tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003924278525796232024-03-05T03:13:53.808-08:00imMEDIAte needsRichard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-51779732472143534622024-01-17T23:17:00.000-08:002024-01-17T23:17:21.736-08:00It is What It Is. Or is it?<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Saying it is doesn't mean it is because it might not be or does not have to be. But saying "it is what it is" means it is and always will be because it can't be something else. So, "is it what it is" but does it always have to be? What if we say it is what it is and it's not but people want you to believe it is. It might not be what it is but may be something else. So perhaps it's not what it is and IT is an illusion and 'what it is" is actually undefined? Do we just say "it is what it is" because we really don't know what it is? </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">That' it! </span></p>Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-91375063753406876842024-01-04T21:48:00.000-08:002024-01-04T21:48:34.995-08:00How Historians Will View Us. Will They Conclude We Were Silly?<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">The following essay is about history. But it’s about content to be used by future historians. <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/29/supreme-court-texas-social-media-law/" target="_blank">The Supreme Court </a>is going to decide how current events will be evaluated by future generations. The Supreme Court is going to decide if future historians will have to sift through t<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/29/supreme-court-texas-social-media-law/" target="_blank">he contradictions between the truth </a>and the pseudo-history offered by people that chose to lie. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Supreme Court said in Gertz v Welch (1974) that there is no speech value to a lie. While lies have no value as speech, lies have found its home in the marketplace. For many, social media has become the marketplace host where lies can be monetized.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Facebook has roughly 240 million users in the US. The company posts its <a href="https://transparency.fb.com/policies/community-standards/" target="_blank">criteria </a>for acceptable and unacceptable content. None of the criteria for exclusion relate to political viewpoints. However, the Texas legislature has concluded with its bill “</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">relating to censorship of or certain other interference with digital expression, including expression on social media platforms or through electronic mail messages,” that Facebook is deleting content for its political point of view. The bill allows any Texas resident who has their content banned based on perceived political motives on Facebook to sue the company. The law also allows suing YouTube and Twitter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">This bill will perhaps assuage the majority of Americans that believe social media already restrict content based on its political bent. Pew Research found that 90% of Republicans and 59% of Democrats believe social media sites censor political content.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">The <a href="https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=872&Bill=HB20">bill passed by Texas Republican</a>s declare Facebook and the like to be “common carriers.” This is the same designation given to Bell Telephone when it was allowed its monopoly on our home phones, back when we all had home phones linked by wire. This is the same designation given to companies that provide transportation of goods and similar services. All such entities deemed common carriers must hold themselves out for all to use, regardless of the nature of the user. Bell Telephone had to passively allow all speech and all users. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Such a designation is consistent with the nature of Section 230 of the Telecommunication Act of ’96. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Section 230 says that<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><strong><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; font-size: 11pt; padding: 0in;">"</span></strong><strong><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider"</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; padding: 0in;"> </span></b></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">(</span><a href="http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/230" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #666666; font-size: 11pt; padding: 0in;">47 U.S.C. § 230</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">). Essentially the section of the law clears social media of any responsibility for its content. Those covered by this section are considered passive conduits for its content.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">President Trump sought to limit <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2020/05/28/what-is-section-230-and-why-does-trump-want-to-change-it/?sh=7b05fa7b389d" target="_blank">Section 230</a>, along with Senators Rubio and Hawley saying that Facebook was censoring content it should not and that 230 offered too much protection. Democrat Ron Wyden, among the authors of Section 230, believed that Facebook was not sufficiently active in limiting bad content. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Social media can censor content. It is not a First Amendment matter as they are not a government agency. If given common carrier status, its ability to censor content or specific users could be challenged.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Whether determining social media as a common carrier is an elevation of status is a matter of perspective. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">But changing its status to such would mean it could not censor speech or limit any user’s ability to publish. Speech related to racism, homophobia and xenophobia would receive all protection given to any other speech. Perhaps such protection should be offered. Perhaps Milton’s Marketplace of Ideas provides a model for what social media should be—a flea market of ideas in which, in Milton’s hopes, the best of ideas would rise to the top.