Ken Cuccinelli's shocking admission. JENNIFER WEXTON.

David, on Monday we saw yet another action from the Trump administration that reeks of xenophobia.

Under a new rule to take effect on October 15, immigrants seeking green cards will have a harder time being approved if they use public benefits such as Medicaid, food stamps, or housing assistance.

This is a blatant move to restrict immigration from lower-income people of color. Trump has made it very clear in the past that he prefers immigrants from countries like Norway, and that he considers other countries in Africa to be “shitholes." He’s now using the federal government to codify his racist ideology -- with the help of Virginia’s own extremist Ken Cuccinelli, who’s now the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

There will be a fierce court battle over this in the coming weeks, and we need to show that the public stands against Trump and Cuccinelli’s bigoted new rule. Will you help me get 10,000 citizen co-signers, and add your name today?

ADD YOUR NAME ➞

I’m proud to represent a diverse district -- home to tens of thousands who’ve arrived on green cards. I believe in Emma Lazarus’ words etched onto the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

When we tell those of less fortunate economic circumstances that they are not welcome, we betray our values.

I’m not going to let Donald Trump and Ken Cuccinelli attack our values without a fight. I want to show that Americans of all backgrounds oppose their new rule, and stand with our immigrant communities -- because our diversity is our strength.

Please add your name today. We need to send an overwhelming message that xenophobia has no place here.

Thank you,

Jennifer

Stop Trump's Assault on the Endangered Species Act. Bob Fertik, Democrats.com.

Stop Trump's Assault on the Endangered Species Act SIGN THE PETITION » Trump has gutted the Endangered Species Act — and the Center for Biological Diversity's kick-ass team of lawyers, scientists and organizers are fighting back with everything we've got. But we need your voice right now too. The Act is the single-most important lifeline for more than 1,700 species from coast to coast — and Trump is shredding it in the name of corporate profits. These new regulations are a sick, cruel gift to industry that will make it easier to bulldoze, mine, drill, log and destroy some of the last remaining habitat for polar bears, monarch butterflies, whooping cranes and so many others. Tell Congress to stand up to Trump's gutting of the Endangered Species Act and defend this bedrock environmental law. Here’s a glimpse of what Trump’s new policies will do: "Threatened" wildlife will no longer receive any level of protection; Developers will be allowed to bulldoze, mine, drill and log in crucial habitat; Wildlife awaiting help could face even longer life-threatening delays. This is personal for us. The Center has been battling right-wingers' attempts to destroy the Endangered Species Act for decades and we've never seen anything like what Trump just pulled. Act now to stop this violent assault on America's most vulnerable creatures. Whenever wildlife are at risk, no one goes to court faster than the Center for Biological Diversity. We've filed more than 150 lawsuits — about one per week — against Trump and his lackeys to protect the wild. You have a part to play too when it comes to protecting wildlife from Trump. This is no time to sit on the sidelines. Across the globe, 1 million species are at risk of going extinct. There’s still hope, but we need the Endangered Species Act to win. Act. Resist. Sign the petition: Tell Congress to fight Trump's nightmare attack on America's endangered species. This is a do-or-die moment for saving the Endangered Species Act.  CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. Democrats.com is the oldest online community of progressive activists, with over 3 million supporters. We fight for jobs, justice, healthcare, education, the environment, and peace. We're supported by great progressive partners so we never ask for donations. Please join us at Democrats.com!

APA. Call for commentators and chairs: 2020 Central Division meeting.

Dear DAVID, The Central Division program committee is now seeking commentators and chairs for colloquium and submitted symposium papers at the 2020 Central Division meeting in Chicago, IL, February 26–29. If you'd like to volunteer, please fill out the volunteer form. If you submitted a paper for this meeting that was not accepted, the program committee will automatically consider you as a possible commentator or chair, although you’re welcome to volunteer and add more information about yourself. However, please don’t volunteer if you submitted a paper that was accepted, since we limit each program participant to one appearance on our program. Please note that all program participants, including commentators and chairs, must register for the meeting. Thanks in advance, Elyse Purcell Secretary-Treasurer, APA Central Division

The American Philosophical Association University of Delaware 31 Amstel Avenue, Newark, DE 19716   Click here to change your subscription settings. To unsubscribe, click here.

PSEUDOSCIENCE ON TELEVISION- BEWARE OF THE "EXPERT."

WHAT A SHAME- A look at the low points in the modern media. 

As I said in the last Post on this Subject, Titles can mean very little, so be careful when the Narrators sing the Praises of the "EXPERT."  

 Examples;

-  "ANCIENT ASTRONAUT THEORISTS" IS CURRENTLY BEING USED ON CERTAIN CABLE TELEVISION SHOWS.  WHAT PROFESSIONAL STATURE OR LEVEL OF EXPERTISE IN ANY BRANCH OF SCIENCE IS CONFERRED UPON THOSE WHO USE THIS TITLE?  ABSOLUTELY NONE.  I COULD CALL MYSELF A "JOLLY GREEN GIANT THEORIST," AND IT WOULD CARRY THE SAME LEVEL OF VALIDITY IN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY.

      

-  "BIGFOOT" RESEARCHERS WHO CLAIM TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CREATURES APPEARANCE, HABITS, BEHAVIOR, AND EVEN VOCALIZATIONS.  THE PROBLEM?  THEY HAVE NOT ONE SHRED OF SOLID EVIDENCE THAT CAN BE STUDIED, TESTED, AND EVALUATED IN A PROPER LABORATORY SETTING.  ANECDOTAL CLAIMS ARE MEANINGLESS, IN TERMS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD, UNLESS THEY CAN BE BACKED UP BY PROPER SUPPORTING DATA. 

-  SORRY, BUT NO OCCUPATION SHOULD GIVE YOU A "FREE PASS," IN TERMS OF ACCEPTING YOUR TESTIMONY AS TRUE, AND BEYOND REPROACH.  THIS INCLUDES ACADEMICS, TEACHERS, PILOTS , POLICEMAN , MILITARY PERSONNEL etc.  OBSERVATION BIAS, PRECONCEIVED CONCLUSIONS, CULTURAL BACKGROUND, AND RELIGIOUS FAITH ARE SOME OF THE INFLUENCES THAT CAN AFFECT THE WAY ANYONE PERCEIVES A GIVEN EVENT, AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY EVALUATES IT INTO A PERSONAL FRAME OF REFERENCE AS TO WHAT ACTUALLY OCCURRED, AND WHAT IS STORED IN LONG AND SHORT TERM MEMORY.

THE RULES OF LOGIC, AND THE PROPER PROCEDURES INVOLVED IN EMPLOYING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD MUST BE OBEYED BY EVERYONE. GRANDIOSE TITLES, NAME RECOGNITION, OR EVEN PREVIOUS ACHIEVEMENTS DO NOT ALLOW FOR SHORTCUTS IN PROVING THE REALITY OF ANY PHENOMENA.