Welcome back to another day of Sudbury.coms 12 Days of Kindness supported by @homeEnergy.

In 2018, Ryan Proulx and Julie Gratto had to put their lives on hold because their youngest son Henry spent his first year of life undergoing chemotherapy due to a tumour on his optical nerve.

The family spent a lot of time travelling to SickKids Hospital in Toronto where Henry received his treatments.

There were many complications along the way which hospitalized Henry many times. Last December, Henry became septic and was hospitalized on Christmas Day.

But little Henry pulled through. He finished his chemotherapy treatments this past summer.

Now a healthy and very active two-year-old, Henry and his big brother Austin are keeping Ryan and Julie on their toes.

Today, we are bringing some special guests to meet the Proulx family in hopes of making up for lost family time and giving this busy family a little break at home.

Thank you to Science North for giving the family a gift they can use all year round.

And a very special thank you to BESTECH and Molly Maid for coming together to provide the family with a year's worth of house cleaning services so they can enjoy more time together.

Watch more of this year's 12 Days of Kindness here:

Day 1: We give a grieving family a helping hand this winter

Day 2: cole Ste-Marie students help us surprise their beloved teacher

Day 3: It's a double date surprise at the Inner City Home of Sudbury!

Day 4: Vickie gets a new 'do and fresh start

Day 5: Their son has a rare neurological condition, we surprise them with some financial relief

Day 6: She beat the odds with the help of her best friend and caregiver, we're surprising them bothDay 7: Local businesses shower this beloved Capreol matriarch with gifts

Day 8: Battling illness, Melanie still has a smile for everyone, so we try to make her smile even bigger

Link:
12 Days of Kindness: He spent his first year in and out of hospital, we give his parents a much-needed break - Sudbury.com

Maria and Michael Harris started Bry-Jo Roofing and Remodeling in Richardson two decades ago. (Olivia Lueckemeyer/Community Impact Newspaper)

I saw a deficit in our industry of quality contractors who were being honest, Michael said. I wanted to be somebody that people could trust, someone they knew was going to do the right thing.

Trustworthiness is valued by the Harrises in any business relationship, but especially when a client has been through a traumatic experience, such as the Oct. 20 tornado, Michael said.

In the days following the storm, it was all hands on deck at Bry-Jo, Michael said. Staff reached out to every former client living in the tornados path to offer help if needed, Michael said.

It is not uncommon for storm victims to be preyed upon by crooked contractors looking to profit off the wreckage, Michael said. So in addition to being hired for projects, the Bry-Jo team is often called in to repair damage left behind by unskilled workers.

But because major storms do not happen every day, the roofing side of the business is feast or famine, Maria said. To balance the equation, the company also offers home remodeling.

Our custom work really started as a result of the fire restoration work that we did, Maria said. Once people got past the trauma, they started to get excited about building back and upgrading things.

The companys remodeling projects include room additions; kitchen and bathroom remodels; and garage conversions. The Harrises pride themselves on maintaining hands-on relationships with clients and sticking to a set schedule.

We have a well-oiled machine, Maria said. We dont really have a history of jobs taking longer than we expect them to.

Bry-Jo has a steady foothold in the industry, but that reputation was hard-earned, Maria said. The construction business tends to attract workers who are not committed to the long haul, Maria said. But that was never the intention with Bry-Jo.

From the very beginning, we knew that this was a legacy. The intention was that we are going to be around for a while, Maria said. Thats who we are. We are not going anywhere.

Bry-Jo Roofing and Remodeling

681 N. Plano Road, Ste. 119, Richardson

972-669-7807 http://www.bryjo.com

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., closed Sat.-Sun.

Read this article:
Richardson business Bry-Jo Roofing and Remodeling committed to 'doing it right the first time, every time' - Community Impact Newspaper

The 1099 miscellaneous is one of the most common tax forms. So who gets one? Typically, this form is issued to independent contractors, janitorial services, third-party accounts and other workers paid for services who are not on the payroll.

But like many IRS regulations, its not quite so simple. But there are some helpful guidelines to determine whether a 1099-MISC is needed.

Its a common belief that businesses dont need to send out 1099-MISC forms to corporations. And this is true sometimes.