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="border-color: currentcolor currentcolor rgb(238, 238, 238); border-image: none; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt; padding: 0in 0in 0.25in;"><h1 style="border: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 24pt; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h1><h1 style="border: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 24pt; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">The case of</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><i><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/563/milkovich-v-lorain-journal-co" target="_blank">Milkovich v. Lorain Journal Co.</a></span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/563/milkovich-v-lorain-journal-co" target="_blank"> (1990) </a>concluded that while Gertz assertion that there is no such thing as a false opinion was true, often opinions are stated in ways that they could be understood by the average person to be factual assertions. Essentially, if a statement could be proven true of false, it is not as much an offer of an opinion as an assertion of fact. Did Milton anticipate the marketplace could be inhabited by such manipulation as social media often offer.<o:p></o:p></span></h1><h1 style="border: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 24pt; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h1><h1 style="border: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 24pt; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">So, should Texas legislatures prevail in the upcoming challenges to this law? Should social media be considered common carriers?<o:p></o:p></span></h1><h1 style="border: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 24pt; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">Facebook has stock holders dependent on continuing its hold of its marketplace share. Throughout media history, media have self-regulated as a means to forestall government regulation and consumer boycotts. One could argue that social media do such self-regulation merely to maintain good standing in the court of public opinion. Or one could argue that social media act as good Samaritans protecting the public from lies and hate. Whatever the motivation, social media delete content. Of course, some argue its censorship is often based on political ideology. <o:p></o:p></span></h1><h1 style="border: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 24pt; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h1><h1 style="border: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 24pt; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">Parenthetically, my brother and I have separately been suspended by Facebook for posting sarcastic comments of a more liberal nature. We were suspended for spreading lies. In both our cases we could make arguments our content was clearly satirical and not assertion of fact. We did not consider our suspensions to be politically motivated. Many conservatives argue that certain censorship of some assertions of a conservative bent were <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/08/19/most-americans-think-social-media-sites-censor-political-viewpoints/" target="_blank">solely political motivated. </a>These claims are without evidence of a purely political motivation. Of course, the 240+ million Facebook users of America are not privy to the discussions that go into when content is removed or users suspended. <o:p></o:p></span></h1><h1 style="border: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 24pt; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h1><h1 style="border: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 24pt; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">There are other legal arguments related to this that can be included, though engaging such discussions must allow the premise that certain social media are common carriers. Texas legislatures making such an assertion does not make it so.<o:p></o:p></span></h1><h1 style="border: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 24pt; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h1><h1 style="border: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 24pt; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">So why is this post in a blog dedicated to history? Why does it matter whether Facebook is able to censor content? </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;">If our media content is to become the artifacts of future historical study, the nature of that content is of great importance.</span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;">Social media is important today as a tool of access to the world and but will also serve as a tool for the historians of the future to give context to the events that shape our time.</span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;">The nature of that content to be analyzed will be decided by how courts look at this bill by the Texas legislature.</span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;">Perhaps historians will look past certain lies and opinions stated as factual assertions.</span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;">Will future historians view social media as an artifact of an idealistic marketplace of ideas that suffered many of the worst case scenarios enabled by the noble vision?</span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;">Or will the legislative fight to enable lies be viewed as an artifact of a broken society?</span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;">Perhaps we have not yet seen the moment Milton counted on:</span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #060606; font-size: 11pt;">that when all possible viewpoints are offered, the best ideas will rise to the top.