"The vast majority of COVID-19 anti-vaccine misinformation and conspiracy theories originated from just 12 people, a report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) cited by the White House this week found.CCDH, a UK/US non-profit and non-governmental organization, found in March that these 12 online personalities they dubbed the “disinformation dozen” have a combined following of 59 million people across multiple social media platforms, with Facebook having the largest impact. CCDH analyzed 812,000 Facebook posts and tweets and found 65% came from the disinformation dozen. Vivek Murthy, US surgeon general, and Joe Biden focused on misinformation around vaccines this week as a driving force of the virus spreading.On Facebook alone, the dozen are responsible for 73% of all anti-vaccine content, though the vaccines have been deemed safe and effective by the US government and its regulatory agencies. And 95% of the COVID misinformation reported on these platforms were not removed."
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Sunday, July 18, 2021
The Guardian: "the dozen are responsible for 73% of all anti-vaccine content"
Wednesday, June 9, 2021
@NewsLitProject - 8 tips to Google like a Pro
"One of the most important ⭐️ skills to teach students... How to find information online.
Check out our NEW infographic from @NewsLitProject
in collab w/ @CindyOtis_ ⬇️
✅ 8 tips to Google like a Pro! #engchat #sschat #TLchat"
Image link = https://t.co/Zgrkx1nWkZ
@NewsLitProject - 8 tips to Google like a Pro |
Friday, March 26, 2021
Nieman Lab: "The first challenge is data... The second is money"
"On Thursday, the CEOs of Facebook, Google, and Twitter will testify before Congress about online disinformation. Even before the gavel bangs, we can predict what will happen. Some members of Congress will demand that social media platforms do more to stop viral falsehoods from damaging democracy and triggering violence. Others will warn of needlessly restricting speech and say it could even inflame fringe elements and drive them to less-governed spaces.This same argument repeats itself after every crisis, from Christchurch to QAnon to COVID-19. Why can’t we break the impasse? Because the debate about countering disinformation can itself be a fact-free zone: long on theories, short on evidence. We need better expertise, and that means empowering experts."
Monday, March 15, 2021
What gets funded is a question of priorities, but who sets them? “Let’s face it, we don’t have ribbon cuttings when we replace a pipe"
"In the shadow of its exceptionalism, America fails to invest in the basics.
Stunning advances in medicine and technology have comealongside systemic breakdowns in infrastructure and health.
....
America can put a rover on Mars, but it can’t keep the lights on and water running in the city that birthed the modern space program. It can develop vaccines, in record time, to combat a world-altering illness, but suffers one of the developed world’s highest death rates due to lack of prevention and care. It spins out endless entertainment to keep millions preoccupied during lockdown — and keep tech shares riding high on Wall Street — but leaves kids disconnected from the access they need to do their schoolwork. "
Friday, February 26, 2021
Franklin High School: Important Information and Dates
Important Information and Dates
Winter 2020
- Do you think you have missed our mass notifications? Please click here to view our Mass Notification archive. The most recent notifications are at the top of the page, chronologically.
- Hybrid Bell Schedule for all students, including new Wednesday schedule
- Hybrid Cohort Schedule This schedule is for Semester 2
- COVID Pooled Testing Information-click HERE
- Senior Graduation Caps and Gowns: Click here for Jostens video and link to order by February 12th to avoid late fee
- View FHS Virtual Art Show HERE
- Franklin Public Schools School Re-Opening website click HERE to view
- Principal's Page<< watch Mr. Hanna's video updates
- FHS Students having troubles with your Chromebook or need technical help? Go to THIS PAGE for technology support
FHS calendar at a glance
March 1-7 Class of 2024
March 8-14 Class of 2023
March 15-21 Class of 2022
Sunday, February 7, 2021
Go Viral Game
"A 5-minute game that helps protect you against COVID-19 misinformation"Fun and insightful to play. Give it a try. How well do you do?
