Category Archives: Golden Rule

North Carolina State Legislative Building

RALEIGH On May 11, the House Education Committee approved a bill seeking to address increasing concerns about controversial Critical Race Theory in North Carolinas K-12 classrooms.

House Bill 324 was originally a bill to deal with moving the states public charter schools to Plan A. A preferred committee substitute (PCS) has replaced the original language and changed the bills title to Ensuring Dignity & Nondiscrimination/Schools.

No student or school employee should be made to feel inferior solely because of the color of their skin or their gender,Chairman Torbett (R-Gaston) said in a statement.Our public schools should be a place of respectnot hateful ideologies.

The new bill prohibits the promotion of certain concepts tied to Critical Race Theory (CRT), a belief with Marxist roots that holds racism is constant and inherent in all people and institutions. CRT views all facets of society through a racial lens, dividing people into oppressed and oppressor categories by race.

The bill has the backing of House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain).

In a tweet announcing the bill, Moore said that Schools should be places of dignity and respect for ALL students and teachers. Thats why the N.C. House Education Committee passed legislation today to address Critical Race Theory and other hateful ideas that are attacking our kids.

Moore tweeted that he expects the bill to pass the House by the end of the week. The bill is on the calendar for a House vote today, May 12.

N.C. State Superintendent Catherine Truitt also gave her support to the legislation.

This is a common-sense bill that provides reasonable expectations for the kind of civil discourse we want our children to experience in public schools. This golden rule approach ensures that all voices are valued in our school system, Truitt said in the statement.

Truitt continued, We want to encourage students to think freely and respect differences of opinions, while ensuring our classrooms are not promoting ideas contrary to the equality and rights of all. Classrooms should be an environment where all points of view are honored. There is no room for divisive rhetoric that condones preferential treatment of any one group over another.

According to the bill analysis document for the PCS, schools in the state would be prohibited from promoting the idea that one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex or that based only a persons race that that individual is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.

The House Education committee has already pursued legislation to increase transparency for parents,said Chairman Blackwell (R- Burke) in the press release.This legislation ensures that tax dollars are spent to educate our students and not on distracting political projects.

The bill takes aim at a key CRT tenet, the United States is a meritocracy or that the nation was founded by members of a particular race or sex to oppress members of another race or sex.

Additionally, HB 324 prohibits promotion of concepts that create discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress for any individual solely by virtue of his or her race or sex.

In a press release announcing the bill change, North State Journals reporting on CRT training in Wake County Public Schools was cited. That article cited training conducted by a company called The Equity Collaborative, founded and run by current General Assembly legislator Graig Meyer (D-Durham). The Equity Collaborative also appears to have conducted training in Loudon County, Virginia, where parents have mounted a campaign to recall the local school board.

A second article following the initial report detailed talking points and denial of CRT-infused teacher training in the district by the head of the Wake County Office of Equity Affairs, Rodney Trice. Following publication, it was announced Trice was leaving Wake County and returning to Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools as the director of equity in that district.

On the national level, North Carolina Congressman Dan Bishop (R-09) said that he will be holding a press conference in Washington, D.C. on May 12 at 2 p.m. to introduce legislation to keep Critical Race Theory out of our schools, federal workforce, and the military.

The Biden administration has drawn criticism for a new rule inserting CRT elements into the way history and civics are taught. On April 19, the Bidens Department of Education submitted the new rule to the Federal Register. The proposed rule uses as an example the controversial and historically inaccurate 1619 Project. It also quotes antiracist activist Ibram X. Kendi to support inserting anti-racist practices into teaching and learning on a national scale.

Joining Bishop for the legislation introduction are former OMB Director and President of Citizens for Renewing America Russ Vought, Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14), Rep. Ted Budd (NC-13), Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO-03), Rep Andy Biggs (AZ-05), and Rep. Ralph Norman (SC-05).

More here:

Bill countering Critical Race Theory passed by House Education Committee - North State Journal

How often do you go over your mobile phone bill at the end of the month? Tap or click here for five ways to save money on your phone bill. Have you ever noticed anything strange, like a large number of text messages? If you have, you may have fallen victim to a dangerous new scam.

Cybercriminals are now going for a one-two punch by infecting your phone with malware and stealing your credit card details in the process. Research done by security firm Pradeo unraveled just how brazen cybercriminals are becoming.

Scammers are combining old tricks with new methods to spread chaos and get rich in the process. Falling victim to this scam will lead to enormous phone bills and banking fraud.

Cybercriminals will first send a malicious text message to get your personal information for the attack to be successful. This is also known as a smishing Trojan. In it, the criminals claim that you need to pay a small fee for a package delivery by following a link.

