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As grocery prices continue to rise, the second term Trump Administration focuses  instead on private corporations ridding Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiatives in the workplace.  However,  several companies have pushed back, including Apple and Costco. And during these difficult times, US residents throughout the nation are deciding loyalty matters more than just cheaper prices with their local grocers.Just ask members of the community in Fresno California, where residents came out to support their local Costco. According to the AP, in January, more than 98 percent of the Costco shareholders rejected a proposal urging the wholesale club operator to evaluate any risks posed by its diversity, equity and inclusion  practices. In January, Trump signed an executive order aimed at terminating DEI programs within federal agencies. Conservatives have long condemned them, arguing they violate the U.S. Constitution by considering factors such as race, gender and sexual orientation. The plan includes leveraging the Justice Department and other agencies to probe private companies pursuing training and hiring practices that conservative critics consider discriminatory against people who do not belong to minority groups, such as white men.  Meanwhile, on the mid-morning of Saturday February 22, 2025, a Show up and Shop event occurred in support of the Costco located on Shaw Ave. near the 99 freeway in Fresno; people were pleased with Costco's decision to keep DEI initiative in place,  So they decided to use their local purchasing power.  Community leader and advisor, Landon Green, of The Freedom Group said this is just the start to this new year-long, Juneteenth community initiative.

Several counties in Southern California are in a state of emergency due to several, fast-moving fires that have been carried and enhanced by Santa Anna winds.Tuesday January 7 is when three major fires sparked in forestry areas in Southern California and with the help of hurricane force winds, collectively burned 22,000 acres in just 24 hours. The first fire, the Pacific Palisades, began at 10:30 a.m. on that day near 1190 North Piedra Morada (near Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu, Calif.), according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Winds reaching at least 40+ mph, quickly spread the original 10-acre fire to 200 acres in roughly 12 minutes. The Pacific Palisades fire has burned 17,230+ acres with 0 percent containment, where over 1,000 building have been destroyed by fire.Meanwhile, the Eaton fire started in Altadena on the late evening of January 7. It has taken the lives of five people and injured several others. Over 750 firefighters have been working tirelessly over the Eaton fire and yet 10,600 acres have burned and there is 0 percent containment as of January 9 at 9:00 AM PST. The Hurst fire also began that late night, burning 855 acres in just a few hours; it is 10 percent contained as of January 9 at 9:00 AM PST.Also on that Tuesday, due to the high winds over 50 mph, flight restrictions over the affected burn areas prevented fire fighters from dropping flame retardants over the area and the media from getting a full picture of the fires.

The Wednesday, October 16, 2024, Central Valley Community Election Forum was hosted by ONME News, in collaboration with community organizations, Black Women Organized for Political Action, Fresno, San Joaquin Valley Chapter, also known as BWOPA) Black American Political Association of California, Fresno Chapter,  also known as Bay PACK; The NAACP #1038, Fresno Chapter; and the African American Clergy Caucus.ONME News executive producer and publisher Julia Ann Dudley Najieb was the moderator.Part 1 of the October 16 Central Valley Election Community Forum features California State Assembly District 31 candidates Dr. Joaquin Arambula (incumbent) against opponent Solomon Verduzco followed by US House of Representative candidate and incumbent Congressman Jim Costa who talked about his Central Valley initiatives he looks forward to continuing.

The Wednesday, October 16, 2024, Central Valley Community Election Forum was hosted by ONME News, in collaboration with community organizations, Black Women Organized for Political Action, Fresno, San Joaquin Valley Chapter, also known as BWOPA) Black American Political Association of California, Fresno Chapter,  also known as Bay PACK; The NAACP #1038, Fresno Chapter; and the African American Clergy Caucus.ONME News executive producer and publisher Julia Ann Dudley Najieb was the moderator.A representative for the city of Kerman mayoral candidate, Maria Pacheco, who is the incumbent, talked about Pacheco's dedication to helping the city to build and prosper.Thereafter, moderator and host, Dudley Najieb, had a sit-down discussion with Fresno State professor, Dr. Thomas Holyoke, a specialist in American politics, about some of the difficult-to-understand state propositions on the ballot.The night ended with Trustee Area 7 Yolanda Joy Moore who talked about the recent Clovis Unified School District school bond, Measure A that is on the ballot. Moore explains the importance of the measure and that the bond would be issued on the current tax rate for residents--taxes will not increase for local residents: CUSD is maintaining the current tax rate of $155 per $100,000 of assessed value, which is the lowest it has been in the district's history.

The Wednesday, October 9, 2024, Central Valley Community Election Forum hosted by ONME News, in collaboration with community organizations, Black Women Organized for Political Action, Fresno, San Joaquin Valley Chapter, also known as BWOPA) Black American Political Association of California, Fresno Chapter, also known as Bay PACK; The NAACP #1038, Fresno Chapter; and the African American Clergy Caucus features the following Central Valley candidates; Fresno City Council Area 6 candidate, Nick Richardson; State Assembly District 8 candidate, David Tangipa; State Center Community College Area 2 incumbent candidate, Nasreen Johnson; Madera City Council District 4 incumbent candidate; Madera City Council District 4 candidate Derrick Robinson; State Assembly District 27 incumbent candidate Esmeralda Soria; and State Assembly District 27 candidate, Joanna Garcia Rose. ONME News executive producer and publisher Julia Ann Dudley Najieb was the moderator. In Part 2 of the October 9 Central Valley Community Election Forum hosted by ONME News, watch candidates David Tangipa; State Center Community College Area 2 incumbent candidate, Nasreen Johnson; Madera City Council District 4 incumbent candidate; Madera City Council District 4 candidate Derrick Robinson; State Assembly District 27 incumbent candidate Esmeralda Soria; and State Assembly District 27 candidate, Joanna Garcia Rose.

The Wednesday, October 9, 2024, Central Valley Community Election Forum hosted by ONME News, in collaboration with community organizations, Black Women Organized for Political Action, Fresno, San Joaquin Valley Chapter, also known as BWOPA) Black American Political Association of California, Fresno Chapter,  also known as Bay PACK; The NAACP #1038, Fresno Chapter; and the African American Clergy Caucus featured the following Central Valley candidates; Fresno City Council Area 6 candidate, Nick Richardson; State Assembly District 8 candidate, David Tangipa; State Center Community College Area 2 incumbent candidate, Nasreen Johnson; Madera City Council District 4 incumbent candidate; Madera City Council District 4 candidate Derrick Robinson; State Assembly District 27 incumbent candidate Esmeralda Soria; and State Assembly District 27 candidate, Joanna Garcia Rose. ONME News executive producer and publisher Julia Ann Dudley Najieb was the moderator. Also featuring special guest Trustee Area 6 Karla Kirk who talks about the process of school bonds and the Central Unified School District school bond, Measure X that is on the ballot. In this part 1, here is who is featured:  The four political organization collaborators, candidate Nick Richardson and Trustee Karla Kirk on school bonds.

Watch past live footage highlights of Day 2of  the Democratic National Convention (DNC) with news show host, Julia Ann Dudley Najieb who recaps on the latest election news in California, with light news commentary between DNC speakers.Dudley Najieb reviews and explains the open California's U.S. Senate race vacated by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein.  This seat has been under the control of Democratic leadership in California since 1992.In Californian election news, since there are 10 state ballot measures thise upcoming Novemeber 5 election, Dudley Najieb reviewed the process of how measures and propositions make their way to the ballot.Dudley Najieb also features interview with Fresno, CA DNC delegate, Eric Payne who was at the DNC Day 2 in Chicago, Il.Thereafter, watch a lively roundtable discussion with hall of famer and award-winning news publisher, Cheryl Smith, popular social media influencer, Ashley Ann and Bay Area news publisher, Brigitte Jones who recap on the DNC speeches of the day, and key speakers Second Gentleman, Douglas Emhoff, former first lady, Michelle Obama and former president, Barack Obama.