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Norfolk County Sheriff's Office Career Information Session - Feb 23
Norfolk County Sheriff's Office Career Information Session
Saturday, January 30, 2021
Town of Franklin: Vaccination Information and COVID-19 Data
Vaccination Information and COVID-19 Data
Winter Weather & Emergency Information
Hello Franklin,
The forecast over the next few days includes extremely cold temperatures and the potential for snow early next week. Please take the necessary steps to stay safe and be prepared. Emergency Management Information is available on our website, as well as this informational flyer with tips on how to prepare for a storm.
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Washington Post: "8 facts about the coronavirus to combat common misinformation"
"Living through a pandemic in the Internet age means misinformation can sometimes spread more rapidly than facts.Faced with a deluge of claims about the coronavirus and the illness it causes, covid-19, you may be wondering whether gargling with saltwater is a cure or if the pathogen was man-made in a Chinese laboratory. (Spoiler: Saltwater doesn’t work, and scientists believe the virus occurs in nature.)To help you out, we rounded up eight facts about the coronavirus to keep in mind if you see claims to the contrary."
BFCCPS: Applications for 2021-2022 school year open and information session videos available
"In a traditional year, BFCCPS hosts information sessions so that interested families can meet us in person, learn more about the school and have a building tour. As a result of the continuing health crisis, in person meetings will not be possible this year so we’ve adjusted our plans accordingly.This year, we have arranged for videos featuring our staff, parents, teachers and even a BFCCPS alumna to help you learn more about the BFCCPS Experience. While these videos can’t truly replicate our traditional face to face events we hope that our enthusiasm for the school is evident.A virtual Question and Answer Session will be held in January 2021. Please stay tuned for details and registration. If you would like to watch all the videos in sequence, you can visit this YouTube playlist otherwise, you can watch selected videos below. "
Video link = https://youtu.be/FdtGxn5AKS4
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
"all of the social science shows that if someone really believes a conspiracy theory, it is just about impossible to change their minds”
"President Trump stands as a singular figure in American history for his willingness to entertain conspiracy theories from the Oval Office, and none has been more damaging or far reaching than his unsubstantiated claim that the 2020 election was rigged against him. One out of every three Americans believes that there was widespread fraud in the last presidential election, according to a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll, despite no evidence to support that view. Two in three Republicans believe so.The social conditions that brought so many people to believe the falsehoods Trump has told about the election and a litany of other issues took root decades before he became a political figure and will extend far beyond the four years of his administration, according to scholars of disinformation and conspiratorial thinking.“What’s unique about Donald Trump is that he took advantage of this widespread distrust of government and media to say everyone is lying to you except for me. We have never had a president so devoted to spreading disinformation and trying to overturn an election,” said Kathryn Olmsted, a historian at the University of California at Davis. “The people who stormed the Capitol are absolutely convinced that the election was stolen. They’re not being opportunistic; they really believe this. And all of the social science shows that if someone really believes a conspiracy theory, it is just about impossible to change their minds.”
Sunday, January 10, 2021
Franklin Arts Academy - Info Night - Jan 13, 2021
Saturday, December 19, 2020
"What we know – and still don’t – about the worst-ever US government cyber attack"
The Boston Globe has the following:
It’s going to take months to kick elite hackers widely believed to be Russian out of the US government networks they have been quietly rifling through since as far back as March in Washington’s worst cyberespionage failure on record.
Experts say there simply are not enough skilled threat-hunting teams to duly identify all the government and private-sector systems that may have been hacked. FireEye, the cybersecurity company that discovered the intrusion into US agencies and was among the victims, has already tallied dozens of casualties. It’s racing to identify more.
“We have a serious problem. We don’t know what networks they are in, how deep they are, what access they have, what tools they left,” said Bruce Schneier, a prominent security expert and Harvard fellow.