Once you click on the link, a message will inform you that you need to update your Google Chrome to the latest version to proceed. Unsuspecting users will continue with the suggested update, but its nothing but cleverly disguised malware.

Learn the tech tips and tricks only the pros know.

Once you have completed the transaction for the package delivery, which is usually no more than $2, the criminals have your credit card details. Not only did you hand over $2, but also the ability for them to drain your account.

But how did they get your number? Well, that is where the fake Google Chrome app comes in. The malware isnt designed to steal your info but uses your phone as a proxy for sending out thousands of texts like the one you received.

By combining an efficient phishing technique, a malware to propagate actively, and methods to bypass security solutions, this campaign is particularly dangerous, Pradeos researchers explain in a blog post.

The fake Chrome app will also wreak havoc on your mobile phone bill. By using your number, the fake app sends more than 2,000 SMS per week. Its active every day for two or three hours. The numbers targeted are seemingly random but follow a sequential pattern.

The golden rule of online safety is never to trust anything from a person you dont know. If the message or email seems strange, its always best to delete it. If you are not expecting a package delivery, there shouldnt be any reason for you to follow the link and pay a fee.

Never give your credit card details to anybody that you cant independently verify. In this case, it would be best to check with the package delivery company to authenticate the message. If a tracking number hasnt been provided, its probably fake.

For Android users specifically, always download apps from the official Google Play Store. And never blindly follow a link in an unsolicited text or email. It could be malicious and infect your device with malware.

Open database exposes massive Amazon review scam

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Learn the tech tips and tricks only the pros know.

Scams and malware involving Google Alerts are getting worse Dont be fooled

Original post:

Don't click on this scary text that can steal your data and hijack your phone - Komando

We all know or should know that legacies persist. That's why we call them legacies. They have persisted.

But some of us are in denial of the power of legacies. In particular, one called systemic racism.

That crossroads of denial and systemic racism seems to be where we are right now about all things having to do with race and equity and the newest conservative GOP dog whistle and culture wedge.

President Abraham Lincoln understood the legacy of racism. While not spotless in his own opinions of race, he knew the consequences of inequality and inequity. In his second inaugural address during the Civil War, he observed that we "all knew that [slavery] was somehow the cause of the war."

More than a century and half later, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops put it this way in a 2018 report that evolved out its Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism: "Today, racism continues to exist in our communities and in our parishes. Racism is what makes us see the "other" with suspicion or to attribute negative characteristics to an entire group of people ... Today's continuing inequalities in education, housing, employment, wealth, and representation in leadership positions are rooted in our country's shameful history of slavery and systemic racism."

For our money, looking for unity, equality and equity are not unlike the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. And when we're not sure what that looks like or how to do it, we talk to friends and leaders and seek help and thoughtful education to learn.

The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce has embarked on that sort of learning experience with Velocity 2040 visioning process, and last week the Chamber began circulating a pledge for racial equity that quickly drew about 40 business signatures along with the unhappy howls of the local right-wing group, Hamilton Flourishing, which has a history of opposing equity and equity training.

Also last week in the Tennessee General Assembly, Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, penned an amendment to an education rules bill he is carrying that would ban any school lessons including discussion of systemic racism. Along with the proposed ban is a measure that would withhold funding from school districts that include those and other similar history discussions in curriculum.

(READ MORE: Tennessee Republicans pass bill that punishes public schools that teach systemic racism concepts)

The biggest sticking point for these conservatives seems to be the phrase "systemic racism."

In the statehouse, Ragan specifically included it in his list of lessons to ban, telling members of the GOP House Education Administration Committee, "Today, subversive factions are seeking to undermine our unique form of government, of the people, by the people and for the people."

The use of the phrase also appeared in the Chamber pledge that drew the ire of Hamilton Flourishing. The pledge includes a commitment to "educate ourselves and share the history of systemic racism in Chattanooga and Hamilton County and the barriers that continue, so that as we recognize them, we can find new ways to overcome them."

Doug Daugherty, president of Hamilton Flourishing, fussed: "Tangentially it might help some businesses, but it's not [the Chamber's] primary job to reorient the culture. We're supporting them to recruit business. If they're not doing that, what are they doing?"

He also groused about the Chamber conflating access to opportunity and ensuring success based on race.

"Everybody should have an equal opportunity, but that's not the same as outcome," he said. "This document actually puts the two together," he said.

Well yeah. And it should.

A 2019 report as part of Velocity 2040 showed the racial gap in household earnings in Hamilton County is 30% greater than in the country as a whole, with the typical white household in Chattanooga earning twice as much as the average Black household.