In general, you dont have to issue 1099-MISC forms to C Corporations and S Corporations. But there are some exceptions, including:

You can read about other exceptions here.

If you contract with a business that is an LLC sole proprietorship, you will need to send out a 1099-MISCform. An easy way to tell is by looking at the Form W-9 your worker provided. If the W-9 indicates they are an LLC that is taxed as a sole proprietorship, you need to send a 1099. If their LLC is taxed as an S- or a C-Corp you do not (unless an exception applies as described above).

If youre unsure, its always best to file a 1099-MISC. Theres no penalty if you file one but you didnt need to. On the other hand, not filing one that is required can lead to hefty penalties.

And one more tip: Always get the W-9 before you issue payments to any vendor who may be required to get a 1099-MISC. Less-reputable vendors might not be around when you need their information at tax time.

The fastest, most efficient way to file your 1099s (and meet the January 31 deadline!) is with eFile4Biz.com. This one-stop shop allows you to easily enter your data online. Then eFile4Biz electronically files your forms with the IRS as well as prints and mails copies to your independent contractors and other recipients.

Image: Depositphotos.com

Read the original here:
Working with Independent Contractors? Learn Who Gets a 1099-MISC Form - Small Business Trends

This press release was orginally distributed by SBWire

Morrisville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/19/2019 -- For homeowners looking for some design inspiration for home improvement projects in the new year, Beco Designs are showcasing a range of kitchen and bathroom designs in their Morrisville-based showroom. As the most reputable provider of countertops, islands, and kitchen cabinets in Newtown, PA, Beco Designs have provided kitchen and bathroom remodeling services for over sixty years. Their showroom spans 3,000 square feet and is the perfect environment for homeowners and architects to pick up design inspirations for upcoming projects.

Renovating or redesigning a kitchen has several benefits, including an improvement in functionality. As a kitchen is renovated, homeowners can choose to make additions or reductions, with all renovations aimed at improving the overall functionality of the kitchen space. Kitchen redesigns can also reduce energy costs, improve sustainability, improve comfort and safety, and modernize the space.

There are also five significant benefits that a bathroom renovation can offer for homeowners. Minor bathroom remodels can give sellers a 102% return at resale, which is fantastic for people looking to put their property on the market in the new year. They also help to reduce clutter, can make bathrooms more eco-friendly, and can save money in the long run that would otherwise have been spent on ongoing maintenance.

For residents searching for kitchen ideas in Newtown, PA, or nearby regions, a complete makeover can offer them their dream space, while adding value to their home. Beco Designs cover Pennington, NJ, Newtown, PA, and anywhere else in Greater Delaware Valley, Their unique selection of colors and finishes can fully customize any kitchen or bathroom space.

For additional information, or to contact Beco Designs, visit https://www.beco-designs.com/ today.

About Beco Kitchens and BathroomsBeco Kitchens and Bathrooms provides kitchen and bathroom remodeling services in Bucks County, PA, Main Line, PA, and Mercer County, NJ. The company has been family owned and operated since its founding in 1956. Their 3,000 square foot showroom features top brands in cabinetry, countertops and sinks.

For more information, visit http://www.beco-designs.com/.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/beco-designs-invites-southeast-pa-and-central-nj-residents-to-their-exclusive-kitchen-and-bathroom-showroom-1268867.htm

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Beco Designs Invites Southeast PA and Central NJ Residents to Their Exclusive Kitchen and Bathroom Showroom - Press Release - Digital Journal

On Saturday, Muertos Kitchen & Lounge closes its doors as we know it. On Jan. 2, it will re-emerge as Two Goats & The Goose, a pub-style eatery that won't be a culture (or culinary) shock for loyal customers.

Owner Shawna Haddad Byers said she was inspired by the thought of a next chapter.

"I saw a brilliant post by a fantastic life coach, Kym Showers, that said, 'It's 70 days to a new decade, what do you want to do?' About day 60, I decided let's just embrace something new."

The restaurateur is comfortable with change and adapting to downtown dining needs, having done so for nearly 20 years. Operating Fishlips in the Padre Hotel, pre-remodel, she carried on when it moved to 18th and Eye and grew as a music venue. She consulted on Texas 28, the restaurant that took over that space when Fishlips closed. And she opened Muertos in 2012 in Wall Street alley in the space once home to Suds Tavern and Pacos Tacos. She also launched CraSh Lounge, an upscale bar that serves small plates, around the corner on Eye Street in 2014.