- A good summary from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/dec/18/orion-hack-solarwinds-explainer-us-government
- More inside technical details From Bruce Schneier (reference in article quote from Boston Globe: https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2020/12/nsa-on-authentication-hacks-related-to-solarwinds-breach.html
- Also good technical details from Krebs on Security: https://krebsonsecurity.com/2020/12/vmware-flaw-a-vector-in-solarwinds-breach/
Friday, November 27, 2020
Phishing, spear phishing info
Via Cyber Security Intelligence:
"Spear phishing is a targeted attempt to steal sensitive information such as account credentials or financial information from a specific victim, often for criminal reasons. A highly targeted form of phishing, spear phishing involves bespoke emails being sent to well-researched victims.
Spear phishing is an email or electronic communications scam targeted towards a specific individual, organization or business. Although often intended to steal data for malicious purposes, cyber criminals may also intend to install malware on a targeted user's computer.
Barracuda Network researchers worked with leading researchers at UC Berkeley and UC San Diego, to study the growing threat to business of email account crime using Spear Phishing methods.
It is all hard to spot without close inspection and difficult to stop with technical controls alone. In 2016 the Fancy Bear attack group used spear phishing tactics to target email accounts linked to Hilary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. They attacked more than 1,800 Google accounts and implemented the accounts-google.com domain to threaten targeted users."
Continue reading the article online https://www.cybersecurityintelligence.com/blog/spear-phishing-threats-and-trends-4902.html
How Big Is Phishing in 2020?
"It is big. Sadly, it is growing even bigger if historical data is any indicator for the imminent future.
Not all spam consists of phishing emails, but it’s safe to assume a spam message might be a phishing attempt. And there are tons of it, cluttering inboxes far and wide, as these phishing stats clearly show.
- Spam is 45% of all emails sent. (Source: Propeller)
- About 14.5 billion spam emails are sent every day. (Source: Propeller)"
Continue reading more about the phishing trends https://hostingtribunal.com/blog/phishing-statistics/
Additional info can be found on the FBI page https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/cyber
Friday, November 6, 2020
FM #381 School Comm DTFA Info Session 11/04/20 (audio)
This session shares the Franklin, MA Davis Thayer Facility Analysis Subcommittee Community Information Session held on Wednesday, Nov 4, 2020. The meeting was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
Quick Recap:
- With info gathered, they can update their five step process, they are currently in Phase 2
- Overview of the highlights of the facility analysis report and presentation as covered in the prior School Committee meeting 10/27/20
- Discussion of possible timeline for the next steps
- Survey out for community input
The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda and to the presentation document.
The recording runs about 1 hour and 15 minutes, so let’s listen to the Community Information Session of Nov 4, 2020.
Audio file = https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-381-school-comm-dtfa-info-session-11-04-20
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Survey link = https://www.franklinps.net/district/pages/dt-facilities-analysis-survey
Agenda doc https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/agenda_dt_facanalysiscommunitypresentation_11.4.2020.pdf
Comprehensive Facility Analysis presentation doc
https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/files/facilities-analysis-presentation-10-27-20
Facility Assessment report doc
https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/files/facilities-assessment-report
My notes from the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/11/davis-thayer-facility-analysis_5.html
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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
- If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
- If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
FM #381 School Comm DTFA Info Session 11/04/20 (audio) |
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Franklin voters: Election Day is here
Election Day is here. Please note the following:
- The drive-thru window will be open until 8 PM on 11/3
- Ballots sent via USPS must be postmarked by 11/3
- The white mailbox will be checked for the FINAL time at 8 PM on 11/3
- Polls will be open at Franklin High School from 7 AM - 8 PM
Sunday, November 1, 2020
Davis Thayer Facility Analysis Subcommittee - meeting Recap - Oct 29, 2020
Quick Recap:
- Meeting opened 7 minutes late. Prior meeting minutes approved.