That's not just bad for Black households here. It also has an impact on growing more jobs all jobs locally.

In early 2019, consultants told the Chattanooga City Council that for all our success in recruiting three of the biggest business investments in Tennessee during the previous decade, the city's job growth had slowed in the last five years so much so that it trailed other comparable mid-sized cities and was growing even more slowly than that of the rest of Tennessee and the U.S. as a whole.

Lorne Steedley, the chamber's vice president of diversity and inclusive growth, reminds us that our city competes globally for skilled workers to help companies grow. Working to correct inequity makes Chattanooga a more competitive business destination.

"If you close the wealth gap, [the city] opens itself up to more consumer spending, and provides an environment, and Chattanooga becomes a destination for opportunity," he said.

Mayor Tim Kelly, who campaigned on the issue of narrowing the city's equity gap and growing Chattanooga's economy, has signed the chamber's pledge. He says years of systemic racism have "split us over time into two cities," in which one city has not shared in the rising prosperity experienced by the other.

"But it's not just a moral problem, it's an economic problem. This issue is holding us back from economic progress," Kelly said.

Our state lawmakers and Hamilton Flourishing like Donald Trump and Lindsay Graham would have us deny that there is such a thing as "systemic racism."

But, then, they also seem to be in denial about that "do unto others as you'd have them do unto you" thing.

And that is a moral issue.

See more here:

Sohn: Beware of the legacy of racism, and more so the legacy of GOP denial - Chattanooga Times Free Press

MENDOCINO Co., 4/25/21 Cal Fire will be conducting a series of helicopter safety and air rescue trainings in the vicinity of Lake Mendocino and Ridgewood Ranch, beginning this week and lasting through the end of July. This training will help fire fighters learn and practice the skills needed to work specifically as a firefighter assigned to a helicopter, and involves the cooperation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages Lake Mendocino.

The training will take place periodically and while it is occurring, helicopters and aircraft may be visible in the vicinity of Lake Mendocino, Ridgewood Ranch (Golden Rule), and surrounding areas, including portions of the Ukiah Valley.

You can learn more about the different aircraft used by Cal Fire in the CAL FIRE Firefighting Aircraft Recognition Guide: https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/4950/aviation-guide-2019-access.pdf. Heres the announcement from Cal Fire Mendocino:

CAL FIRE MENDOCINO UNIT BHOS and AIR RESCUE TRAINING

Mendocino County, CA- The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Mendocino Unit will be conducting Basic Helicopter Operations and Safety (BHOS) and Air Rescue training in the areas of Lake Mendocino and Ridgewood Ranch. Training will be conducted periodically between the dates of April 26, 2021 and August 1, 2021.

The aircraft will be training in the Lake Mendocino, Ukiah Valley, and Ridgewood Ranch (Golden Rule) and surrounding areas, at various days and times of the day.

This training for CAL FIRE MEU Helicopter 101 firefighters will include, a combination of classroom training and operational exercise with a focus on safety. They will learn and practice the skills needed to work specifically as a firefighter assigned to a helicopter.

CAL FIRE will be conducting this training with the cooperation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Every effort will be made to not impact the publics use of Lake Mendocino, the trails around the lake, as well as any impacts to nearby residences. All water pulled from the lake for training will be dropped back in due to low water levels.

The training will be conducted under very tight restrictions for the personal safety of firefighters and area residents. CAL FIRE reminds all residents that their safety is of the utmost concern.

To learn more about CAL FIRE aircraft visit: https://www.fire.ca.gov/programs/fire- protection/aviation-program/ and view the CAL FIRE Firefighting Aircraft Recognition Guide: https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/4950/aviation-guide-2019-access.pdf

Read the original:

Cal Fire to conduct Helicopter and air rescue trainings at Lake Mendocino and Ridgewood Ranch, April July - The Mendocino Voice

The last street going west here, leaning like a plank rolling toward the next small Iowa town, is named Broadway.

And if in a fit of sarcasm one would consider Broadway as a trail in Manhattan, the New York street of song and fame, one would miss the geese that squawk 50 yards away, gliding like little sailboats on Lake Norman, a tiny pond listlessly spilling into the marsh water headed to the river.

The outhouse and windmill rising from a 10-foot-wide island are stammering signals that its Iowa, after all.

Here is a barely remembered town, yet alive in stature and warmth. Its small Lenox College once occupied a co-ed community that educated its students through the Presbyterian tradition. It opened during the Civil War era and closed during the beginnings of the second war. Its buildings still stand. A Civil War monument still harkens.