Watch past live footage highlights of Day 1 the Democratic National Convention (DNC) with news show host, Julia Ann Dudley Najieb who recaps on the latest election news in California, with light new commentary between DNC speakers.  Dudley Najieb also talks with San Francisco affiliate news partner from KPOO 89.5 FM, who is on the ground in Chicago, Harrison Chastang who gives a detailed recap, from the live protests to the Black Caucus meeting results.Thereafter, watch a lively roundtable discussion with hall of famer and award-winning news publisher, Cheryl Smith, popular social media influencer, Ashley Ann and Bay Area news publisher, Brigitte Jones who recap on the DNC speeches of the day, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and President Joe Biden.

News host Julia Ann Dudley Najieb reviews the intricate details regarding Project 2025 and its conservative beginningsCA Politics Now Part 1: Julia explains how the Heritage Foundation funded Project 2025 with $22 millionIn this segment of California Politics Now, "About Project 2025," Julia Ann Dudley Najieb explains in detail the key project of the Heritage Foundation: Project 2025. Although the director has recently stepped down, Paul Dans, the project would have a significant impact on California as a whole if it continues to push forward through the Trump-Vance Administration if they win the Nov. 5 2024 election.CA Politics Now Part 2: Running mate, JD Vance, endorses the concept of Project 2025In this second segment of California Politics Now, "About Project 2025," Julia Ann Dudley Najieb explains the JD Vance and former president, Donald Trump connection; although they have attempted to distance themselves from Project 2025, there is no denying the facts that are out there. ...CA Politics Now Part 3: An introduction to how Project 2025 would affect California if implemented

In part 3 discussion of the California Employment Development Department (EDD) news host, Julia A. Dudley Najieb talks to Greg Lawson, Chief of Media and Creative Services for the California EDD about how people can apply to the benefits and services and what is needed to apply online, by phone or via mail.

In part 2 of the ONME Partner Corner, Chief of Media and Creative Services for the California Employment Development Department Greg Lawson talks with news show host, Julia Ann Dudley Najieb about the major changes at CA EDD to help applicants and to expedite the processing of the applications.Dudley Najieb review the past dismal experiences some people had with the CA EDD and the major changes because of it.https://edd.ca.gov

In part 2 of the ONME Partner Corner, Chief of Media and Creative Services for the California Employment Development Department Greg Lawson talks with news show host, Julia Ann Dudley Najieb about the major changes at CA EDD to help applicants and to expedite the processing of the applications.Dudley Najieb reviews the past dismal experiences some people had with the CA EDD and the major changes because of it.https://edd.ca.gov

The Senate has a membership of 40 Senators elected for 4-year terms, 20 to begin every 2 years.During his or her lifetime a person may serve no more than 12 years in the Senate, Assembly, or both, in any combination of terms.Since the passage of Prop 28 in 2012, legislators first elected on or after November 6, 2012, are limited to a maximum of 12 years.Prop 140, passed in 1990, affects any members elected prior to November 6, 2012, and limits them to a maximum of two four-year terms (eight years total). Voters in the 20 odd-numbered districts of the California State Senate will elect their representatives. There are 16 Democratic-held senate seats up for election in 2024, 3 Republican-held seats, and 1 open seat with no incumbent.Here is a review of the first set of California state senate candidates.

In this California Politics Now segment, news producer, Julia Ann Dudley Najieb gives commentary regarding the Monday night's CA U.S. Senate seat debate at the Bovard Auditorium on the University Park Campus.According to Politico.com and other news agencies, candidate Adam Schiff who has out-fundraised the field of candidates still remains in a strong position after this debate, although it was candidate Katie Porter who was the standout lead. Candidate Barbara Lee interjected as many points as possible to reiterate her experience and empathy for the average California voter. The only Republican at the top with these three, experienced Democratic politicians, Steve Garvye, a former baseball start, struggled to give defined answers regarding policies. He was often slammed with baseball jargon regarding his lack of political experience and voting record for former president Donald Trump. Normally this would not be an issue if Garvey did not consider himself a conservative moderate which does not match the Repbulican MAGA sentiment.

The Senate has a membership of 40 Senators elected for 4-year terms, 20 to begin every 2 years. During his or her lifetime a person may serve no more than 12 years in the Senate, Assembly, or both, in any combination of terms. Since the passage of Prop 28 in 2012, legislators first elected on or after November 6, 2012, are limited to a maximum of 12 years.Prop 140, passed in 1990, affects any members elected prior to November 6, 2012, and limits them to a maximum of two four-year terms (eight years total). Voters in the 20 odd-numbered districts of the California State Senate will elect their representatives. There are 16 Democratic-held senate seats up for election in 2024, 3 Republican-held seats, and 1 open seat with no incumbent.Here is a review of the state senators terming out.

The Senate has a membership of 40 Senators elected for 4-year terms, 20 to begin every 2 years.During his or her lifetime a person may serve no more than 12 years in the Senate, Assembly, or both, in any combination of terms.Since the passage of Prop 28 in 2012, legislators first elected on or after November 6, 2012, are limited to a maximum of 12 years.Prop 140, passed in 1990, affects any members elected prior to November 6, 2012, and limits them to a maximum of two four-year terms (eight years total). Voters in the 20 odd-numbered districts of the California State Senate will elect their representatives. There are 16 Democratic-held senate seats up for election in 2024, 3 Republican-held seats, and 1 open seat with no incumbent.Here is a review of the first set of California state senate candidates.

The Senate has a membership of 40 Senators elected for 4-year terms, 20 to begin every 2 years.During his or her lifetime a person may serve no more than 12 years in the Senate, Assembly, or both, in any combination of terms.Since the passage of Prop 28 in 2012, legislators first elected on or after November 6, 2012, are limited to a maximum of 12 years.Prop 140, passed in 1990, affects any members elected prior to November 6, 2012, and limits them to a maximum of two four-year terms (eight years total). Voters in the 20 odd-numbered districts of the California State Senate will elect their representatives. There are 16 Democratic-held senate seats up for election in 2024, 3 Republican-held seats, and 1 open seat with no incumbent.Here is a review of the first set of California state senate candidates.

The Senate has a membership of 40 Senators elected for 4-year terms, 20 to begin every 2 years.During his or her lifetime a person may serve no more than 12 years in the Senate, Assembly, or both, in any combination of terms.Since the passage of Prop 28 in 2012, legislators first elected on or after November 6, 2012, are limited to a maximum of 12 years.Prop 140, passed in 1990, affects any members elected prior to November 6, 2012, and limits them to a maximum of two four-year terms (eight years total). Voters in the 20 odd-numbered districts of the California State Senate will elect their representatives. There are 16 Democratic-held senate seats up for election in 2024, 3 Republican-held seats, and 1 open seat with no incumbent.Here is a review of the first set of California state senate candidates.