- Review of current step by step process and where they are, now in Phase 2 of Stage 1 (see chart)
- Specialized programs conducted at DT and Parmenter not part of the analysis and should be considered. Concern over turnkey reference. Appearing to rush into keeping the mentioned Nov 4 community information night (when it will have conflict with the Town Council meeting, and won’t be able to be broadcast).
- Discussion around the work of this committee to complete in their term (before Nov 2021) and work of another ‘long term’ committee as separate.
- Discussion on questionnaire, what it captures, what does success look like, and communications around that survey and for the meeting itself
Photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter can be found in the album https://photos.app.goo.gl/GUQ66am5yDzRxzUA6
Agenda doc https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/agenda_dt_subcom_10.29.2020_1.docx
Comprehensive Facility Analysis presentation doc
https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/files/facilities-analysis-presentation-10-27-20
Facility Assessment report doc
https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/files/facilities-assessment-report
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- Real time reporting ready for facility analysis subcommittee meeting (when it starts) #dtfa1029
- Meeting opens at 6:07 PM, approved minutes of 9/30/20 meeting 3-0 via roll call Stage one of phase 1 complete with receipt of reports #dtfa1029
- For reference, the process of step by step (no timeline) #dtfa1029
- Specialized programs currently at DT and Parmenter not included in the report which are important considerations. There is a need for a broader analysis and plan, hesitant to do so without some further discussion on the Parmenter program #dtfa1029
- Turnkey reference makes it seem like it would be simpler than it is. #dtfa1029 awaiting update on demographics from McKibbens to see what he forecast vs. what did happen as of Oct 1. Will be interesting to watch along with housing market activity
- Discussion on complete report out to SchComm before next Nov when the SchComm membership may change. #dtfa1029 very luxurious to meet once a month, should be able to move quicker from here. All depends upon the real state of the pandemic as next year goes
- Maybe able to start putting dates to the steps in the plan moving forward to the decision. Ability to keep the DT folks together is an advantage. #dtfa1029 segway to questionnaire, when to start it, keep it open for a period before closing. Cover letter req'd to frame study
- Discussion on how to determine the end date, when do they have a representative sample of the various groups for the stats; 50% student/family, 50% staff, and 10% community in general. #dtfa1029
- Discussion on info session for next Weds, Nov 4 (would be in conflict with Town Council) same time to start 7 PM, target ending 8:15. #dfta1029 start with demographics, overview not study received, next steps on recommendations, etc.
- #dtfa1029 use of 'chat' (not within Zoom) to enable question capture and used for web page updates. Discussion on use of webinar vs meeting, webinar overly formal, if all could fit in living room with a beverage, that would be great
- Meeting info out Friday, questionnaire goes out Monday, can then follow up at meeting on Weds at meeting #dtfa1029 schedule audio session for radio update. Meeting adjourns via roll call vote 3-0 catch you all next time!
Davis Thayer Facility Analysis Subcommittee - meeting Recap - Oct 29, 2020 |
Saturday, October 31, 2020
Davis Thayer Facilities Analysis Community Information Night - Nov 4
Davis Thayer Facilities Analysis Community Information Night
Virtual Meeting (Links in agenda doc)
Wednesday, Nov 4, 2020 - 7:00 PM
MEETING AGENDA
“The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at themeeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up fordiscussion to the extent permitted by law.”
- Overview of 5-Step DT Facilities Analysis Subcommittee Process
- Presentation of major themes from Kaestle Boos, Inc. Comprehensive Facilities Analysis Report to the School Committee (October 27, 2020)
- Next steps
- Q and A
Davis Thayer Facilities Analysis Community Information Night - Nov 4 |
Monday, October 5, 2020
Franklin Community Voting Guide - November 2020
The Franklin Community Voting Guide for November 2020 is ready for your use to prepare to vote.
Download your copy here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fIIde4DfyieqnK2hTsZDDfMLmoFcqzoO/view?usp=sharing
Franklin Community Voting Guide - November 2020 |