</span></span></h1></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #060606; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/29/supreme-court-texas-social-media-law/" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/29/supreme-court-texas-social-media-law/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://transparency.fb.com/policies/community-standards/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">https://transparency.fb.com/policies/community-standards/</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> facebook community standards<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=872&Bill=HB20" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=872&Bill=HB20</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/08/19/most-americans-think-social-media-sites-censor-political-viewpoints/" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/08/19/most-americans-think-social-media-sites-censor-political-viewpoints/</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2020/05/28/what-is-section-230-and-why-does-trump-want-to-change-it/?sh=7b05fa7b389d" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2020/05/28/what-is-section-230-and-why-does-trump-want-to-change-it/?sh=7b05fa7b389d</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/563/milkovich-v-lorain-journal-co" style="color: #954f72;">https://mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/563/milkovich-v-lorain-journal-co</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-37154148308449597242024-01-01T08:45:00.000-08:002024-01-01T08:45:40.635-08:00A Few Words About Words<p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Helvetica;">A Few Words About Words</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Words are interesting. Sometimes words are meaningful and sometimes meaningless.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Olives are “flavorful.” I hear the word “flavorful” a lot on the Food Network.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">There is no doubt that olives are indeed flavorful. However, the primary problem with olives is that they are flavorful. Full of the flavor of olives. I<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> know many people love olives and I am sure most of these people are perfectly good people. But I have to question their judgment. Because they love olives. I don’t believe olive fans truly like olives. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Because if they did, they would refer to olives as “tasty.” Tasty is a word we use for things that are really good. Like a nice wine.Like a good steak. Like a good hot fudge topping. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">These things are tasty. Olives are merely flavorful.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Some time ago, I told a friend I did not live olives. Turns out he grew olives for a living. He was not offended that I did not like olives.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">But he challenged me. He said that if I ate 8 olives, by the eighth olive I would love olives. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I responded that while that may be true, I would still suffer through the seven olives of hell.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Olives are flavorful. Full of the flavor of olives. They are not tasty. How we discuss olives depends on the words we use.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Another word we use and overuse is “like.” It was “like cold” when I went to the “like restaurant” and bought “like lunch.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">My daughter used to say “like” a lot. I started challenging her on the word. When she asked if I “like wanted lunch” I started responding,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">“When you say, ‘like want lunch’, are you asking me if I am planning to simulate wanting lunch, going through the motions of wanting lunch? Because that’s what it sounds like when you include “like” in that sentence.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">It’s ‘like cold.’ Is the outside world a simulation of cold or actually cold?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Is it “like cold” or actually cold? Yes, “like” is overused. It is used in lieu of a creative thought. Instead of finding a good analogy for “cold’—instead of a clever <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">visualization of cold, we say “like cold.” Cliches are also annoying—“cold as ice” is overused and has no benefit to those trying to visualize.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">In fact, 645 years ago, a guy named Phillippe from Venice said in the language appropriate to Venice that it was “hot as hell.” People laughed approvingly at<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">this novel, brilliant visualization. Hell is hot and it was indeed hot that day. A cliche was born 645 years ago. The phrase is long past its usefulness and is now correctly viewed as dull.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Cliches are overused and share so little. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I made up the entire story about where “hot as hell” came from, but it’s believable. That’s how old that cliche seems.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">So cliches are what we use when we have no clever ways to visualize “hot as….” “cold as….” “dull as…”. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">“Like” is another oral choice we make when we can’t create a clever way to say “we’re hungry as….” “we’re bored as…” We are like bored which makes us like hungry.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Word choices matter and they say something about us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">When speaking to some students about the events of October 7, I reminded the students that in discussions of the events of the day, words matter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I told them, “When you discuss these events with anybody, please remember a few things. The Palestinians and Muslims did not attack Israel. Hamas did.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The Jews did not attack Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces did. To blame the Palestinians, the Muslims or the Jews is inaccurate and will spread hate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">We can share information or we can share hate. It depends on the words we use.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The tone of this essay changed dramatically in the previous paragraph. Due to my word choices and topics I brought up.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The unifying theme of all of this is that our word choice matters. Whether we are expressing the outdoor temperature or a war being fought far away.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">How we describe something says a lot about us. Our word choices serve to teach and share and suggest how others should express themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">What is at stake changes by the paragraph. By the sentence. The words we choose matter.</span><o:p></o:p></p>Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-9756007132911412142019-12-30T21:51:00.000-08:002024-01-01T08:42:31.172-08:00Media surrounds us with bright, shiny things...