Haddad Byers' love of family continues in her work: While Muertos was designed in part to honor her late grandmother, Sittie, Haddad Byers said Two Goats & The Goose pays tribute to her Aries husband and son and her nickname from her dad.

"Goose is the nickname my father has called me since I was 2. I like to do a play on words."

She added, "My husband and son are both Aries, charming, hard-headed, stubborn goats."

(Even though Aries is often depicted as a ram, a goat is also acknowledged.)

Over the next week and a half, the restaurant will undergo a design refresh but no major remodeling, Haddad Byers said. Fresh paint and at least one mural, installing televisions inside and on the patio for game-watching and darts for that pub touch.

The menu will be mix of fan favorites, daily specials and new items.

Haddad Byers promises chile verde and fish and chips will be available daily and the specials will rotate rather than the same item offered on the same day of the week.

"We're not starting from scratch," she said. "We're not reinventing the wheel."

But she's revamping the hamburgers. While you'll be able to order versions of your favorites (Hudson, James, Homeboy, etc.), the focus will be on a build-your-own burger. Haddad Byers said regulars have always customized their orders but now it will be front and center on the menu. They'll be available with side options of french fries, salad or grilled green beans.

"We've always served them," she said of the beans grilled with mushrooms. "But we're going to highlight them."

Appetizers will still include popcorn pork, now called pork bites, and the fried mushrooms.

"I think if I took the mushrooms off the menu someone would take a pitchfork to me."

Hot dogs and tacos will remain as well with new additions such as beer-battered cauliflower tacos with sweet Thai chili sauce and ones with spicy chicken and jack cheese (which Fishlips diners might recall as Primus tacos).

There will be more entrees, developed with cooks Matthew Tidwell and Filadelfo "Homeboy" Vaquero. In addition to grilled salmon and seared ahi, Two Goats will have steaks and grilled pork loin.

If this sounds like a lot of meat, Haddad Byers also points out there will be more vegan and vegetarian options. Her son and husband's recent journey into veganism has sparked some new ideas, which she thinks will take off downtown, given the success of vegan spots Better Bowls and The Hen's Roost.

Two Goats will continue to offer beer and wine, along with beer- or wine-based drinks such as the sangria, micheladas and blood orange jalapeno margarita. Longtime serverSarah Kirchner, who developed the aforementioned beverage, will also come up with more, which may include spirits down the road.

Local beers will also be highlighted, with Kern River Brewing Co., Great Change Brewing andDionysus already on board.

For now, these are the only changes Haddad Byers has planned but she said that's she's always has a need to keep creating.

"In five years, if I'm feeling a different way ... I'm a Gemini. It's never it."

Two Goats & The Goose opens Jan. 2 at 1514 Wall St.

Stefani Dias can be reached at 661-395-7488. Follow her on Twitter at @realstefanidias.

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THE DISH: Muertos closing, will become Two Goats & The Goose in 2020 - The Bakersfield Californian

For Sale/Rent

Say goodbye to below-zero weather and hello to these toasty and inviting homes for sale in and around Boston.

Photo via Compass

A Brick-and-Beam Duplex on the Waterfront112 Fulton St. #1A, BostonPrice: $1,569,000Size: 2,404 square feetBedrooms: 3Baths: 2.5Open house: Sunday, December 22, 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m.

Photo via Santana Properties Team

A Brand New Townhouse in Somerville14R Glen St. #14R, SomervillePrice: $949,900Size: 1,762 square feetBedrooms: 3Baths: 3.5Open houses: Saturday, December 21, 1 2:30 p.m.Sunday, December 22, 1 2:30 p.m.

Photo by Julie Gaunt

A North Shore Single-Family77 Magnolia Road, SwampscottPrice: $574,900Size: 1,700 square feetBedrooms: 3Baths: 2Open house: Sunday, December 22, 2 3:30 p.m.