Its a town of Iowa churches and trees that block internet signals, of large garages and small clapboard houses and neighbors who wave at strangers as if to welcome them home.

The main street once held grocery stores, dry goods, meat purveyors, a Farmers State Bank, drug stores and a variety that bespeaks prosperity of spirit.

For more than two blocks in length, brick-and-mortar and wood built by industry still stands against the winds of time that claw away at the proud old facade.

In Hopkinton, a burg of hundreds that rests on U.S. 38, somewhere in the trajectory of geese and autos heading to other spaces, the utilities office clerk smiles as warmly as the sun, cleaning shadow away and offering an authentic heartfelt concern, with a Welcome. How do you do?

A few blocks off U.S. 38, a trek south of the famous Dyersville film iconography and a short stop between Delhi and Monticello, a post office clerk seems to have heeded the greeting at the utilities office, like townsfolk have studied lines to beguile visitors.

Heres your post office key. Welcome. Glad youre here.

Now, the nearby space where morning doves gather in tree tops, grows into a chorus to compete and to echo the clacking fury of the geese two blocks farther along, as it confronts harmony from the inhabitants, a rhythm of life Thorton Wilder or Steinbeck would have found joyful to show.

In this telling, the genuine friend is that person who starts with a warm, Glad to meet you. And means it. Perhaps the preacher Casey from The Grapes of Wrath passed through. And despite the towns effort, hard times did come. But resilience and kindness stand out, markedly real in the buildings, homes and civility at every introduction.

At the library, the young woman behind the glass, at a spot near the old bank tellers window, smiles as sure as the migration of the pond folk. Every time you enter the book aisles and look across to her, she grins with a knowledge of its return in the Golden Rule.

The face of the building proclaims the glory of farms and the heritage of a bank, its red brick and marble face a soothing memory of days past. Yet, in an instant, history is alive in a current generation. Again, that refrain as stout as old glory, as deep as the sweet land of liberty that was carved in unique colonnades across the faces of town.

Here, affixed naturally upon the faces of the residents, the laughter of the children and as sure as the smell of spring drafting into small-town Iowa, grows humanist and humanness.

Its a place of earth and connection, memory and a still hearty faith, given in the Welcome and the hand that passes the key at the post office, not far from the field, the river and the lake of a singular acre, where the horizon holds out to eternity.

Trenkle has had a career teaching psychology. He authored the book, The Kings of the Narrow Gate, about an evangelical mission within a pawn shop in Dubuque. His family traces back to the 19th century in Dubuque, when a relative operated a meat shop, Trenkles Sausages, once located next to city hall.

Continued here:

Trenkle: The size of small town Iowa | Features | telegraphherald.com - telegraphherald.com

Liverpool manager Jrgen Klopp admits they do not deserve to be in the Champions League if they continue to play the way they did in the 1-1 draw at home to Newcastle.

The Reds hopes of a top-four finish were dealt a blow when midfielder Joe Willock scored an equaliser in the fifth minute of added time, benefiting from an additional 60 seconds on the clock after Callum Wilsons goal just moments earlier had been ruled out by VAR for handball.

Mohamed Salahs 20th Premier League goal of the campaign, becoming the first Liverpool player to achieve that feat in three separate seasons, in only the third minute had looked like giving the hosts victory despite a host of missed chances.

Critics, of which there have been many this week in the wake of the clubs involvement in the ill-fated Super League plans, may well enjoy the irony of the dent the result put in Liverpools aspirations of qualifying for the Champions League a competition their owners Fenway Sports Group were seemingly more than happy to abandon just six days ago.

For Klopp, however, the concern was he did not think his side warrant a place among Europes elite on this evidence.

If we play like this and dont finish games like this off, why should we play Champions League? he said.

We want to deserve Champions League and we dont want to come and be cheeky, we want to earn it and with these results you dont earn it.

Its all on the table so go for it. It feels close to being unacceptable but we have to accept it anyway.

Klopp accepted the way his side performed at both ends of the pitch although particularly up front where they had 22 shots and nine on target meant they did not deserve to beat Newcastle.

Very tough day but there is no-one else to blame but ourselves, he added.

We created chances. The golden rule of football is youd better use your chances. Thats what we didnt do and thats why Newcastle deserved a point.

They score a goal which was disallowed the first time we were lucky with VAR but we didnt even take that present and we gave them another one and its 1-1.

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce was delighted with a point but felt the joy of snatching a draw was somewhat lost by the intervention of VAR and the application of rules he feels need changing.

Theres no denying we were sloppy with some of the decisions we made trying to play out from the back but I always thought we carried a threat going forward, he said.

We scored twice in the last minute which is quite remarkable. To go and get something from the game is vitally important.

