddled there faster than Bob Hawkedowning a schooner.

When this reporter got on theblower to a government flak catcher about the "presser," the person made it abundantly clear this was a SevenWest event only and wanted to know who "leaked" the information about it.

Oh, the irony.

I ignored the non-invite and said I would be coming.

I would've had more respect forthe government's media minder if the person delivered a blistering tirade of abuse that wouldmake"potty mouthed maniac" Tucker wince.

But it's like what Terri, the bungling media advisor in the Thick of It said about journalists.

"The problem is that if you say to a journalist, "Can you avoid that topic?", that's when they really go for it. It's like saying to the school bully, "I'll wet myself if you tickle me."

So why should we give a stuff if the Labor government is seemingly getting cosy with one media organisation?

Well, when the Australian Competition and Consumer Commissionwas investigating the sale ofThe Sunday Timestorival Seven West Media, it warned it could "substantially lessen competition" inthe supply of news and information to readers in Western Australia.

In a submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance, which represents WA journalists, urged the watchdog to impose conditions on the sale that would allow the Sunday paper to maintain editorial independence from SWM.

MEAA regional WA director Tiffany Venning said merging journalists fromThe Sunday TimesandPerthNowwebsite into the rival newsroom ofThe West Australianwould createa litany of problems if they could not work independently of each other.

"There would be a threat to the diversity of news and opinion in WA if Seven West Media gained control ofThe Sunday Times," she told the ACCC.

"The two papers under different owners have ploughed their own furrow. The different approaches allow the news agenda of WA to have a variety of major influences and influencers."

If you think this is the ramblings of a hapless hack lamenting his own lack of investigative skills to penetrate the halls of power, you are probably half right.

But if you don't think diversity in media is important or "keeping the bastards honest" is critical, then we are all doomed.

Read more:
Labor in 'The Thick of It' trying to ban media from 'omnishambles' press conference - WAtoday

Myles Loftin has been shocked by the spate of police shootings of young Black men such as Philando Castile, Tamir Rice, and John Crawford. But hes not surprised.

For as long as the United States has been a country, Black men have been painted in the media as savages, criminals, Loftin, BFA Photography 20, says. These inaccurate depictions trickle down and become ingrained in the minds of the people who see them.

When police officers stop a Black man driving a car, they feel threatened automatically because theyve been fed these negative images for so long, says Loftin, whose observation is backed up not only by his own experiences as person of color but also by a recent study by the American Psychological Association.

You may not realize, the Parsons School of Design student continues, but these images really affect us.

Loftin is combating these skewed representations through art. He created HOODED, a series of photographs that contrast sharply with the medias often menacing portrayals of Black men. In his photos, young men of color are pictured before vibrant backdrops, smiling and laughing while wearing hoodies of different colors a means of subverting negative associations between the article of clothing and the Black male body.

While the photographs provide an antidote to negative stereotypes of young black men, HOODED: A film by Myles Loftin explores the mainstream perceptions reinforcing those stereotypes. In the three-minute film, the subjects of Loftins photographs listen to a speech by Hillary Clinton in which she refers to African-American youth as superpredators, and the 9-1-1 call made by Trayvon Martins killer, George Zimmerman, in which he justified his suspicion of Martin, in part, by the fact that he was wearing a hoodie. Midway through the film, the poet Leo Avedon reads his piece about the fallacy of respectability politics a phrase related to the idea that Black males should dress and act differently if they want to look less dangerous.

A lot of times, portrayals of people of color are not created by people of color, Loftin says. Theyre being moderated or censored by others. To have uncensored, unadulterated images of Black people is important because it reflects reality its the real thing.

HOODED has garnered praise from the BBC, Vice, and the Huffington Post, among other publications. Loftin came to the attention of the media after racking up thousands of followers on Instagram and Twitter, where he shares his work documenting people of color.

Loftins approach to HOODED was shaped by his education at Parsons. Its at the leading art and design school that the photographer has been encouraged to branch out to other media, such as video, and take a thematic approach to his work.

At Parsons, Ive been challenged to go outside my comfort zone, Loftin says.

For his next project, he plans to tackle the idea of cultural appropriation.

Kylie Jenner, Katy Perry, and other white celebrities get praised for putting on different styles, while the Black people who originated those styles are bashed for it, he says. Kylie is considered a trendsetter, while someone who comes from the culture that created the trend is considered ghetto or ratchet. I want to change that perception.

See the original post:
Myles Loftin, BFA Photography '20, Challenges Racist Stereotypes Through Photography - The New School News (blog)

Mary Hansen Staff Writer @maryfhansen

To help with cleanup after storms hit Springfield this week, Ward 5 Ald. Andrew Proctor offered to coordinate branch pickup for residents in a Facebook post Tuesday night.