The Senate has a membership of 40 Senators elected for 4-year terms, 20 to begin every 2 years.During his or her lifetime a person may serve no more than 12 years in the Senate, Assembly, or both, in any combination of terms.Since the passage of Prop 28 in 2012, legislators first elected on or after November 6, 2012, are limited to a maximum of 12 years.Prop 140, passed in 1990, affects any members elected prior to November 6, 2012, and limits them to a maximum of two four-year terms (eight years total). Voters in the 20 odd-numbered districts of the California State Senate will elect their representatives. There are 16 Democratic-held senate seats up for election in 2024, 3 Republican-held seats, and 1 open seat with no incumbent.Here is a review of the first set of California state senate candidates.

The Senate has a membership of 40 Senators elected for 4-year terms, 20 to begin every 2 years.During his or her lifetime a person may serve no more than 12 years in the Senate, Assembly, or both, in any combination of terms.Since the passage of Prop 28 in 2012, legislators first elected on or after November 6, 2012, are limited to a maximum of 12 years.Prop 140, passed in 1990, affects any members elected prior to November 6, 2012, and limits them to a maximum of two four-year terms (eight years total). Voters in the 20 odd-numbered districts of the California State Senate will elect their representatives. There are 16 Democratic-held senate seats up for election in 2024, 3 Republican-held seats, and 1 open seat with no incumbent.Here is a review of the first set of California state senate candidates.

In the second segment of this episode of, "California Politics Now," news anchor, Julia Dudley Najieb reviews the key races regarding the U.S. House of Rep.'s seats that could affect the control of the House to sway to the Democrats. Meanwhile, Republicans are also making a play for California U.S. House of Rep. seats up and situated in mostly Republican districts. California assisted in passing the control to Republicans in 2022; the speakership went from Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco to Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, until he was voted out in October of 2023.

At the start of this episode of "California Politics Now,: news anchor producer, Julia Dudley Najieb, reviews the latest election news concerning the upcoming Jan. 22 debate with the top four candidates in the U.S. Senate race to take the seat of the late-Senator Dianne Feinstein who passed away at the end of last year. As a result, voters will be be faced with two Senate races on their March primary ballots — one for the remainder of Feinstein's term ending Jan. 3, 2025, and the other for a full six-year term ending 2031. The same goes for November ballots, when the top two vote-getters in the primary will duke it out for the partial and full terms. The debate will give voters an idea of where candidates stand on key issues such as immigration, economics, expanded housing. In all, Californians will have the opportunity to cast four votes — two in the primary and two in the general election.

In part 2, of this episode of California Politics Now, Dudley Najieb reviews why the 20th congressional seat is vacant:Redistricting in 2022 returned the district to the San Joaquin Valley. The new 20th district includes parts of Kern, Tulare, Kings, and Fresno counties. It includes the southern Sierra Nevada and western Mojave Desert, with three "fingers" extending west into the valley. Cities in the district include Clovis, Tehachapi, Ridgecrest, Taft, Lemoore, the west and northeast sides of Bakersfield, the south side of Visalia, the northeast side of Tulare, the north side of Hanford, and a sliver of northeastern Fresno including California State University, Fresno. The new 20th district is the most Republican district in California, with a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+16.

In part 1 of this episode of "California Politics Now," news producer, Julia Ann Dudley Najieb went over how the U.S. House of Reps. work and reviewed the elected officials currently serving in those positions.

In this episode of California Politics Now, "Who are California's US Senate Candidates? Part 2," news show host, Julia Ann Dudley Najieb, continues with the issues regarding the contentious California U.S. senate seat that is said to be a battleground election in almost 32 years. Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee, Katie Porter and Adam B. Schiff are all running in the regular March 5 primary for a full six-year term.It is uncertain that two Democrats will finish 1-2 in March because Republican Steve Garvey, a former star baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, declared his candidacy and recent polling gives him a fair chance of finishing second behind Schiff.Steve Garvey (Republican Party) is running in a special election to the U.S. Senate to represent California. He is on the ballot in the special primary on March 5, 2024. Garvey is also running for election to the U.S. Senate to represent California. He is on the ballot in the primary on March 5, 2024.

In this episode of California Politics Now with Julia Ann Dudley Najieb, part one of: "Who are California's US Senate Candidates?" reviews the California U.S. senate seat in general: voters in California will elect one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on November 5, 2024. The primary is March 5, 2024. The filing deadline was December 8, 2023. The election will fill the Class I Senate seat held by Sen. Laphonza Butler (D). Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) appointed Butler after former Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) died on September 29, 2023. The 2024 election is only the second California Senate race without an incumbent since 1992, the other being the 2016 election following Barbara Boxer's retirement. no clear frontrunner, and thus considers the 2024 election the first truly open California Senate race in 32 years. She is openly lesbian, making her California's first openly LGBTQ Senator and the first openly LGBTQ black woman to serve in Congress.

In this segment of California Politics Now, news host, Julia Dudley Najieb defines what an Electoral College is and the process: The Electoral College -- It's a process, not a place ...The Electoral College is how we refer to the process by which the United States elects the President, even though that term does not appear in the U.S. Constitution. In this process, the States (which includes the District of Columbia just for this process) elect the President and Vice President. Choosing each State's electors is a two-part process.First, the political parties in each State choose slates of potential electors sometime before the general election. Second, during the general election, the voters in each State select their State's electors by casting their ballots.Finally, Dudley Najieb then reviews the top 20 2024 Presidential candidates and the campaign funds each one has raised thus far.

Take a look at the FREE Kwanzaa events happening throughout California for the 2023 year ...

All registered voters will be allowed to vote on nonpartisan contests and voter-nominated offices, such as U.S. congressional offices and state legislative offices, such as state senate, state assembly, municipal government, recalls, ballot measures, and local ballot measures. Here's clarity on the United States Senate race, formerly heald by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein and filled by Governor Newsom's appointment of Senator Laphonza Butler. Sen. Butler announced in October that she will not run in the 2024 elections for the seat she currently occupies until November 5, 2024. Consequently, in 2024, four elections will be held to fill the single senate seat; hence, the reason for four elections for this one seat.

For all active registered voters, a vote-by-mail ballot for the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election will be sent from each county's election office starting February 5, 2024. Ballot drop-off locations open on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. Vote centers open for early in-person voting in all Voter's Choice Act counties beginning on February 24, 2024. Voters can drop off or mail their vote-by-mail ballots as long as they are postmarked on or before Election Day (March 5) and received by March 12, 2024.It was in September of 2017 when Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation SB 568 that moved California's presidential primary elections to the beginning of March, three months ahead of when they were held in 2016.

County Registrar's office have sent postcards to registered voters letting them know their political party registration determines which presidential primary candidates will appear on their March 5, 2024 primary election ballot.Political parties decide who can vote for their presidential primary candidates. All registered voters fall under two categories ...

Check out the upcoming early fall events happening throughout California for the remainder of 2023Looking for some events to go to during the early fall months while the weather is tolerable in California? Then check out the events happening below throughout the state.