<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">We like bright, shiny things. Starting in our baby years. Greta Thunberg was a bright, shiny thing these days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">A conservative friend repeated several times on my facebook site that Greta Thunberg was unqualified to talk about climate change. He wanted facts and not the thoughts of a “girl” who a Fox News host had deemed “mentally ill.” <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/09/24/fox-news-apologizes-greta-thunberg-after-mentally-ill-comment/2426741001/" target="_blank">who a Fox News host had deemed "mentally ill"</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Facts regarding climate change had not appealed to this friend of mine. And yes, I have friends that are Republican/Conservative. Only requirement for not getting blocked is not being an asshole—respectful dissent is always welcome. And I hate those moments he makes a valid point.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Anyway, he said Greta was unqualified. After consideration, I had to conclude that she was indeed by her background, by education, by earned degree—unqualified. And then I concluded “So what?” When did we get to an era when qualifications are required to be able to influence the public? We are certainly not there today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Some of the biggest influencers now are in social media. According to Mediakix, the most popular social media influencer is Amanda Cerny (@Amandacerny). https://mediakix.com/blog/top-instagram-influencers/<a href="https://mediakix.com/blog/top-instagram-influencers" target="_blank">Amanda Cerny</a>She has 24.7 million followers. She was recently in a Cardi B music video. She did comedy sketches on You Tube which have gained her 2.6 million subscribers. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rGcuD-yLyA" target="_blank">I watched several of the videos</a> and there were absolutely attempts at humor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Other <a href="https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/en-us/blog/9-of-the-biggest-social-media-influencers-on-instagram" target="_blank">social media influencers</a> have gained millions of followers based sometimes on their qualifications, sometimes on their looks and sometimes looking good though their qualifications are minimal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">But when did an education become a requirement for influencing society? It hasn’t. But unqualified people have led social change for decades. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Some of our most influential folks in recent decades didn’t know shit. But they said some shit that got our attention. Look at influencer Lenny Bruce. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenny_Bruce" target="_blank">Lenny Bruce</a> He changed the world of comedy. By saying shit. And “fuck”. And conjugating other words into profanities as long as 12 letters. And he did this in a time when such language was not allowed in public. He was arrested at least five times for his vulgarity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">George Carlin called him a role model to the degree where he got arrested with him just to say he did. Lenny opened the doors to every comedian who followed. If you are old enough to remember Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Eddie Murphy in his prime—they did their thing because Lenny did his. Lenny’s qualifications to change society? None. Except he thought society needed some change to escape a suffocating hypocritical society. And he was funny. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">Another unqualified funny man who made a difference: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Gregory" target="_blank">Dick Gregory</a>. An African-American comedian who did his work when people didn’t refer to him as African-American, but instead use a term I won’t use. . How can you not appreciate someone who explains his experience in the South like this.</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"> “I spent 20 years there one night,” Gregory began. “I walked into this restaurant and this waitress said ‘we don’t serve coloured people here’ and I said ‘that’s all right, I don’t eat coloured people. Bring me a whole fried chicken.’” <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/20/dick-gregory-obituary" target="_blank">Gregory began </a></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif">He went to Southern Illinois University, served honorably in the army and served as a bridge between the races in the 60’s and for many years after.</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , sans-serif">He must have accomplished something of value. Nixon put him on an enemies list and had the FBI do surveillance on him. He was a black comedian on the Tonight Show back when Jack Paar hosted it. Mr. Gregory insisted on being interviewed on the Tonight Show instead of just doing his routine. </span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , sans-serif">He changed minds and changed world and influenced the media. His education that allowed him to pontificate on such matters. Not much formal. But he lived it. He knew it.</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , sans-serif">Conservatives also are led sometimes by the unqualified. One is known by 80% of all </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , sans-serif">Americans and has the sixth most popular radio show/podcast and has been named the 2<sup>nd</sup> most famous radio host in America (behind Howard Stern).</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , sans-serif">Baby boomers are his biggest fans. Millenials think he’s the 40<sup>th</sup> best. Yes, we’re talking <a href="https://today.yougov.com/topics/media/explore/radio_program/The_Rush_Limbaugh_show" target="_blank">Rush Limbaugh</a>. He has been nationally syndicated for 31 years. He wrote seven books, two of which became best sellers on the NY Times list.</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , sans-serif">Rush’s qualifications to pontificate on politics, to lead the republican party, to sow seeds of discontent like the people named above: none. Dropped out of college after two semesters. His mother said he failed at everything except radio. His career as a national leader of conservative thought happened because the Reagan administration got rid of the Fairness Doctrine. Rush is unqualified to speak of political matters. Or social matters or things that matter. But he is highly rated.