By Wednesday afternoon, the post had reached about 700 people, and six residents sent him messages through the social media site looking for help, Proctor said.

Hes hearing from constituents more frequently through Facebook, he said.

Hes not alone.

The majority of the city's 10 aldermen maintain an official page on the social networking site, sharing information on city services and sometimes seeking opinions on decisions before the Springfield City Council.

Some embrace social media sitessuch as Facebook, Twitter and NextDoor, a private social networking site organized by neighborhood,as an essential way to communicate with constituents. Although it also has the potential to backfire.

Ward 8 Ald. Kris Theilen drew criticism and even some calls for his resignation after a controversial Facebook post he wrote in response to an uptick in gun violence in Springfield in early June.

The 10-year veteran on the council said the experience changed his approach to using social media as an elected official.

"Ive decided that theres too much open for interpretation when you dont hear someone's inflection or you dont see the whole conversation," Theilen said. "Ive decided that other than just sharing things I find funny (or) things that are informational, Im not getting philosophical on there anymore. Its not a good forum for that."

He said he'll continue to respond to questions heoccasionallygets from constituents on the site and post construction or service updates from the city.

Keyboard viciousness

A couple of council members cite time constraints and a climate of divisiveness on the sites that deters them from using social media more frequently.

For example, Ward 10 Ald. Ralph Hanauer has a personal profile and an official page, Ralph Hanauer for Ward 10, which he started during his campaign.But he said keeping up with the page takes a significant amount of time on top of the time he spends answering phone calls and emails from constituents.

Plus, social media can bring out more vicious attacks, some that can get personal, Hanauer said.

He pointed to threatening comments state Rep. Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, R-Leland Grove, received after voting last week in favor of a state spending plan that included higher taxes.

Im not afraid to sit there and discuss an issue, but youve got some people (who) will not meet person to person, Hanauer said. They want to do it online and they can be really vicious behind a keyboard. You cant talk to them, they dont want to hear your side.

He said that affects his decision to be less active on social media, but he plans to try to use it more.

Ryan Keith runs the Lincoln-based public relations firm RK PR Solutions and assists clients, mostly state lawmakers, with social media strategy.The best response to online attacks is ignoring them, he said.

Those who clearly have no interest in engaging in any thoughtful interaction, you ignore them, Keith said. You make your case, This is why I voted this way. You take your lumps and you move on.

While some use the sites to attack politicians they dont like, many others find raising a concern to their state representative or other elected officials on social media more comfortable than making a phone call, Keith said.

Its a perception change, he said. It breaks down some barriers that probably arent all that strong to begin with.

Exchange of ideas

Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin sees things differently. He has a website(www.joeforward7.com) he updates regularly, but does not use Facebook or Twitter in his work as an alderman. Maintaining a social media presence can distract from deeper research that many issues the city council deals with require, he said.

"As an alderman, you need time to study the issues and research the issues," McMenamin said. "I think its important to put time into those areas."

However, there could be value in using social media on the campaign trail when looking for help from supporters, McMenamin acknowledged.

Despite some of the downfalls, Keith said sites like Facebook offer a free or inexpensive way to connect with voters. With limited campaign funds, that's an advantage for candidates.

Ward 6 Ald. Kristin DiCenso, the newest member of the council, found that to be true in her campaign. She said her frequent posts to Facebook and Twitter helped gain name recognition she needed in the short springtime campaign.

Now, shes continuing to keep up with constituents through social media. In addition to Facebook and Twitter, shes active on NextDoor, aplatform launched in 2010 that connects people who live in the same neighborhood. Users post about lost pets, petty crime reported in their neighborhood, block parties or other events and household items for sale.

DiCenso will often answer questions about city services such as branch pickup or road construction on the site.

Its just kind of a lot of ideas floated that may or may not be true, DiCenso said.

She's also conducted polls asking for feedback on the city's food truck policy and the proposed conversion of two-way streets downtown.

Many aldermen, including DiCenso, re-post information from the mayor's office and City Water, Light and Power's Facebook pages.

Despite the "Office of the Mayor" designation, city communications director JuliaFrevert uses the page to share updates from all city departments, everything from road closures to job opportunities to downtown events.

"Social media makes us more approachable than government has been in the past," said Frevert. "We hope that for residents, it's just one more they can communicate with us."

-- Contact Mary Hansen: 788-1528, mary.hansen@sj-r.com, twitter.com/maryfhansen.