We were gutted (by Wilsons disallowed goal). When you see the goal back you think what a ridiculous decision that is not to allow the goal.

We are going to have to look at these crazy rules. VAR is becoming laughable and it is not VARs fault, it is the letter of the law. It doesnt make sense.

VAR was brought in for a clear and obvious mistake so to be looking at every goal whether it is a millimetre or two onside is not a great spectacle.

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Klopp says Liverpool dont deserve top four on current form - The Irish Times

EN(dur)ANCE by Robin Gudal

As I walked out the door towards the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didnt leave my bitterness and hatred behind, Id still be in prison. Nelson Mandela

Robin Gudal

One day, whilst visiting with a friend; in the conversation she said, You must have a forgiveness muscle. I had to really ponder that statement. A forgiveness muscle? In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, muscle is defined as a body tissue consisting of long cells that contract when stimulated and produce motion. Motion aka action.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32, NIV. This may be easy enough to read but it is hard to implement sometimes, and usually. Then there is: Matthew 7:12a, NIV, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Also, known as the Golden Rule. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13, NIV.

Do you feel convicted yet? Have you, like me, failed? The hands of the Almighty are often found at the end of our own arms. (Call The Midwife quote) Forgiveness muscle equals action. An extension of grace; to be given by me, by you to others.

There are times when we need to be the one forgiven. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12, NIV. It is so freeing to know this truth. We can lay it all down at the feet of Jesus. He doesnt desire us to carry such a burden; yet we often do. The forgiveness muscle (action) is also to be accepted by me, and by you from others and, ultimately, Jesus.

Soak in and believe the truths in these lyrics (Freedom): You came to set the captives free. You came to bring us liberty. My sin and my rejection met. Your blood and my acceptance. Now Im alive to bring You praise. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Every chain is broken through You, Jesus. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!

Walk in freedom!

Robin (Beckman) Gudal is intentional in life, a wife, momma, nana, friend, a flawed and imperfect follower of Jesus.

Read the rest here:

Robin Gudal: Do you have the forgiveness muscle? - Albert Lea Tribune - Albert Lea Tribune

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In this weeks edition of Hey, Mary Kay!, I answer questions about the NFL Draft, Denzel Wards fifth-year option, and more.

Hey Mary Kay: I know it seems pretty obvious that Browns GM Andrew Berry will draft defense in the first round. I think hes actually going to trade up if a receiver he likes drops to the late teens. Can you see a scenario where Berry goes wide receiver in the first round? #clevelandbrownsforever Jeff Lerner, Avon, Ohio

Hey, Jeff: I absolutely do see a scenario in which the Browns draft a receiver in the first round. If a receiver the Browns have rated very highly is within reach, they wouldnt hesitate to draft him. The thing to remember about Andrew Berry is that hes not locked into a particular position and he wont draft for need.

He abides by the golden rule of drafting: Select the most dominant player at the most premium position when youre up and keep adding the best players possible to the team.

He wont get caught up in trying to plug holes, because thats the quickest way to end up with too many players considered just a guy.' You can fill needs through free agency, the waiver wire and trades.

The draft is about selecting great prospects with tremendous upside and developing them into quality starters. Two excellent receivers who could be available near the Browns at No. 26 are Minnesotas Rashod Bateman and Ole Miss Elijah Moore. I still think theyll probably go defense in the first round, but Berry wont be painted into that corner.

Hey, Mary Kay: The Browns picked up the fifth-year option on Denzel Ward, which is great as hes an elite talent and the Browns are better when he is on the field.

The problem is that in each of his first three seasons, hes only played in 12 games each year. If Ward misses a quarter of the season for a fourth straight year, will the Browns hold his unavailability against him in terms of negotiating a long-term deal? Can they put injury/playing time incentives in the contract? Would Ward even agree to such incentives? Thanks, Joe Fraterna, South Bend, Indiana

Hey, Joe: I dont believe the Browns will hold Wards three or four missed games a year against him in terms of negotiating the extension. Hes a premier, lockdown cornerback, and those are hard to find. I think they expect him to miss those three or four games, and that theyll still be willing to pay him his market value, which is currently about $18 million a year. I dont think it can hurt to build some play-time incentives into the deal, and I think Ward would embrace the chance to make more money. The Browns did that with Jadeveon Clowney, adding $1 million in play-time incentives to his $8 million contract, as well another $1 million for sacks.

