When I popped open the old laptop, the Geek Squad guy said maybe I should dust it off.

He slid a canister of Endust toward me. “Spray the cloth,” he said, “not the machine.”

I started choking on my sense of humiliation. This poor baby was covered with dust. How could I be so careless and lackadaisical toward the technology at the center of my life? And I hadn’t even realized the extent of my indifferent maintenance until the computer crashed and I had to rush it to the tech doctor.

I had been in the process of writing a column. I was researching the Central American refugees recently tear-gassed as they struggled toward the U.S. border. They were fleeing the violence and hopelessness in their countries, traversing 1,000 miles or more on foot, often with small children in tow, to find … something better.

What did you miss this year that was really important? We depend on Project Censored to fill us in. The Free Press would like to cover everything – but just can’t do it in our monthly paper or even on our two websites: columbusfreepress.com and freepress.org. However, Project Censored did honor Free Press Publisher/Editor Bob Fitrakis and Senior Editor/Columnist Harvey Wasserman for the 3rd most censored story in 2005 on the theft of the 2004 election and also for “Search Engine Algorithms and Electronic Voting Machines Could Swing 2016 Election as the 4th "Most Censored Story of 2016."

Project Censored reviewed over 300 Validated Independent News stories (VINs) representing the collective efforts of 351 college students and 15 professors from 13 college and university campuses that participated in the Project’s Campus Affiliates Program during the past year. Some topics are positive, some are understandably negative, and a few are substantially horrifying. The top ten are:

#1 Global Decline in Rule of Law as Basic Human Rights Diminish

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Buddhist-majority Thailand is about to become the
first Southeast Asian nation to legalize medical marijuana, hoping its
traditional secretive potions, stoner "Thai Sticks," inexpensive
quality health care and export marketeers will rescue patients and
produce award-winning cash crops.

Thailand's coup-installed junta leader is so enthusiastic, he is using
draconian powers to defend Thai marijuana products from foreign
patents which have been applied for in Bangkok to monopolize future
herb-derived concoctions.

During the 1960s and 70s, American hippies and other smokers described
powerful Thai-grown marijuana as "Thai Sticks" because a small amount
was illegally sold skewered on a slender, pencil-long, wooden stick
the way grilled street food is offered here.

Marijuana is still illegal with long prison sentences meted out for
possession, sales and smuggling.

Nevertheless, Thailand is used for a monthly Full Moon Party on Koh
Phangan, where thousands of mostly young foreign tourists drink

As we come to a close of the 2018 year many are wondering what makes us united as a nation. What is the core value of being an American? In the past Americans have been seen as the movers and shakers of the world. We were seen as courageous, steadfast and a symbol of inclusiveness for all races and nationalities. We were respected as a nation and our opinion mattered to the entire world as we stood for democracy and freedom.

As a nation, America was trusted in the United Nations, respected as a strong leader in the world. We were seen as being reasonable, able to make sound judgments based on intelligent research and data. If we listen to our president, America is “great again” and it’s “great again” because of the accomplishments that he, and he alone has made thus far during his presidential term.