A couple of things

First, we need to take ownership of our minds and educate and inform ourselves responsibly, now more than ever. Here are some good tips/resources I could find on how to spot and combat fake news - shared in order of pithiness (from most to least), for individuals whose attention span may not stack up to that of a goldfish:

https://www.buzzfeed.com/craigsilverman/detect-fake-news-like-a-pro?utm_term=.dnvr6P0oG#.hiG0qdbEr

 (I know it's Buzzfeed. I know it's not a "news" agency. I know it's never going to earn a 100% on our trustworthiness scale. I also know we all use it, frequently, and I'm a firm believer in meeting people where they stand. So just go with it.)

http://www.snopes.com/2016/01/21/6-quick-ways-spot-fake-news/


http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/12/05/503581220/fake-or-real-how-to-self-check-the-news-and-get-the-facts

And lastly, a handy little checklist if you're not sure (I know it's Buzzfeed again. I know it's not 100% reliable/legit, but it IS a litmus test of sorts, if you're still not sure where to start.) -

https://www.buzzfeed.com/craigsilverman/fake-news-checkllist?utm_term=.glwke8bMP#.pa1N8AOKb

 Second, this image has been making the rounds in my Twitter and Facebook newsfeeds, and I cannot verify the author/source, but I think it contains important insights nonetheless:

(Originator, from what I can tell, is https://twitter.com/rascouet/status/823035518313267202 .)


Oh, and one more helpful (if imperfectly executed) tool:

https://www.mywot.com/

It’s called Web of Trust. If you come across a website with absolutely no rating, it is most likely complete and utter garbage. (There are exceptions. Like I said, it’s an imperfect tool. But it’s a benchmark.)

So with this knowledge, please go forth and analyze, my friends.

Some more helpful ideas!

As the dust/rage settles, I've been working on setting up regular donations to places like the NRDC and ACLU, renewing annual support for my local NPR station, looking into subscribing to various newspapers, searching for self-defense classes to feel more empowered, and applying to local volunteer organizations.

A lot of this has been postponed due to the holiday shuffle, and I'll admit that it's hard to maintain momentum. To feel more productive, I encourage everyone to set up an automatic monthly donation to a cause they're passionate about (if they haven't already), and set concrete, realistic goals for other opportunities. (ie: Get that application to the IINE in after Christmas! Find a self-defense class and organize a group trip after New Year's!)

I also stumbled on this neat article today, and I think it would be a great service to start using!

http://hellogiggles.com/become-an-activist-not-sure-where-to-start-texting-service/

If anyone has any more helpful ideas, please feel free to share!

Words from our foremothers

"Come, come, my conservative friend, wipe the dew off your spectacles, and see that the world is moving."

http://feministwednesday.com/elizabeth-cady-stanton/




http://www.vox.com/first-person/2016/11/10/13580582/leslie-knope-donald-trump