</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">So this is a long story to a short point. Anyone else tells me that Greta was unqualified and uneducated in the details of science and climate change—well, the media has always given its time to bright, shiny things. Those people who get our attention. Some are qualified. Many are not. We are a society not based on facts but our fascination by bright, shiny things. Babies like bright shiny colors because their eyes are not fully developed. The media continues our love affair with bright, shiny things. Obama was one. Trump another one. And thankfully, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Greta is one today.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span>Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-87018740564520483212018-12-17T06:28:00.000-08:002018-12-22T11:18:21.093-08:00reflections on four months in Asia. It ain't all the same, by any means...<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">So, I’m no longer a <a href="https://www.cies.org/country/thailand" target="_blank">Fulbright scholar.</a> I’m not back in America yet so maybe I'm still a little bit of a Fulbright scholar. An extraordinary four months. I went from massive disappointment of my time in Bangkok to the great joy I felt in <a href="http://www.myanmar.com/" target="_blank">Myanmar</a> and <a href="https://www.tourism.gov.my/" target="_blank">Malaysia</a> and then great joy again in one small town in Thailand.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">I tried very hard to talk to people, to gain advocates among schools, media, professors, anyone..about initiating <a href="https://www.medialit.org/reading-room/what-media-literacy-definitionand-more" target="_blank">media literacy</a> curriculum in Bangkok K-12 schools. Starting first with teachers. To make sure they are prepared with the tools to properly teach the children. (The link will offer a description and definition of media literacy. I will talk more about this. If you want an educated student body of individuals who can think well, problem solve and make educated voting decisions, then you'll like <a href="https://www.medialit.org/reading-room/what-media-literacy-definitionand-more" target="_blank">media literacy</a>.)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">Giving a lot of thought to why all my efforts in Bangkok were dismal failures. It could be me. And I’ll give that more thought in the future.. But I also wondered, was it </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">years, decades of distrust in Thailand of all institutions, a doubt that any progress leaning toward greater democracy and improved levels of education was possible. is it the result of systemic learned helplessness among the Thai? Lip Service is given to new ideas but the next steps-discussion, enactment and implementation-don’t seem to happen.</span><br />
<br style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">I turned to teachers, to media that purports to move toward greater democracy, to institutions of higher education, they all gave lip service. They never offered actual support.</span><br />
<br style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">Yes, it could be my ideas. It could be my goal to spread media literacy and to promote critical thinking starting in kindergarten and never stopping that education, is not a good idea for Thailand. (Yeah, I think it's a good idea.)</span><br />
<br style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">Maybe it’s not the right time for it. Maybe I’m not the right advocate for it. I hope I figure that out and learn those answers.</span><br />
<br style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;" />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont";"><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">Hope is restored when I think back to my experience in Myanmar. Speaking to </span></span><a href="https://www.mmtimes.com/news/taang-womens-group-demands-action-against-rape-suspects.html" style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;" target="_blank">20 young women.</a><span style="color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont";"><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"> All of them determined to return to their small towns throughout Myanmar and spread knowledge of human rights and women’s rights. I will remember them maintaining their attention even though they had to wait for my wonderful interpreter to explain what I was saying. I remember working with them for seven hours. And the smiles and nods they offered throughout, the wonderful questions, the Thank yous and the lovely gifts. I left there with the hope that maybe i helped a little bit. Helping young women’s spread information about human rights and women’s rights. Gave me hope and supplied great meaning to everything I have been doing. (The link I supplied to the Ta'ang Women's Group is about an issue the organization advocated for. These are brave people in the fascinating city of <a href="https://www.go-myanmar.com/lashio/" target="_blank">Lashio</a> </span></span></span><br />
<br style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">I think to my time in <a href="https://trip101.com/article/things-to-do-roi-et" target="_blank">Roi Et</a> Thailand. A city with great food, the best I've had in Thailand. Also, no mass transit and almost no one that speaks English. I think about the students, many with limited English skills, who tried their best to understand the content. The wonderful teacher, Allison Orr, who made me a better teacher by gently sharing some wonderful ideas on how to communicate to this group more effectively.</span><br />