According to Our Bodies Our Selves Today, a collaboration of the Center for Women's Health and Human Rights at Suffolk University and the nonprofit organization, Our Bodies Ourselves, stated, "In the United States, we're living through a major demographic shift, in which 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 each day. By 2030, one-quarter of the U.S. population will be over 65, with similar shifts happening all over the world." The website reference continued to note that our society is not prepared for this aging of the population and the opportunities and challenges it will bring.In this edition of News Too Real, show host, Julia Dudley Najieb reviews the March 29, 2023, In an Older Adult Behavioral Health Central Valley Roundtable held in Fresno, Calif., Inclusion & Equity, Not Isolation Is a Priority Goal of California's Master Plan for Aging. The candid discussion was meant to be the first of many discussions throughout California. Community partners discussed, listened, and learned about the challenges around older adult behavioral health. Because the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating emotional impact on older adults and their families – compounded by historic racial injustice and health inequities, California leaders are now eager to hear directly from older adults and communities of color about their well-being. They are extremely concerned about data that suggests older adults (65+) are the least likely to report receiving mental health care (21 percent) compared to all other age groups.

Show host Julia Dudley Najieb closes out Herstory Month reviewing notable greats honored by the California legislature,followed by an overview report from a call with over 60 ethnic media and Gov. Gavin Newsom. Dudley Najieb will do a longer follow-up in longer show next week, News Too Real , Friday, April 7, 2023.

The federal government closed Signature Bank this past Sunday; regional banks have the most to lose right now if the panic runs continue--Black banks should be consideredIn this episode of News Too Real, show host & producer, Julia Dudley Najieb explores the in-depth reasons as to why banks fail; on the contrary, Black banks have had key discriminatory factors contributing to their losses and failures. Dudley Najieb reveals those historical challenges, as well as comforting news on 21 thriving, mostly FDIC insured, Black-owned banks nationwide.

Fresno parents and teachers were struggling to help their children and themselves deal with loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemicIn "Brewing Within" episode 5, ONME News, Julia Dudley Najieb talks to a parent who resides in Fresno County where her son was transitioning from eighth grade to the ninth grade -- in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. She found some workable solutions, as well as roadblocks that were challenging.Thereafter, Dudley Najieb talks with renowned teacher and coach Chris Finley, who felt pulled in different directions as a parent, teacher and coach. He describes the difficult experience he had to wade through, and the biggest upsets he felt could have been avoided if there was better communication.

Dr. Weber takes her oath of office to serve as California's first elected Black secretary of stateThis 2022 election marks several, notable, historical first among Black candidates now serving in very powerful positions in California's legislature as elected officials. ONME News first noted that former congresswoman, Karen Bass, became the second Black elected-mayor of Los Angeles but the first female to serve in the position; Los Angeles is the biggest city in California with over 3.9 million people. Such a seat will require political prowess due to the many woes that plaque the southern California city.Meanwhile, former chair of the California State Board of Equalization, Malia Cohen, sworn into office Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, became the first Black woman to serve as state controller; this involves disbursing state funds, auditing government agencies and serving on more than 70 boards and commissions. Cohen will be California's chief fiscal officer.Also at the state of California legislative level, Dr. Shirley Nash Weber, Ph.D., will serve as the first elected Black secretary of state. Sworn in Jan 10, 2023, Dr. Weber will serve as the 32nd Secretary of State of California.Dr. Weber, Ph.D. was nominated to serve as California Secretary of State by Governor Gavin Newsom on December 22, 2020 and sworn into office on January 29, 2021. She was California's first Black Secretary of State then to be nominated, and only the fifth African American to serve as a state constitutional officer in California's 170-year history.

In "Brewing Within" episode 4, it explains in three parts the challenges that administrators, parents and teachers went through during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.Central Valley coach, Todd Henderson, explains how the COVID-19 pandemic was an accidental beneficial experience for some of his athletes In episode 4 part 3, ONME News, Dudley Najieb talks with Central Valley coach and teacher, Todd Henderson, who reveals a different perspective of some of the positive outcomes for his athletes that happened during the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. He acknowledges the struggles he had as a teacher during that time, but he expresses his level of optimism for student athletes who got an extra year of playing time or field time; however, this situation was no so good for his seniors, who missed this opportunity when the state of California shutdown in 2020.

In "Brewing Within" episode 4, it explains in three parts the challenges that administrators, parents and teachers went through during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.In episode 4 part 2, ONME News, Dudley Najieb talks with Central Valley parent, Kimberly Belmontez-McKinney who expresses the challenges she went through during the COVID-19 pandemic while trying to manage eight children in her household. The children ranged from elementary school to high school; she witnessed the social behavioral changes from the beginning of the pandemic to the aftermath, which she is managing to this day.

In "Brewing Within" epsiode 3, ONME News, Julia Dudley Najieb has a candid interview with Washington Union High School administrator, Dennis Randle, M.Ed, who is the learning director, about the actual COVID-19 experience from the school's perspective. He addresses the unforseen issues students, teachers and staff were up against before, during and after the pandemic.

In the almost 40-minute episode 2 of the "Brewing Within" series (funded by NABJ Black Press Grant) ONME News publisher, Julia Dudley Najieb, narrates and navigates through the student vaccine mandate that was happening/did happen/or is still happening? Of course this issue continues to be a debate to this date, but Dudley Najieb navigates through the legalize and political stances.Thereafter, Dudley Najieb features key expert, Dr. Naomi Bardach, who was part of a team that was behind the scene of the impact of COVID-19 on California schools, and how to reopen as soon as possible. Dr. Bardach also talks about her personal experience with her son who suffered depression and anxiety during the shutdown in California. These video excerpts come from UCTV 70-min. program, “Is There an Off-Ramp for That? K-12 Schools and COVID-19”, where Dr. Bardach discussed the impact the pandemic had on children, educators and families and the measures schools employed to keep students and teachers safe while continuing to educate children. She explained what the research found and best practices for moving forward. In the next chapter, Dudley Najieb explores the pre-post stats of students of color suffering depression, anxiety and other traumatic mental health issues: The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention surveyed more than 7,000 high school students before the pandemic and found that 55.1% suffered emotional abuse, 44.2% reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, 9% attempted suicide. Medical experts from an Ethnic Media Services briefing reveal and explain the data and real-life experience concerning the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health of children, parents and the like. Each of them expand on the data concerning ethnic students, and the daily discrimination these students were going through prior to the pandemic.

In the post-pandemic era, where people are learning to live with the different COVID-19 variants, and surges still persist in California this winter season, the aftermath of the coronavirus has proven to be more deadly economically for business, people of color, and especially California's struggling, public school system. ONME News tells this story in a five-part docuseries called, "Brewing Within."The "Brewing Within" series is funded by the National Association of Black Journalist - NABJ Black Press Grant; ONME News was chosen as one of the grantees to reveal the K-12 experience in the state of California in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The series reveals the struggles that teachers, administrators and parents went through trying to navigate through the school system during and after the state of California shut down. It also reveals the damage done to students, especially students of color and/or impoverished students, although the state fully reopened June 15, 2021.The almost nine-minute episode 1 of "Brewing Within" tells the dramatic story of the state of California as it enters the pandemic, as well as the aftermath. From fear, to lack of information to misinformation, approximately 39 million residents did not know they were about to impacted by a novel virus in one way or another.Narrated by ONME News publisher, Julia Dudley Najieb, this initial episode brings the audience into the story of what was happening with California schools, K-12 as the pandemic ravaged the state of California.

FRESNO, Calif. — Covered California brought its “10 Years Strong” campaign to Fresno last week, celebrating a decade of providing quality health insurance plans to people across the state. Over the past 10 years, Covered California has enabled millions of Californians to access health insurance and helped reduce the state's uninsured rate to a historic low.

Karen Ruth Bass has just made history as the first woman and second black mayor of Los Angeles to former mayor,Tom Bradley, who was the first.

