Ni5: Perspectives

This is where we offer some of our thoughts and perspectives to you. We won't promise they're better than anyone else's. Or even right. But we'll at least provide interesting ways of looking at things.

Combined with the information we provide in the other parts of this site, we hope to encourage interesting and meaningful conversations about things that affect you.

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It's still all about information

Date: 2025-Jan-20 Author: Barry Shatzman

20 years ago, the very last thing i wrote as editor in chief of the Ohlone College Monitor was about the need to free Leonard Peltier from prison.

Click image to read the article

Today, one of the very last things Joe Biden did as president... with minutes left in his presidency... was to commute Peltier's sentence and allow him to spend the rest of his days at home.

Which leads me to this...

I can't tell you if Leonard considers this a culmination for him or a new beginning. What i can tell you is that, as we prepare to re-inaugurate News in Five, it's a reinvigoration of this 20-year-old journey.

It's a journey that's more vital than ever before. When i wrote that column. i wrote about why it's important to be informed. I blamed the "media" for not informing you. Today it's the people on the top of the hill who blame the media - not for refusing to report the news - but for actually reporting it.

That leaves you not knowing who to trust. The New York Times? Fox News? Agencies in the Biden administration? Agencies in the Trump administration? It's easy to say you don't trust anyone, but then what? You just stay intentionally ignorant? Congrats to the people on the top of the hill. They know they win if you give up.

Funny thing is... my advice to you is virtually the same as theirs... to not automatically trust what you hear and read. The difference is the solution. Rather than toss everything away... read even more! If you gather enough information, you'll start to see what the real picture is.

That take up too much time? I hear ya. That's why i'm back to writing on News in Five.

Shouldn't trust us either? Good! You're learning! I'm not telling you to. I'm just telling you we're a good starting point... to understand the gist of an issue in about 5 minutes a day. Then go to the places we suggest. Or anywhere else your search engine sends you.

But whatever you do, just do. If you won't listen to me, then listen to Joe Biden...

"We must hold on to hope. We must stay engaged. We must always keep the faith in the better day to come"

So thanks for coming along on this journey...
barry