<br style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;" />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont";"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">And I will reflect on the six wonderful days I spent in Malaysia. I’m waiting for my plane right now to head back to Bangkok. I’m very sad to leave Kuala Lumpur The outstanding people in the A<a href="https://my.usembassy.gov/embassy/kuala-lumpur/" target="_blank">merican Embassy in Kuala Lampur</a> brilliantly set up meetings with the education ministry within the government of Malaysia, with teachers of higher education, with future teachers of students at all levels. The librarians. With audiences alive with great optimism as the recent election has led to hopes of greater democracy in the very near future here. Optimism may be a major indicator of being open to new ideas. The beauty of Malaysia is quite remarkable. But the warm feelings I have don’t come from the warm temperatures as much as the warm people. The residents in this country as well as the people I met from the embassy and related programs. Thanks to all of you. It’s been extraordinary to be here. Your optimism is appreciated. And a stark contrast to Thailand. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Is optimism about a future a prerequisite to accepting change? I lived a case study. In Thailand, where a tradition of pessimism prevails due to allegations of decades of corruption, there was no help at building an evolving education system. In Malaysia, fresh off an election that had a conclusion that seemed to shock many. With that shock came the optimism of increased press freedom. And an openness to the new ideas I brought to them. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">My time as a Fulbright scholar is about to end. But my reflection and resulting education will continue. There is much that I will learn from my experience. Assessing my own performance and wondering what the next step will be to bring media literacy education to the people of Myanmar and Malaysia, and maybe someday, perhaps, to Thailand. (And to more than the <a href="https://medialiteracynow.org/your-state-legislation/" target="_blank">relatively few states </a>that have </span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont";"><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">embraced media literacy education.)</span></span><br />
<br style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">I hate to sound too academic, but future research may determine if trust and optimism in the governing systems is correlated to being open to new ideas and the thought of progress.</span><br />
<br style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">My education continues.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;" /></span>Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-80063452402067435612018-01-26T07:53:00.002-08:002023-12-29T13:48:00.025-08:00Damn. Seriously. We can do this shit...<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
In our overly mediated world, a moment of profound reason using an old style form of communication that has been minimized in favor of--well, all the crap in our cell phones that steal our attention away from the world.</div>
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This happened. It can happen again. </div>
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Small town Kentucky cop overseeing drug interdiction—I had to look that word up, it means interception—in a conversation with the New York liberal about gun regulations (that would be me). He didn’t want the regulations. I suggested some laws restricting certain guns would be good. A respectful exchange of ideas.</div>
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He made many good points about gun ownership being an important right to protect.<br /><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">He said Democrats and liberals are out to take people’s guns away. I explained that in my time in Iowa working with various party platform committees not one person ever even hinted at the idea of taking people’s guns. Regulation of future gun sales. Yes. Taking a single gun away. Never. He accepted my word on that. He said he thought he could trust me. </span></div>
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He said that laws limiting certain types of guns would not change anything today or tomorrow. I said he was absolutely right. But ten, twenty, fifty years from now, those laws might stop someone from getting access to a gun. Might stop a shooting at a high school. He said he never thought of it that way. He accepted my point. We agreed. <br />Conversation. Not an exchange of memes, not an exchange of insults. </div>
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It is meaningful that not long after this conversation there was another school shooting. More dead kids.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Conversation. Finding the middle ground where truth usually resides.</div>
</div>
Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-86273546252506936722017-12-28T21:25:00.001-08:002017-12-28T22:04:58.551-08:00reflections and deflections and occasional imperfections in and on Thailand<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
Things I will miss about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand" target="_blank">Thailan</a>d. (In blogs you are supposed to link to things. So I linked to things that may or may not be useful)<br />
<br /></div>
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And yes, of course I am happy to return to my family and friends and colleagues. I am treasuring the moment I return to work and attend the Dean-a-thon where I learn, through a 42 page powerpoint presentation and after three years of sabbatical, that the Dean of Agriculture has found a new way to double cumquat production in Bali.</div>
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We also learn that ‘cumquat’ is a funny word either referring to a fruit or an exercise proposed by <a href="https://vegeyum.wordpress.com/2007/10/26/divine-cumquat-marmarlade/" target="_blank">Masters & Johnso</a>n.</div>
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Now getting to things I will miss.. I just had my last free breakfast that costs four dollars a day. I pay for the free breakfasts when I check out of the hotel, so every day they’re free. True Fact: if you don’t pay for something the moment you get something, it’s free. Every bank heist you commit is a total success until you get caught. </div>
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I<br />
will miss laying by the pool every morning. Is laying in the sun each day good for you? No. But my friends, family and colleagues require empirical proof as I return some January day, that I was in Thailand. And that means a tan to show off. As well as several irregularly shaped areas on my skin, three of which look like (from left to right) Australia, Africa and Idaho. </div>
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I will miss Thai food. I will miss pointing to pictures on menus since after 6 years of visiting Thailand I still can’t speak the language except for theThai words for “hello”, “thank you” and “Yes, I love happy endings—you saw the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/" target="_blank">Wizard of Oz</a>, too?”</div>