California's secretary of state, Dr. Shirley Weber, explains in detail why the California elections are safe In this last election episode of News Too Real, show host, Julia Dudley Najieb discusses the misleading headlines regarding the 105,000+ ballots challenged this past June primary election in California. Voters can easily be misled by a narrative in a headline that can be lacking other pertinent information. California's secretary of state, Dr. Shirley N. Weber, explains in detail why the 105,000+ votes not counted in June are not by the mistake of the voter registrar's office; voters have to pay closer attention to signatures on the outside envelopes, and dates of when the ballot is dropped in a US postal mailbox.

Find out the difference between propositions 26 and 72In this episode of News Too Real, show host, Julia Dudley Najieb reviews in details the seven (7) California propositions on the ballot this 2022 midterm election.

This month's strike was just one of many: healthcare workers from the Sunnyside Convalescent Hospital (SCH) in Fresno, CA, have been striking since September concerning the medical minimum wage disparities, the wage scale seniority discrepancies and the lack of quality care for the nursing home patients at the facility. In fact, the 99-bed facility stayed open throughout the strike. ONME News found that some SCH nursing home workers who were paid out from the facility, attempted to pay their bills, only to find out that the checks bounced. SEIU 2015 made several attempts to reach the SCH management to address these concerns; however, management has ignored their requests over the past nine months, according to Maria Xiquin, SEIU 2015's regional director for the Central Valley and Central Coast. Sunnyside's owner, Mario Marasigan has made empty promises to change the conditions of the facility and to pay the workers legal checks, canceling the bargaining agreement meetings or making excuses to cancel. As a result, Sunnyside workers struck Oct. 6, complaining of unsafe working conditions, pay at less than minimum wage and bounced paychecks. SCH employees and SEIU 2015 supporters fasted in protest at Fresno's Courthouse Park on Oct 18. ONME News spoke to some of the SCH employees, and here is a summary of their concerns ...

In this News Too Real special feature on the fentanyl crisis in California, show host, Julia Dudley Najieb, reviews how law enforcement is stepping up to tackle the crisis, full force. Attorney General Rob Bonta has seized almost 1,000 pounds of fentanyl powder since April 2021. Dudley Najieb reviews the horrific stats of the formidable increase of fentanyl-related deaths throughout California, and the many seizures at the boarder of Mexico and California and Texas and Mexico. Next Dudley Najieb reviews the Fresno county District Attorney's Office press conference, lead by DA Lisa Smittcamp; Fresno County is pressing charges for its first fentanyl-related murder case against two defendants facing a combined 33 years in prison.