Hey, Mary Kay: I cant see the Browns drafting anything but linebacker in the first round. Do you think trading up for Micah Parsons is worth it if he falls past 15, or are the off-field issues too troublesome? Also do you see Andrew Billings contributing to the front seven after he opted out last season and after the departure of Sheldon Richardson. Steven Wolford, Newton Falls, Ohio

Hey, Steven: Penn States Parsons is obviously a tremendous talent, and some believe hell go in the top 10, possibly to the Lions at No. 9. If he happens to fall past 15, the Browns would certainly have to consider him, but they also place a premium on character and would definitely think twice. Some teams are bigger on green sticker guys than others, and I believe the Browns are one of those teams. Theyre stocking the locker room with tough, smart, accountable players who exhibit excellent leadership skills and a genuine love for the game.

If theyve determined that Parsons indiscretions were due to immaturity, perhaps hes still rated highly on their board. But I know that theyve kept talented players off their board for off-field red flags in the past. As for Andrew Billings, signed as a free agent last year from the Bengals, the Browns are counting on him being a key part of the tackle rotation this season along with Malik Jackson, Jordan Elliott, and possibly a draft pick.

Hey, Mary Kay: What about the Cleveland Browns for the No. 26 in the first round in the NFL Draft? Ruth Smith, Fairview Park, Ohio

Hey, Ruth: It all depends on how the draft falls, and its an especially difficult year to predict, because so many players opted out because of COVID-19. The Browns are well-positioned in the draft to select the best available player at No. 26, or to make a trade and pick somewhere else. If they stay at No. 26, they could have a couple of edge rushers available in Georgias Azeez Ojulari and Tulsas Zaven Collins, a couple of cornerbacks in Virginia Techs Caleb Farley and Northwesterns Greg Newsome, and a few good receivers in Minnesotas Rashod Bateman and Ole Miss Elijah Moore. They have the luxury of picking whatever position they want with few holes on the roster.

Hi, Mary Kay: I was wondering, do the Browns have a type they are looking for in the draft? Smart, big, fast, hungry.... ? Jason Lyons, Akron, Ohio

Hey, Jason: Their three prerequisites are tough, smart, and accountable. Beyond that, theyre looking to add speed to both sides of the ball, so I think that will be a theme. They look for athletic linemen who can pull and move. They look for linebackers who can play all three spots and defensive linemen who can rush from inside and out. They look for running backs who can catch and receivers who can block and run. The more you can do, the more valuable you are to this front office and coaching staff.

Hey, Mary Kay: How realistic do you see us drafting a wide receiver in the first round? Do you think it can happen? Like on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being it can absolutely happen and might just happen Jonathan Torres

Hey, Jonathan: I would give it a six in terms of it being likely to happen. I still think theyll probably go defense in the first round, but I wouldnt be shocked if they draft a receiver. They have to begin planning for life after Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, and there would be no shame in drafting one of these premier wideouts high and giving him time to develop. Even though they have a surplus at the position, if theres a Pro Bowler in the class, they shouldnt hesitate.

Hey, Mary Kay: What round do you see the Browns taking a linebacker? Ive seen mock drafts that have the Browns taking JOK [Notre Dames Jeremiah Owusi-Koramoah] in the first, all the way to Justin Hilliard in the fourth. I know they already signed Anthony Walker, so Im interested in your opinion about it. Ben Friedman, Canyon Lake, Texas.

Hey, Ben: If they take a linebacker in the first round, I believe it will more of a hybrid player like JOK who can flourish in todays game by covering tight ends over the middle and running backs out of the backfield. JOK has a rare blend of speed, agility and explosiveness that sets him apart from a regular linebacker. Hes only 6-1, 215, but thats adequate for a coverage backer in the NFL. I think Berry would draft a linebacker in the first round like JOK who can run the passer and also make tackles behind the line.

He won the Butkus Award last season as the nations best linebacker, and has the versatility to excel in this scheme. The signing of Anthony Walker wouldnt preclude the drafting of a JOK. But I could also see the Brown drafting a linebacker in the second or third round and opting for a more premium position in the first round such as cornerback or edge.

Hey, Mary Kay: As a huge Browns fan I will be traveling to the Draft. Does it being held in Cleveland hold any bearing at all on what they might do? I completely understand the logic of trading back. I love being smart as Andrew Berry is! Yet, at the same time the draft may never be in Cleveland again. This is one time Id love to see us be a little flashy and would definitely hate us walking away without a player on the first night of a Cleveland-held draft! Derek Heminger, Marysville, Ohio

Hey, Derek: It all depends on how many first-round grades the Browns have in this class, and if there are some of those players left as they approach No. 26. Im guessing theres a wide disparity in grades this year because of so many players opting out or playing partial seasons. The Browns also have enough ammunition to move up some in the first round to grab one of the better players. The fact that the draft is in Cleveland will have no bearing on Andrew Berrys first-round strategy. Im guessing they will make a pick in the first round, in part to secure the fifth-year option exclusive to that round.