Photo via William Raveis R.E. & Home Services

An Open-Concept Condo in South Boston49 L St. #5, BostonPrice: $849,000Size: 1,126 square feetBedrooms: 2Baths: 2Open houses: Saturday, December 21, 11 a.m. 12 p.m.Sunday, December 22, 11 a.m. 12 p.m.

Photo via William Raveis R.E. & Home Services

A Colonial Manse in Milton321 Atherton St., MiltonPrice: $3,895,000Size: 7,970 square feetBedrooms: 7Baths: 4.5Open house: Sunday, December 22, 1 3 p.m.

The Boston Home team has curated a list of the best home design and home remodeling professionals in Boston, including architects, builders, kitchen and bath experts, lighting designers, and more. Get the help you need with FindIt/Boston's guide to home renovation pros.

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Five Open Houses with Fireplaces to Check Out This Weekend - Boston magazine

Good food is best enjoyed in good company, and the Taste Team has a great way to combine the two with a Middle Eastern appetizer feast for two from the new Medical Center restaurant Al-Amir Cafe & Grill. It leads Decembers list of five things to eat and drink in San Antonio bars and restaurants right now.

The month brings a solid mix of hot, cold and comforting options from the new Tlahco Mexican Kitchen on San Pedro Avenue by Oblate; tiny Thai Dee on Blanco Road near Hildebrand; the Barrios familys La Hacienda Scenic Loop on Boerne Stage Road; and the revamped Earl Abels near the Pearl.

Meze appetizer feast

Theres something for everyone in the Middle Eastern meze appetizer sampler for two at Al-Amir Cafe and Grill ($29.99). The 10-plate tasting incorporates familiar favorites such as hummus, baba ghanoush, falafel and tabbouleh, then branches out into the dried sausage called sujuk, the minced meat surprise of fried kibbeh and fattoush salad made with fried bread. Dont worry about the names. Just roll up some warm pita and eat. 8620 Fredericksburg Road, 210-281-8632, Facebook: Al-Amir Cafe & Grill

Chicken tortilla soup

In just a few short months, Tlahco Mexican Kitchen has become one of the citys best Mexican restaurants, in part because of chicken tortilla soup ($6.95) served in a thick terra-cotta bowl stocked with avocado, fried tortillas and dried chiles. Hot soup, warm tortillas. It doesnt get much more December-y than that. 6702 San Pedro Ave., 210-455-0135, Facebook: @tlahcoSA

On ExpressNews.com: Review: Tlahco Mexican Kitchen is one of San Antonios best Mexican restaurants

Chicken khao soi

Thai Dee has turned a tiny space next to a convenience store into a destination for solid Thai cooking, including a chicken khao soi curry ($13) that brings together soft and crunchy noodles for a filling journey of texture and flavor. Bring your own wine; theyll supply the long-stem glasses. 5307 Blanco Road, 210-342-3622, thaideesa.com

Margarita trio

The Barrios family added La Hacienda Scenic Loop to their stable of Mexican restaurants in 2017, and that means another chance to get the frozen margarita trio ($10.50). Three small glasses bring icy swirls of mango and strawberry, a tangy guava and lime mix, and a respectable house margarita. Dont roll your eyes. Sometimes all you need are a nice patio, cheesy nachos and something sweet with tequila in it. 25615 Boerne Stage Road, 210-687-1818, lahaciendascenicloop.com

Fried chicken

Earl Abels on Broadway near the Pearl reopened in November after the latest change of hands, a quick remodeling and menu revamp. Earls Famous Original Fried Chicken Dinner ($9.95 for two pieces and two sides) is the primary reason to take a seat. Its earned that famous tag, with a craggy and well-seasoned crust over perfectly cooked, juicy yardbird. 1639 Broadway, 210-444-9424, earlabelssa.com

Food writer Paul Stephen contributed to this report. Mike Sutter is a food and drink reporter and restaurant critic in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | msutter@express-news.net | Twitter: @fedmanwalking

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Middle Eastern appetizer feast from Medical Center restaurant Al-Amir Cafe & Grill the best thing to eat in San Antonio this month - San Antonio...

By Steve Gravelle, correspondent

It may be the early days of winter, but Tom Cannon knows what to expect come spring.