Episode NotesBarn on the farm of R. Murray Schafer and Eleanor James, Indian River, Ontario, January 19, 2022 (photo by me)Note: the text below is a transcription of the narration in the episode (sounds are described, with their source where possible)Welcome to episode 99 of the conscient podcast, the last episode of season 3, which you might recall was on the theme of radical listening. (fade in of sound of barn)I invite you to guess what is this space. There are some sonic clues. It's clearly an indoor space and yet there is a hollowing wind with a deep, rich texture... You can hear the gentle crackling of wood… the occasional slap of a rope… a squirrel. (fade out sound of barn)This soundscape was recorded on January 19th, 2022, in a barn, on a farm that belonged to composer R. Murray Schafer and is now the home of his wife, the singer Eleanor James. The farm is located near Indian River, Ontario, about 20k east of Peterborough which is the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe Mississauga people adjacent to Haudenosaunee Territory and in the territory covered by the Williams Treaty. I went to the farm to record winter soundscapes for this episode, Winter Diary Revisited, which is a soundscape composition dedicated to the memory of composer, writer, music educator, and environmentalist, R. Murray Schafer.1st floor of barn of R. Murray Schafer and Elanor James, near Indian River, ON, January 19, 2022Eleanor James, January 19, 2022, Indian River, Ontario (photo by me)While visiting the farm, I had a conversation with Eleanor James about Murray and his relationship to winter. Here is an excerpt:Claude: I'm with Eleanor James and I just spent some time in your barn. Thank you so much. I recorded a bunch of sounds, and I went into the forest and captured sounds of wind and some of the things that Murray and I did when we did the Winter Diary, which is to do this kind of yelling out, to enliven the space and get a feeling of it. (sound of snowshoeing and distant 'Hey' at the farm on January 19, 2022)Claude: There are so many things that you could talk about Murray. Any thoughts about soundscapes but also around recording and winter sounds? Eleanor: There's a couple of things come to mind, which are in his creative output and one of them is Music in the Cold. It's a lovely little manifesto done in an artistic style about how it's better to be in the North than in the South and that music in the cold is tougher and hardier and more austere and (laughs) so he goes into a diatribe about that kind of thing. He really is a Northern personality. So, you have to forgive him for going on a rant about it, but, of course, it was an artistic creation, so it was intended to be hyperbolic. I think it's quite delightful. It's got a midnight blue cover and then the title Music in the Cold.Speaking of which, he has written a wonderful string quartet called Winter Birds which the Molinari quartet of Montreal have recorded, in which his own voice occurs in the very last movement where he describes the winter of 2005 looking out his studio window at the birds feeding. We used to fill the feeders with seeds, and we'd have all kinds of little birds coming and fluttering and going and making little soft sounds. In the string quartet, he describes a whole event of birds, just fluttering and coming and going and the total silence surrounding them, not only acoustically, but visually as well. Nothing but the snow, just like it is today, with snow heaped everywhere and just these little birds making tiny fluttering sounds with their wings.There's also the piece that he wrote for choir called Snowforms which is actually quite popular, and he wrote it as a graphic score and it's written on a sort of pale turquoise green paper, and the choir reads the shapes of snow and again, those shapes were something that he observed looking out his studio window and drew graphically and then composed it so that pitches were associated with these tones. It's just a marvelous description of winter and so for Murray, all of the soundscape work that he was so interested in fed into his artistic abilities and his artistic gifts as a composer.Note: See String Quartet no. 10 - Winter Birds (extrait) / R. Murray Schafer for an excerpt of Winter Birds performed by the Molinari Quartet. See Snowforms for a performance of Snowforms by the Vancouver Chamber Choir.I re-read Murray's Music in the Cold book when I got back home to Ottawa, which he wrote in 1977, when I was 17. It's interesting to look back at this piece of artistic reflection and provocation. Here are the last 11 lines of the book: Saplings are beginning to sprout again in the moist earth.Beneath it animals can be heard digging their burrows.Soon the thrush will return.The old technology of waste is gone.What then remains?The old virtues: harmony; the universal soul; hard work.I will live supersensitized, the antennae of a new race.I will create a new mythology.It will take time.It will take time.There will be time. (fade in recording of Eclogue for an Alpine Meadow)I remember back in August of 1985, the late composer Robert Rosen, Murray and I produced a series of ecological radio programs to be performed at Spry Lake, near Canmore, Alberta. Murray was in Banff to present his music theatre piece Princess of the Stars. We each wrote a piece of music for this space.  Mine was for bass clarinet and trombone called ‘Eclogue for an Alpine Meadow' . You can hear me on bass clarinet. Murray was a mentor to Robert and myself on this project, sharing his vast experience in writing music for and with a natural environment. Note: You can hear the entire piece on the Whom Am I page of the conscient podcast website. Robert Rosen, R. Murray Schafer and me in Banff in 1985 during ecological radio programs project (photo credit unknown)Excerpt of first page of my ‘Eclogue for an Alpine Meadow' for bass clarinet and tromboneMe and trombonist (name not known) at Spray Lake, Alberta, recording ‘Eclogue for an Alpine Meadow' for bass clarinet and trombone (photo credit unknown)Murray's music, and in particular his research in acoustic ecology, have had a deep influence on many composers, educators, researchers and sound artists around the world, including myself. Among other things, Murray taught me how to listen deeply, both with my ears and with a microphone.Me, Kozo Hiramatsu and R. Murray Schafer at Hör Upp! Stockholm acoustic ecology conference, Stockholm, Sweden 1998 (photo credit unknown)I remember having long conversations with Murray about listening, radio, acoustic ecology, field recording, technology, including how it make a living as a composer. Here is a short excerpt from a conversation I had with him in July of 1990 in a restaurant in Peterborough. I apologise for the poor quality of the recording, but I think you'll enjoy listening to Murray speak about the art of listening:You probe by asking further questions. Was it inside? Was it outside? Are there a lot of people assembled there? Is there nobody there? Is this in Canada? Is it outside of Canada? Is it in Europe? You heard a train. Is it Canadian train whistle or a European train whistle? You heard a language. What language was it you heard? Any of these cues that you might have heard that would help you identify where you were and then tell them afterwards where the actual recording was made but force them to really use their ears. Did you hear any birds? Did you hear any of this, did you hear any sounds that would help you to localize? I'm just saying that that's one sort of type of exercise, which I think someday somebody should put together a package, an educational package.I just feel that one has to constantly go back to nature and listen again, look again, learn again. It's as simple as that. Anytime you get too far in touch with it, you're probably going to be in trouble. If you don't know how to come, go back and look at a butterfly, because you're so spell bound by strobe lights or something, I think you're in trouble, which is not to say that you can't go back and look at it and reanalyze it. It will change things and then you go back to your old environment and see things differently. In nature, what you're so conscious of is a cycle of life and death, and rather the interchange, that almost sine wave of life and death, but also of silence and activity and that there are certain times when certain creatures are far and certain other times when they speak and that you take in the natural soundscape. Sometimes it's hard to find those rhythms in a modern urban soundscape where everybody sounds so aggressively trying to catch the attention of everyone else.Claude: they lose touch with the balance of their lives.Murray passed away on August 14, 2021, at age 88 in his farmhouse.Home of R. Murray Schafer and Eleanor James, Indian River, Ontario, January 19, 2022Studio of R. Murray Schafer, Indian River, Ontario, January 19, 2022Shortly after his passing, I was honoured to be asked to write a remembrance piece about my personal experience with Murray. This request came from Eric Leonardson, president of the World Forum for Acoustic Ecology (WFAE) an organization that Murray helped found in 1993 at the Banff Centre and that continues its good work to this day. Kirk MacKenzie and Robin Elliott of the University of Toronto also approached me to write a remembrance piece about Murray for a series of memorials they are producing about Murray and his legacy. I decided to produce a soundscape composition instead of writing an article for this remembrance piece. Here's the story.In 1996, Murray received a commission from the Akustische Kunst department of the West German Radio, the WDR, in Germany, produced by Klaus Schöning, to record a radio program about the winter soundscapes of rural Manitoba called Winter Diary. Murray had produced many radio pieces before for the CBC and the WDR, but he needed a hand with this rather large-scale production, so he hired me as a recordist, editor and mixer, but also as a driver and scout. I was 37 at the time and was about to be married to filmmaker Sabrina Mathews and start a family in Montreal, which we did.  However back then I still had the time and energy to do a 10-day road trip and to spend weeks afterwards editing it together with Murray. We certainly had a lot of fun together on that trip(sequence of Claude and Murray laughing during the recording of ‘Winter Diary' in 1997)Me in my home studio in Montreal in the 1990's (photo credit unknown)Letter from R. Murray Schafer to me, September 27, 1998Winter Diary ended up winning the Karl-Sczuka-Prize for radio art in 1998. I was deeply moved by the jury's statement, which I think captures the spirit of Murray's composition and the essence of our collaboration in its production:It is with great autonomy and imperturbability that Schafer draws the sound spectrum of a Canadian winter into his acoustic image. From the calm sequence of concise sound events an acoustic landscape emerges, almost spatial in its presence. To the point of noiselessness, of silence, everything audible is there concretely and non-arbitrarily. It is a work which ushers its listeners to a place of unhurried, patient listening, insists upon the wealth of nuances in acoustic perception, and takes a stand against sound refuse and staged hyperactivity.Scan of the first paragraph of Schafer's Winter Diary (not Dairy :-)) essay, February 15, 1997Winter-Diary-Essay-by-R.