Hey, Mary Kay: What backup offensive linemen are on the roster? There were a few asked to fill in during the end of the season and the playoffs who performed well. William Tyminski, Medina, Ohio

Hey, William: There are actually a dozen backup offensive linemen on the roster, including Chris Hubbard, Michael Dunn and Blake Hance, whom Baker Mayfield met in the locker room for the first time before the wild card playoff game in Pittsburgh. A couple of recent draft picks are on the list, including center Nick Harris and guard Drew Forbes. The Browns will have plenty of competition for the backup spots in camp, and will likely add some drafted and/or undrafted rookies.

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Would Browns GM Andrew Berry draft a receiver in the first round? Hey, Mary Kay! - cleveland.com

There's an old piece of advice that remains as relevant today as ever: Keep it simple; it will get complex all by itself.

This wisdom is especially important during confusing times when information explodes, lies are repeated so often that facts get lost, and people don't trust authorities or any rules established by them.

If you want an example, take the resistance to wear masks or even getting the COVID-19 vaccine. People dont trust the state or science and wont take precautions even when these might save their lives or those they love.

We seem to be living in separate bubble universes, watching and reading only those sources that already support what we believe, and talking to those with whom we already agree. It's gotten to the point when many are afraid to speak their thoughts openly, particularly in situations where it is not known what others believe.

Face it, it's a toxic environment for the free flow of ideas, the major need of a democratic society. No wonder we have gridlock, conflict, and no compromises. We aren't speaking to one another, laying our cards on the table, so to speak.

In the name of personal freedom, we resist any rules, even those proposed to keep us safe. But a country of more than 300 million people cannot exist long with 300 million rules. Any functioning society needs some agreed-upon rules, such as you need to be a certain age and pass a test to drive a car.

Theres an interesting summary about cultural factors that set the tone for how countries respond to change, which social psychologist Michele Gelfand explains in her book "Rule Makers Rule Breakers: How Tight and Loose Culture Wire Our World."

Gelfand begins by noting how important culture is in our lives. It is omnipresent, affecting us all the time. But it is mostly invisible, meaning we barely understand how powerful it is.

She then shows how social norms or rules govern our lives, but notes there are two general types of cultures, one she calls tight and the other loose. Tight cultures are the ones where the rules are clear and generally followed. Loose cultures are ones in which freedom takes precedence over order, with rules relaxed and often resisted.

By and large, Gelfand suggests our society reflects a loose culture in which rules are few and seldom followed. The result is that people resist rules. even those designed for their own benefit.

Her argument is not that one cultural system is better than the other, but that different rules can be applied to different situations, such as during the pandemic we are in, more tight rules need to be applied even in a loose culture, such as ours.

I'm mostly concerned with a few basic rules for living together. There are very simple rules upon which the majority of us could agree, such as respecting others and practicing compassion.

There one rule, in particular, that seems to undergird all others. Its called the Golden Rule. It requires us sometimes to give up our personal freedom to protect others. Its a basic, universal rule for a society to function.

John C. Morgan is a retired teacher but still a writer. His columns appear every Wednesday at readingeagle.com.

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Everyday ethics: Keep it simple [Opinion] - Reading Eagle

Darnella Frazier filmed former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee on George Floyd's neck for nearly 10 minutes on May 25, capturing the video that many credit as the reason for the guilty verdict Chauvin received on Tuesday.

Chauvin was convicted on all counts in Floyd's death.

The jury found Chauvin guilty of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, but would the verdict have been the same if the then-17-year-old had not recorded Floyd's final words and moments?

Pine Bluff social justice activist Kamara Seals believes the verdict would have been different.

"We've seen it time and time again in cases like this, and it's really difficult to hold police accountable for murder," said Seals. "Because we had the video that was so clear and so long of this horrendous act that we watched. ... Had it not been recorded there, [it] would have been a different story from the police, without a doubt."

Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington felt the verdict showed "what's just" and "what's right."

"I don't think they really had a choice with the whole world watching to see that justice would be served," said Washington.

Former Pine Bluff Mayor Debe Hollingsworth agreed, saying it was the right thing to do and that it made everyone aware of what was really going on.

County Judge Gerald Robinson weighed in, stating that Chauvin's act was inhumane and that those who violate policies need to be held accountable for their actions.

"You can see a man's life disappear right in front of you," said Robinson. "If this is happening in front where everybody can see it, think about what's happening where people can't see it. Makes you think, doesn't it?"