This year, the ground is saturated, Cannon said. Itll freeze, and itll stay there until the spring. Then we get the spring rains, and the grounds already saturated so then it puts more pressure on basements.

And that leads to business for Tomlinson Cannon, whose services prevent or correct structural damage due to too much water.

Cannon, 73, was a homebuilder in 1985 when he bought the company from Claude Tomlinson, whod started his gutter installation and repair business with his father in 1948.

He did my gutters, and he was getting pretty old, Cannon said. I thought, Hes probably going to retire one of these days, and that seamless gutter looks pretty neat.

Cannon didnt expect what started as a sideline to become his core business.

We had one crew that was just doing the gutters, and I thought it would be just part time, he said.

It ended up being very busy. Theres a lot of gutters out there. So I retired from building construction and just did that full time.

Tomlinson Cannon today has 30 employees. Cannon added an affiliate company, AeroSaw, in 1993.

I tend to be a risk-taker, and maybe a little naive back then, he said. I bought a concrete-cutting company. Didnt know anything about it, so we made all kinds of mistakes.

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Through the years weve learned how to do it, so its a viable company now.

As he became familiar with the gutter business, branching out came more or less naturally.

There are a lot of problems that are caused if you dont maintain your gutters, Cannon said. We had customers asking us for referrals to places that would fix wet basements. So we just decided to do these things. We do the gutters, the mud-jacking, basement waterproofing.

Mud-jacking is prescribed when a concrete patio, sidewalk or driveway subsides because of settling in the ground beneath.

We drill a series of holes and we pump a concrete solution into the void, Cannon said. When the void fills up, it has to go someplace. It raises the concrete up.

Cannon said basement waterproofing usually comes down to two basic techniques. A polyurethane sealant injected into vertical cracks repairs existing damage, followed by installation of a complete drainage system to prevent future problems.

For functioning drainage, a crew removes concrete around the perimeter of a basement and digs about a foot deep along the outside. The trench is filled with gravel and perforated plastic pipe similar to agricultural drainage tile.

We incorporate that with a sump pump, Cannon said. We repour the concrete, and then when the water goes under the footing or through the crack in the wall it goes into that tile and the tile directs it to the sump pump.

Most newer homes are built with this system, Cannon said.

Theres other methods of waterproofing, he said. Weve done this method since the 90s, and it is by far the best way to waterproof a basement.

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About 90 percent of Cannons business is from homeowners, many with houses of a certain age within about 30 miles of its Iowa City and Cedar Rapids offices.

A lot of them were built in the 50s, 60s and 70s, he said. They werent waterproofed properly.

Fixing customers water problems has proved to be more than a sideline.

Everything we do is really steady, and hasnt really changed a lot, Cannon said. When I started doing gutters, they had that seamless gutter machine.

Theres nothing that can replace that product. Weve tried a few things, but its just going to be around forever. With the waterproofing, the drain tile just makes sense. Theres not much you can do to improve that.

Know a business that could make for an interesting My Biz feature? Let us know via michaelchevy.castranova@thegazette.com.

Owner: Tom Cannon

Business: Tomlinson Cannon

Address: 3466 Dolphin Drive SE, Iowa City; 2351 Blairs Ferry Road, Cedar Rapids

Phone: 319-774-3422

Website: tomlinson-cannon.com

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For Tomlinson Cannon, solving water problems has been the business since 1948 in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids - The Gazette

Dec 18, 2019 Diego Cagara Community, Government, News

An aerial view of Elm Avenue Parks pool complex shows the blue waters of the diving pool (top), but concern over its structural integrity has prompted its closure.Jim Franco / Spotlight News

BETHLEHEM A new pool to replace the irreparable Elm Avenue Park dive pool may be open as early as late July 2020 but Paul Penman, the towns deputy commissioner of Public Works, said it is not a 100 percent guarantee.

Appearing before the town board, he presented a new timeline for how the town will move forward regarding the dive pool.

It was originally built in 1973 but was closed this past summer as it was discovered as being severely deteriorated beyond repair.

In past weeks, residents and the town board began to express their views on a new dive pool this would be based on the original and a new double-slide pool anyone over 48 inches, or four feet, can use this and it requires two lifeguards.