-Murray-SchaferDownloadWhile I was doing research for this piece, I found the first draft of an unpublished, 13-page essay in my archives that Murray wrote, at his farm, on February 15th, 1997, about the creation of Winter Diary. I was so excited. It's a brilliant piece of writing about our adventures in Manitoba, but the essay also includes reflections on a number of other issues: listening, art history, philosophy, his dreams, literature, and use the microphone. I decided to create a composition around his essay. A sonic illustration and interpretation of his words. But first let me tell a bit of a story about microphones. Murray had a love – hate relationship with the microphone. Here is another excerpt from that July 1990 restaurant conversation where he talks a bit more about distant listening, which is a key element of his aesthetic:If the microphone replaces your ear, there's something wrong. And as you see in a lot of our listening that the microphone has replaced the ear. The mere fact that for instance, we demand presence on all recorded sounds and they're all close mic-ed, is a recognition of the fact that the microphone, which is an instrument for getting closeups, is respected more than our own sort of hearing experience. The fact that we can no longer listen to the distance. Now, if you're going to get involved, really, with ecology in the environment, you have to rediscover how to listen to the distance, because an awful lot of the sounds you're talking about are distant.Claude (in the field from afar, recorded at Adawe Crossing, Ottawa): Now, if you're going to get involved, really, with ecology in the environment, you have to rediscover how to listen to the distance, because an awful lot of the sounds you're talking about are distant.I think you understand what I mean. Adawe Crossing, Rideau River, Ottawa where I recorded the 'distant' passage above, January 2022With the kind permission of Eleanor James, I used excerpts from Murray's essay as the narrative for the soundscape composition that you are about to hear. I did not use any of the field recordings from our original trip in 1997, outside of those few moments of laughter. Instead, I decided to record all new material during the winter of 2022, some 25 years later, not in Manitoba, but rather around where I live in Ontario and Québec, hence the idea of revisiting Winter Diary. However, I did use some field recordings from my archives, as well as a few excerpts from some of my previous soundscape compositions. All of those are noted in the episode script. Most of the soundscapes that you're about to hear are natural but a few have been transformed using tools like GRM Tools and ‘spatialisers'. I was interested in exploring that liminal space between reality and fantasy. While recording these winter soundscapes, and it's been a cold winter so far as you'll hear, I kept thinking about what the Karl Szuckaprize jury said about Murray's interest in the ‘noiselessness of silence'. I also thought about the idea of ushering the listener ‘to a place of unhurried, patient listening'.I tried to explore the idea of patient, unhurried listening in this piece as well as the notion of radical listening.Me on January 17, 2022 recording winter soundscapes in Ottawa (photo by Sabrina Mathews)Before we start, I want to let you know that some recordings are very quiet, at the threshold of what you might be able to hear on speakers or headphones so don't worry if you hear long silences or can't make out some of the detail, especially if you are in a car or in a noisier environment. You can listen to the Winter Diary Revisited again, in high resolution.I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to honour the memory of R. Murray Schafer and hope you enjoy this sonic illustration from his Winter Diary essay.ScriptNote: This script is drawn from R. Murray Schafer's Winter Diary Essay, first draft, February 15, 1997 (sounds are described with their source where possible)(door slapping and footsteps approaching the gate and mailbox at Murray's farm in Indian River)1. gatesGate at Murray and Eleanor's property near Indian River, January 19, 2022 (photo by me)Claude Schryer came by today to plan the Winter Diary radio program for the West German Radio. After dinner we walked the quarter mile out to the road. (walking towards the gate)There was a powdering of light snow, making the landscape bright under the stars. I opened and closed the gate while Claude recorded it; then I went to the tin mailbox and flapped the lid – both are sounds characteristic of rural life in Canada. (mailbox lid and gate)The flapping got the neighbour's dog barking. Then, more distantly other dogs began to bark. Dogs were the original alarm systems in the countryside and remain so despite electronic technology. Could be a thief or a wolf out there. The message is telegraphed from farm to farm and behind every dark doorway a farmer cocks his gun. The dogs grew silent again as we trudged back. (crossfade entry of house towards fire)Entering the warm house with a fire burning brightly in the grate, I suddenly realized that we had already discovered a valuable leitmotif for our program: the contrast between warm, populated rooms(crossfade with quiet cedar forest) and the vast, cold spaces that surround them during the Canadian winter.(wind from Murray's farm, slow fade to silence)Screen door at my cottage, Duhamel, Québec, December 2021 (photo by me)2. doorsThere is a painting by Cornelius Krieghoff (1815-1872) entitled "Merrymaking" that illustrates this drama between interior and exterior. (my wife Sabrina, son Riel and daughter Clara exiting our home and walking into our yard)A party at the Jolifu Inn is breaking up and the revellers are spilling out to depart into the cold, snowy dawn. The drama of the scene is depicted in Brueghel style, but the contrast between hot interior and cold exterior is distinctly Canadian. The same theme recurs in our best novelists, for instance in Frederick Philip Grove's, "Over Prairie Trails" (1922) or in Sinclair Ross's, "As for Me and My House" (1941). The contrast between interior and exterior creates the drama between society and selfhood. Marshall McLuhan summed it up epigrammatically when he said that Canadians go out to be alone and come in to be with company while elsewhere people go out to be with company and come home to be alone. Woman skater (family friend): If you're really lucky to be at a cottage in the winter in the morning and they're almost no sounds and you'll hear a branch cracking or something…(Quiet forest with cracking of frozen trees)The hinge is the door. One sound characteristic of the Canadian countryside is the slap of a screen door. (Various door slappings from Murray's farm and our cottage)I've known it since my childhood. Of course, it is intended to keep the insects out of the house in summer but out of laziness the screen door is often left on during winter too - as mine is. The door has a coil spring attached to it so that it will slap shut quickly. Usually there is another contraption on the side with a hairpin spring to snap it firm. If it isn't oiled, it squeaks. So, the entire sound event is actually quite complex, consisting first of a swish as the door opens, then a swoosh as it closes followed by a residual snap as the second spring is released to hold it shut. (More door sounds)The subject of doors could occupy a doctoral thesis or two. Every continent and climate has its own vocabulary and rhetoric of doors as different as the languages of the people who open and close them.(More door sounds)3. trainsPassing train from simplesoundscapes e73, March 20, 2018, Montréal (photo by me)(processed L14 train whistle with GRM Evolution Tool and Dear VR Pro spatializer)Every Canadian knows the three-toned Canadian train whistle - without knowing it. Tuned to an E-flat minor triad with a fundamental at 311 Hertz, it's the most authoritative sound mark of the country, curiously analogous to the Yellow Bell or Huang Chung, which established the tuning for all music in the golden days of ancient China.(Meditation bell)The legend goes that when the tuning of the Yellow Bell was abandoned the empire would fall into ruin.(Overpass from simplesoundscapes e167 above + train passing with gate processing)Something like that is happening here, for today more and more train whistles are out of tune, and with the building of overpasses and tunnels urban dwellers rarely ever hear them. (more processed L14 train whistle)Canadian railroads all run east-west. As the authority of the railroad vanishes the east-west axis gives way to a south-north bias, i.e., American invasion. … Eventually in the far distance we hear the L14 whistle (the signal for a level crossing, long, long, short, long,) which incidentally is also the rhythm of the opening phrase of the Canadian national anthem.(noon siren excerpt from my 1996 composition Vancouver Soundscape Revisited)4. hooves'Cricket', Mono, Ontario during recording of ‘hooves' scene. (photo by me)(wind from Murray's farm) It is warmer today then yesterday and a heavy fog lies over the snow so that the acoustic horizon surpasses the visual. Frederick Philip Grove talks about getting lost in the fog in Over Prairie Trails. Then he had to rely on the instinct of his horses.(sound of horse hooves from Cricket in Mono, Ontario)Note: below is a quote from Frederick Philip Grove'sOver Prairie Trails, Toronto, 1991, p.47.‘I had become all ear. Even though my buggy was silent and though the road was coated with a thin film of soft clay-mud. I could distinctly hear by the muffled thud of the horses' hooves on the ground that they were running over a grade.' (Grade and farm sounds and return of hoove sounds)‘That confirmed my bearings… So now I was close to the three-farm cluster. I listened intently again for the horses' thump. Yes, there was that muffled hoof-beat again – I was on the last grade that led to the angling road across the corner of the marsh.‘ 5. microphonesZoom H4N Pro recording wind sounds at R. Murray Schafer farm, January 19, 2022(wind from Murray's field)What would the Prairies be without wind? (Wind from Murray's barn mixed with forest sounds in South River, Ontario)It's the keynote sound here, the one against which everything else is registered. But to record it? Impossible. The microphone hasn't yet been invented to effectively record nature's most elementary sounds: wind, rain, fire.