Springfield City Council Facebook pages

Ward 1 Ald. Chuck Redpath: None

Ward 2 Ald. Herman Senor

Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner

Ward 4 Ald. John Fulgenzi

Ward 5 Ald. Andrew Proctor

Ward 6 Ald. Kristin DiCenso

Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin: None

Ward 8 Ald. Kris Theilen

Ward 9 Ald. Jim Donelan

Ward 10 Ald. Ralph Hanauer

Office of the Mayor - City of Springfield

View original post here:
Aldermen experience highs, lows of social media - The State Journal-Register

Michael Newberg | CNBC

New virtual reality apps are revealed at Facebook's F8 conference in San Jose, California, on April 18 and 19, 2017.

Facebook's Oculus will release a $200 wireless headset in 2018, Bloomberg reported, marking a leap in affordability and technology for the virtual reality brand.

The device, code-named "Pacific," will be designed for immersive gaming, watching videos and social networking, according to Bloomberg's unidentified sources. Game designers will be briefed by October, according to Bloomberg.

Facebook told CNBC, "We don't have a product to unveil at this time, however we can confirm that we're making several significant technology investments in the standalone VR category."

The technology has already seen steep price cuts this year: This week, Oculus began charging $399 for its Rift device, controllers and some games, a bundle that was last priced at nearly $600, and even higher before that. The new device will not be a replacement for the Rift or third-party devices that use Oculus technology, like some Samsung phones, and does not mark a significant strategic change, sources told CNBC.

Oculus has lagged competitors in bringing a range of affordable headsets to market amid a series of setbacks.

Facebook's 2014 Oculus acquisition was the subject of a high-profile lawsuit. A jury ordered Facebook to pay $500 million indamages after a company sued Oculus, claiming Oculus "commercially exploited" computer code and trade secrets. Oculus founder Palmer Luckey recently left the company after some scrutiny over his political ties.

But Facebook has recently stepped up its ambitions in virtual reality. The company recently unveiled Facebook Spaces, a social VR product that is reportedly slated to include live virtual reality streams.

For more on the story, see the full report at Bloomberg.com.

See more here:
Facebook's Oculus will release a more affordable wireless headset next year, report says - CNBC

If you are driving without a valid driver's license can the police, in this case the Los Angeles Police Department, impound your vehicle?

That question is too easy for you smart readers, even for you average readers. How's this: If you can prove you have a valid driver's license, can you get your impounded car back? That's our case of the day, case du jour.

Never lend your car to your brother-in-law

Lamya Brewster loaned her car to Yonnie Percy, her brother-in-law. Brewster later learned she should have asked Percy if he had a valid driver's license. He didn't. Percy was stopped by LAPD officers, who quickly determined his driver's license was suspended. The officers seized the vehicle under California Vehicle Code 14602.6(a)(1).

Brewster filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of all vehicle owners whose vehicles were subjected to the 30-day impoundment, claiming the impound is a warrantless seizure that violates the Fourth Amendment. The federal trial court ruled for the LAPD. Brewster appealed.

Vehicle Code 14602.6

Vehicle Code 14602.6(a)(1) authorizes impounding a vehicle when the driver has a suspended license. Vehicles seized must be held in impound for 30 days, which is to deter unlicensed drivers or drivers with suspended licenses from driving. No problem with that.

Give Me My Car Back

Three days after the impoundment, Brewster documented she was the registered owner of the vehicle and had a valid California driver's license. She offered to pay all towing and storage fees, but the LAPD refused to release the vehicle before the mandatory 30-day holding period had lapsed. That was the legal issue.

Brewster filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of all vehicle owners whose vehicles were subjected to the 30-day impoundment, claiming the impound is a "warrantless seizure that violates the Fourth Amendment." The federal trial court ruled for the LAPD. Brewster appealed.

Fourth Amendment Seizure

The federal Court of Appeals, with an opinion written by the brilliant Judge Alex Kozinski, ruled that because a 30-day impound is a "meaningful interference with an individual's possessory interests in [his] property," the Fourth Amendment is implicated.

The impoundment/seizure is justified under the Fourth Amendment only to the extent that the government's justification holds force. But after Brewster proved she had a valid driver's license, there was no justification to hold her vehicle.

Once Brewster proved she had a valid driver's license, she was entitled to her car. Mandatory 30-day hold unconstitutional. Makes sense to me.

Jim Porter is an attorney with Porter Simon licensed in California and Nevada, with offices in Truckee, Tahoe City and Reno, Nevada. His practice areas include: development, construction, business, HOAs, contracts, personal injury, accidents, mediation and other transactional matters. He may be reached atporter@portersimon.comorhttp://www.portersimon.com.

Originally posted here:
Law Review: Never lend your car to your brother-in-law - Sierra Sun