Penman said bids for a new dive pool and a double-slide pool will be advertised on Dec. 23; the town will receive bids by Jan. 30, 2020; the town board will review the bids in its Feb. 7 meeting; a contract would be awarded in the Feb. 26 town board meeting; a notice to proceed will happen the day after; and construction is expected to begin on March 16.

The first critical date is February 7. Thats the town board meeting where wed like to present the numbers that come in on the bid package for the two options, said Penman. Then we would get some comments from the town board.

He also noted that the town will continue having discussions with the public about both pool options prior to making a decision at the Feb. 26 meeting.

Town Supervisor David VanLuven said it is important to continue public discussions in the meantime.

Town Board member Dan Coffey said it would be helpful to put pool-related information on the towns website before Feb. 7 so that the public can have ample time to learn about it before the town board makes a decision on Feb. 26.

An ideal construction timeline was presented too where between March 16 and May 22, regardless of which pool type the town chooses by then, is whenthe most disruptive work mainly happens. This is when demolition, the installation of piping and shell construction will take place.

Then, from May 25 to Aug. 7, gutters will be installed, the pool and deck would be finished, and dive or slide towers will be erected too.

This brings up the issue of whether summer construction would be allowed while the rest of the pool complex is open.

Penman said the gutter installation is not really disruptive. Same thing with the pool finish, they bring in pretty much pickup trucks and a little bit bigger vehicles and a small mixer. Again, its not going to be very dusty or very disruptive.

Penman added that he recommends summer construction to be allowed based on the schedule and type of construction activity planned during that time.

In his presentation, he also wrote that a few days could be noisy at the pool complex but a possible compromise is closing the complex for one or two days, or having it open for half-days at a time.

Town Board member Jim Foster recommended families, especially parents, should be informed in advance of maintaining safe distances between patrons at the pool complex and construction activity, if summer construction is approved.

Jason Gallo, the towns Parks and Recreation administrator, said some possible ways to inform the public about summer construction, if it gets approved, include having information on receipts at the pool complex, and having signs and pictures there that detail construction activity too.

The pool is then set to be commissioned in mid-August and site landscaping would take place between Aug. 10 and Sept. 11.

While Penman said this is all a fairly conservative schedule, weather can be unpredictable.

But if there is good weather overall, it may shave the construction schedule by one month.

It may get the pool open by the end of July or early August but again, I dont want to promise that because this last year, we had horrible weather, said Penman, offering a few examples like how welders cannot weld and concrete cannot be poured when its raining.

Related

Read more here:
Timeline to replace Bethlehem dive pool - Spotlight News

NEW YORK How you respond to an attack defines you. Keep your cool, remain civil and others will respect the way you handle yourself, even if they disagree with you. Lower yourself to your assailants level and at best spectators will dismiss your dispute as a he-said-she-said between two jerks.

So much has been written about U.S. President Donald Trumps debasement of rhetorical norms and his gleeful contempt for truth that there is no need to cite examples or quote studies that count the prolificacy of his lies. Trumps attacks on journalists fake news, mocking a disabled reporters body movements are contemptible. They undermine citizens trust in news media a serious menace to democracy and civil society.

Less noticed is how major news organizations, incensed by the presidents trolling, have debased themselves to Trumps moral level.

American journalism used to adhere to strict standards. Though impossible to achieve, objectivity was paramount. At bare minimum, reporters were expected to project an appearance of political neutrality.

Truth only derived from facts verifiable facts. Not conjecture and never wishful thinking. Sources who wanted to be quoted had to go on the record. Anonymous sources could flesh out background but could not be the entire basis for a story.

From the start of Trumps run for president before the start Democratic-leaning media outlets abandoned their own long-cherished standards to declare war on him. Every day during the 2016 campaign The New York Times led its coverage with its forecast of Hillary Clintons supposed odds of defeating Trump. Setting aside the fact of the Times embarrassing wrongness the day before Election Day they gave Clinton an 85 percent chance of winning it cited odds rather than polls. Maximizing a sense of Clintonian inevitability was intended to demoralize Republicans so they wouldnt turn out to vote. The two figures might mean the same thing. But 85-15 odds look worse than a 51-49 poll.

Its downright truthy. And when truthiness goes sideways it makes you look really, really dumb. 51-49 could go either way. 85-15, not so much.