(thunder and rain sound from simplesoundscapes e105 thunder, fire from fireplace at our cottage)The mistake in recording the environment is in trying to pull a huge spread of events, far and near in all directions, into a single focus. The soundscape isn't stereophonic, its spherical. The stereophonic preoccupation in recording results from stereoscopy rather than any real understanding of the listening experience, in which one is always at the centre. (microphone panning ventilation system)One would like the microphone to observe the same respect for figure-ground that our ears do, elevating those sounds we wish to receive and suppressing those we don't.  But of course, the microphone is not an ear, and everything is registered according to its amplitude only. Could we imagine a future microphone with a discrimination circuit to allow us to reproduce the wished-for soundscape rather than the real one? Or is that merely another form of pathetic fallacy that only the romantic recordist could hope for? Claude (from snow pellets on dried leaves in Misikew provincial park): and here's an example of a sound that is so delicate that the microphone picks it up better than the human ear. The value of the microphone is that it presents simply what is there. The tape recorder puts a frame around it, often astonishing us with the sound events our real ears have missed. 6. footstepsFootstep tracks at Warbler's Roost, South River, ON, February, 2022Claude confesses his excitement for recording. He is almost like a fighter pilot seeking out the enemy, the elusive sound object, slating his various dives at the material we've targeted for a take, hoping the desired event will occur on cue, wondering whether to stalk it silently or prompt it - or forget it and seek another campaign. "So many things can go wrong," he says excitedly. Ruefully I agree.Note: I recorded my voice saying "So many things can go wrong,"Claude (xcountry ski sequence, December 2021): When Murray and I recorded Winter Diary in 1997, we record a lot of different winter sounds but not cross-country skiing. It is a typical sound of winter in Canada and a very rich one. You can hear me skiing now, as well as people skiing beside me. Skiing sounds have number of different elements: there's the push and pull of the ski, the poles that hit into the snow and of course the breath of the skier. Sometimes you can hear the wind in the trees, snowmobiles a distance, dogs...People who live by the sea know how the colour of the water changes constantly, but one has to live with a long winter to know the perpetual changes in the sound (as well as the colour) of snow. (various foot and snow sounds)Even the lapse of an hour can alter it profoundly, and the experienced listener can pinpoint the temperature by the sound of his footsteps in it. On the cold nights it screeches. Sometimes a crust will build up to produce a crunchy quality. Or even several crusts, separated by layers of powdery snow, giving variations of dissonance with each step. (Steps on crusty snow)7. carsLumber truck passing on Eagle Road, South River, ONWe always take the most ordinary sounds for granted. Assuming cars to be universal, we forget that they sound different in different environments. (bus stuck on a hill and cars passing in Ottawa)On a country highway we recorded the approach and departure of individual cars and trucks, sometimes lasting three minutes without any other sound. (Passing truck near South River, On)Where else on earth could you do that?8. callingForest where I recorded ‘calling sounds', January 2022, Gatineau Park, QuébecClaude (Gatineau Park, Québec) : When R. Murray Schafer and I did Winter Diary, one of the sequences was called calling where we were in the forest and listening for the reverberation in a winter space and in that case, it was a forest and here I am on January 11th, 2022, in Gatineau Park. I'm going try a similar experience where I'm going to walk in a circle away from the microphone and see what that sounds like and once in a while, I'll cry out like we did back then: Hey, and you can hear the reverberation and the movement, and it's a way to experience a winter soundscape by interacting with it. So here we go.(Hey sequence in forest in Gatineau QC, January 2022)Excursion into Park. Total isolation. We realized that the only way we could give an impression of soundscape here was by making sounds ourselves, so we set up the microphone in the snow and walked away from it, calling in different directions. How far is it across the valley? What is the difference between a bare deciduous forest and a leafy evergreen one? Your voice will tell you. 9. cracksForest where I recorded ‘calling sounds', January 2022, Gatineau Park, Québec(rumble of car on winter road, stop and get out of vehicle, then silence)I came out alone in the car after Claude had gone to sleep. Never had I heard the world so silent. Is it near or far, this black landscape? (forest cracks at Murray farm)My own slightest movement makes it seem near. The frosted crack of a distant tree makes it vast. My breathing brings it close again.  Justin Winkler pointed out that the soundscape is essentially a static term, but here it seems dynamic, increasing to an infinite volume, then shrinking right inside me as my stomach growls. (simplesoundscapes e01, rumble and Guérison from Au dernier vivant les biens (1998))I turn the ignition key and am startled and relieved at the same time. My escape.10. heaterGas fireplace at our home in Ottawa, January 2022(gas fireplace starting + song based on texture of fireplace ‘pings')Strange phenomenon this morning on waking. In my dream I had been singing a solo song at some kind of gathering. I finished and everyone applauded enthusiastically.(Sound of small crowd clapping and saying nice song Murray)I awoke to hear the propane heater come on. So, the conclusion of my song and heater were synchronized but I stress that I had sung a rather lengthy song to its conclusion before the applause of the heater. I even remembered the song and sang it over again to myself while lying in bed.(Gas heater and song)Had I anticipated the end of it and paced the singing to a sound that I could somehow fore-hear? Or had the whole event occurred in the fraction of a second as the heater came on? 11. iceChunk of ice at my home in Ottawa, January 23, 2022Spotting some children knocking down some icicles in Sainte Rose du Lac, we rushed over to record them but frightened them away. (gated kicking ice blocks and skating sounds)So, we knocked the icicles down ourselves and then kicked them along the street. (more gated kicking ice blocks and skating sounds)Each chunk had a different pitch and pieces when they broke into pieces the pitch rose. I was glad to have this other form of frozen water to add to our repertoire.12. jetLocation at Murray's farm where I recorded a passing jet, January 19, 2022The sun was setting. It was totally quiet. (begin sound of jet passing)Eventually the whisper of a jet aircraft became audible. It crossed the sky distantly, its passage lasting eight minutes without any other sound interrupting it. A perfect sound event in an anesthetized environment. (end sound of jet passing and fade to gentle forest sound)Claude: I would like to conclude Winter Diary Revisited with an excerpt from Murray's 1977 book Music in the cold. Here are the last 11 lines:Saplings are beginning to sprout again in the moist earth.Beneath it animals can be heard digging their burrows.Soon the thrush will return.The old technology of waste is gone.What then remains?The old virtues: harmony; the universal soul; hard work.I will live supersensitized, the antennae of a new race.I will create a new mythology.It will take time.It will take time.There will be time. *Credits(except from the end of my composition Eclogue for an Alpine Meadow in background)I have many people to thank. Murray's essay is narrated by my father-in-law, the poet, political activist and educator Robin Mathews.  In passing I invite you to listen to an episode about his work e88 robin mathews – on radical listening & political poetry. Poet Robin Mathews and me recording narration of Winter Diary Essay, November 2021, Vancouver (photo by Sabrina Mathews)I would like to thank Robin for his skillful narration, composer Christian Calon for his technical advice and moral support, artistic director Darren Copeland and Executive Director Nadene Thériault-Copeland of New Adventures in Sound Art (NAISA) for their encouragements and for hosting me as artist in residence from February 1 to February 6, 2022, at their facility in South River, Ontario. Thanks also to Eleanor James for permission to use Murray's essay, for the photos of the farm and for our conversation and finally my wife Sabrina Mathews for her feedback, patience and support.Logo of NAISADeep Wireless festival logoMy bedroom and editing studioEagle Road, where I recorded a passing truck, South River, ONDarren Copeland setting up the Ambisonic microphone for meMe recording forest sounds, February 2, 2022, Mikisew Provincial Park, ONMe, Victoria Fenner and James  Bailey during Q&A on February 6, 2022 at NAISA NorthWinter Diary Revisited was premiered at the Deep Wireless Festival of Radio and Transmission Art on Saturday, February 5, 2022, at 7pm. La version française de cet épisode, Journal d'hiver revisité sera retrouve dans l'épisode 100 du balado conscient.  *END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODESHere is a link for more information on season 5. Please note that, in parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and it's francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I publish a Substack newsletter called ‘a calm presence' which are 'short, practical essays for those frightened by the ecological crisis'. To subscribe (free of charge) see https://acalmpresence.substack.com. You'll also find a podcast version of each a calm presence posting on Substack or one your favorite podcast player.Also. please note that a complete transcript of conscient podcast and balado conscient episodes from season 1 to 4 is available on the web version of this site (not available on podcast apps) here: https://conscient-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes.Your feedback is always welcome at claude@conscient.ca and/or on conscient podcast social media: Facebook, X, Instagram or Linkedin. I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. Claude SchryerLatest update on April 2, 2024

Tonight we have 2 SPECIAL GUESTS Yeah we got together with an additional Mexican and an African American brother of ours, we got dirty, nasty, rude and all theee above. Listen closely, dudes only #FuckSubway