DuShun Scarbrough, executive director of the Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, who hosted Floyd's family in July during Little Rock's "Get Out and Vote" rally, said he respected the verdict rendered by the jury and prayed the decision would inspire everyone to continue crucial conversations and would serve as a steppingstone toward healing, reconciliation, community involvement and building the beloved community that King dreamed of.

Bernice King, King's daughter, who commits her services to Arkansas' MLK Commission, released a statement on Twitter saying that Black people had done enough unjust dying, using one of her father's famous quotes: "We are not satisfied and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."

"The burden shouldn't be on us to suffer for the sake of racial justice," said King. "White people need to step up to end racism. Corporations must. Churches too."

Washington said the historic moment should be an example and that it was the result of united efforts by communities around the world that said enough was enough.

"This work must continue, as our ultimate hope is that Black Americans will no longer suffer as the result of unjustifiable violence," said Washington. "This will require continual advocacy, deep reflection and tangible reform."

For Seals, justice has not truly been served, as she says what happens after the verdict will determine the steps toward justice.

The guilty verdict to Seals did show accountability, and she said that moving forward with permanent changes in legislation would provide steps toward justice.

"We haven't reached justice yet," said Seals. "Justice is going to come from systemic changes within these systems, including policing."

Seals, who is actively promoting change within the Pine Bluff Police Department and leads a local citizens group, said there must be police accountability and community accountability.

"We need to be looking at policies, making sure they have the right policies. Activists should be paying attention to those types of policies and making sure that they hold their police departments accountable," said Seals. "As a community, we need to foster better relationships. We must do that. Not just the police, but the community also has a responsibility."

Seals said that paying attention to municipal government and how it allocates funds was also important.

"Follow the city budget and the police budget to know how funds are being spent because the more knowledgeable we are, the more powerful we can be," said Seals, who noted that she wasn't referring to the Pine Bluff Police Department. "Communities that have excess amounts of money for policing ... equipment like militarization equipment, that's unnecessary; you can fight against that and use those dollars for prevention. You can always reallocate dollars, and that's what I'm about is reallocating dollars."

Seals said the Pine Bluff Police Department is different, but the police departments around the country that are having problems with officer-involved shootings are pushing law enforcement officials into a negative light.

Former Council Member Win Trafford said he was sickened to see what Chauvin had done but that everyone can't judge all the police officers based on one incident.

"Yes, we need reform, we need change, but we have to figure out a way to appreciate the officers that do provide safety for us," said Trafford. "We just can't judge everything based on one decision an officer made."

Jefferson County Sheriff Lafayette Woods Jr. said that as a sworn law enforcement officer, he took an oath never to betray the public's trust and to always serve with integrity and good character.

"We swore to always maintain the courage to hold ourselves and others accountable for our actions," said Woods. "There is no one that despises the unlawful or unjust actions of a bad law enforcement officer more than a good one."

Hollingsworth said there were so many errors made by Chauvin and that one change could have made a difference.

"He could have stopped after a minute or so, but he chose not to stop," she said. "He put a black mark on our policing community because we've got a lot of good and dedicated ones, and he put a black mark on those."

Hollingsworth said she believes that continued education and training for police is important, as well as implementing sensitivity training in schools and churches.

"If people could only understand that golden rule, 'Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you,'" said Hollingsworth, who added that people need to find common ground but also that significant change needs to happen. "Just be sensitive to each other because you don't know where people are within their home life and their work life and community life."

Now the world will wait for the 45-year-old Chauvin to be sentenced in the next eight weeks, and although the verdict brought some level of closure and relief to those waiting and watching for this moment, many wonder whether the sentencing will be just. Collectively, he could receive 75 years, although the number could go higher or lower, depending on what the judge decides. Also, three other officers at the scene have been charged with aiding and abetting, and their trial is expected to take place in August.

Trafford said he believes that a proper sentence will be given to Chauvin, setting an example for other officers.

Hollingsworth said it doesn't matter the race or sex of an individual but that when someone is hurting, everyone must have the confidence and boldness to say, "You need to stop now."

"Now we need to look at what the sentence will be. I hope this is how things will follow and flow as we move forward, with fair judgment of cases of this nature," said Washington. "Nothing will ever bring George Floyd back to his family and friends, nor will anything restore the lives of those lost to police brutality, but we hope the Floyd family will find healing and that this nation will become a place of justice for all."

Activists support Black Lives Matter during Pine Bluff's Solidarity Rally held in June after George Floyd's death. (Pine Bluff Commercial/Eplunus Colvin)

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Verdict on Chauvin welcomed in PB area - Arkansas Online