The impeachment battle marks a new low in partisanship among media outlets.

After Trumps surprise-to-those-whod-never-been-to-the-Rust-Belt win, outlets like the Times declared themselves members of a so-called resistance. Opinion columnists like Charles M. Blow pledged never to normalize Trumpism; what this has meant, ironically, is that Blows essays amount to rote recitations on the same topic: Normally, about the argument that Trump sucks. Which he does. There are, however, other issues to write about, such as the fact that we are all doomed. It would be nice to hear Blows opinions about taxes, militarism and abortion.

Next came years years! of Robert Muellerpalooza. Russia, corporate media outlets said repeatedly, had meddled in the 2016 election. Russian President Vladimir Putin installed Trump; Hillary Clintons snubbing of her partys 72 percent-progressive base had nothing to do with the loss of the most qualified person blah blah blah to an inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame.

Whatever happened to the journalistic chestnut: If your mother says she loves you, check it out? Russiagate wasnt a news report. It was religious faith. Russia fixed the election because we, the media, say so, we say so because we were told to say so by politicians, who were told to say so by CIA people, whose job is to lie and keep secrets. No one checked out anything.

What we knew and still know is that a Russia-based troll farm spent either $100,000 or $200,000 on Facebook ads to generate clickbait. Most of those ads were apolitical. Many were pro-Clinton. The company has no ties to the Russian government. It was a $6.8 billion election; $200,000 couldnt have and didnt move the needle.

Anonymous congressional sources told reporters that anonymous intelligence agents told them that there was more. The Mueller report implies as much. But no one went on the record. No original or verifiable copies of documentary evidence has been leaked. The reports numerous citations are devoid of supporting material. By pre-Trump journalistic standards Russiagate wasnt a story any experienced editor would print.

It was barely an idea for a story.

Russiagate fell apart so decisively that Democratic impeachers now act like the Mueller report a media obsession for three years never even happened.

Speaking of impeachment, mainstream media gatekeepers are so eager to see Trump removed from office that theyre violating another cardinal rule of journalism: If its news, print it. The identity of the CIA whistleblower (scare quotes because actual whistleblowers reveal truths that hurt their bosses) who triggered impeachment over Trumps menacing phone call to the president of Ukraine has been known in Washington, and elsewhere if you know where to look, for months.

Federal law prohibits the government from revealing his identity, and rightly so. But it has leaked. Its out. Its news. Nothing in the law or journalistic custom prevents a media organization from publishing it. News outlets felt no compulsion to similarly protect the identity of Bradley Manning or Edward Snowden. So why arent newspapers and broadcast networks talking about it?

Im not convinced his identity is important at this point, or at least important enough to put him at any risk, or to unmask someone who doesnt want to be identified, New York Times editor Dean Baquet said. So much for the peoples right to know. Why should subscribers buy a newspaper that doesnt print the news?

There is a because Trump change in media ethics that I welcome. Whats suspect is the timing.

Trump is the first president to get called out for his lies right in the news section. Great! Imagine how many lives could have been saved by a headline like Bush Repeats Debunked Falsehood That Iraq Has WMDs. A headline like Slurring Sanders Numerous Female Supporters as Bros, Hillary Clinton Lies About Medicare-for-All could have nominated and elected Bernie and saved many Americans from medical bankruptcy.

But all presidents lie. Why pick on Trump? His lies are (perhaps) more numerous. But theyre no more bigger than his predecessors (see Iraq WMDs, above). Yet discussion of former presidents remains respectful and slavish as ever.

I say, give coverage of Obama and other ex-presidents the same tone and treatment as the current occupant of the White House gets from the news media:

Wallowing in Corrupt Wall Street Cash, Obama Drops $11.75 Million on Gaudy Marthas Vineyard Mansion Estate

Ellen DeGeneres Sucks Up to Mass Murderer George W. Bush

Jimmy Carter, First Democratic President to Not Even Bother to Propose an Anti-Poverty Program, Dead at TK

Ted Rall (Twitter: @tedrall), a political cartoonist, columnist and graphic novelist, is the author of Francis: The Peoples Pope.

Visit link:
The US media is in the gutter with Trump - The Japan Times