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<br /></div>
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But back to the food. Be careful of the little red peppers. Small but pack a powerful punch. Kind of like <a href="https://www.biography.com/people/madeleine-albright-9179300" target="_blank">Madeline Albright</a>. Coconut milk is added to so many dishes. And for no extra money since the food is donated by the makers of <a href="http://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/drug-names.php#.WkXRAVKB2u4" target="_blank">Simvistatin</a>. Fun fact: did you know the cholesterol reducing drug’s name “Simvistatin” comes from the Thai word “making you not die now.”? That is the truth as far as I know given the lack of research. </div>
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The people are warm and wonderful. And I remember well being told that everybody in Bangkok speaks English. It is true that every Thai I met knew the word “English” as in “I speak a little English” meaning they knew how to say “I speak a little English.” But I almost always received a smile. True story that’s true: I went to the mall in Thailand to buy a fan. I asked the salesperson in perfect English for a “fan.” She laughed and walked away. Then I found a group of salespeople and asked in a louder voice and more slowly, for a “fan.” A larger group of young women walked away. What I learned later is that “fan” is the Thai word for “girlfriend.” So I was asking a bunch of Thai women to be my girlfriend. And they all laughed and walked away. I took note that representatives of all women in the continent of Asia laughed at me thinking I was asking for a girlfriend. So, not all Thai people are warm and wonderful. Some are mocking. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
Night life of Thailand. I am 58. There are many TV stations offered at the hotel. Some in English. There are many soaps on Thai TV. In every Thai soap opera, the mother says wise things to their children who sit patiently and listen to their mother. The kids nod and then go on to playing head games with people of other genders—just like American children. On Thai soaps, whenever the mother talks, they play flute music. I don’t understand Thai, but I know that it’s the mother talking because she sounds wise and they are playing flute music. I have bought a file of flute music that is now on my I-phone. I will now play the flute music whenever I talk so people will think I am wise. Try it. It works. If you play flute music while reading this, all my words take on added wisdom. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
I am about to embark on my 24+ hour plane trip home. So I hope you enjoy these last sane words. Sure United is about to engage me in a day’s worth of cramped seats, bad food in cramped trays, cramped terminals and probing airport security hands. My life will be a solid day of disrespect, disregard and other words beginning with “dis-“. But I get a lot of frequent flyer miles. See you all soon.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Rick, December 29,2017</div>
Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-9900190416234971002017-10-24T18:22:00.000-07:002017-10-24T18:22:17.672-07:00Of Newsrooms and Icons<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Even though the Olympics are done, there is still TV worth watching...</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Aaron Sorkin's HBO program Newsroom is doing what Sorkin's West Wing did: create a thoroughly fictitious world where standards and ethics still matter. While he's at it, he paints complex, fascinating characters whose emotional needs are always secondary to their needs to serve the public interest. Whether the latter point is a virtue can be debated since most all the characters from both West Wing and Newsroom are single or divorced. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Another point that can be debated is whether creating such an ideal world gives us something to strive for or something to bemoan as unattainable. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
I also appreciate that although Newsroom take all of its story lines from the headlines, its promos never mention "ripped from the headlines."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
The show had its season finale already. That is an annoying aspect of HBO series. Very few episodes until they take their siesta. Wait for it to come back. (well, you have no choice but to wait…) (it is worth wait)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
And if you absolutely, have to read…</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Two from Tom Shales.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Live from New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live. Sure, it's ten years old already. SNL is like the economy--people are constantly predicting its demise and then it resurrects again for no apparent reason and despite </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
the advice of experts. Tom Shales (and James Andrew Miller) tell the story by letting all those that lived it tell the story. Through unedited interviews with basically everybody (except Eddie Murphy), all those moments that you remember or heard about are explained and demythified. The stories of John Belushi's excesses, Chevy Chase's excesses, producer Lorne Michael's excessive ego and all the others that made up the show are told--by the people that lived them. With no foreshadowing and minimal opionating from the authors. It is an amazing look into broadcast history from those that made broadcast history.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Also, ESPN Those Guys Have All the Fun Inside the World of ESPN. Shales and Miller explain the early days of ESPN when it was a goof with little hope of becoming, well, ESPN. The people that created and nurtured the network from a theory to a legend tell their own story. The authors offer minimal editorializing and do not foreshadow. Full disclosure: I went to college with Linda Cohn, legendary ESPN SportsCenter anchor. I don't include this disclosure for journalistic reasons. I am bragging that I did the news on our campus radio station with Linda. One of the nicest people I knew. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
ESPN and SNL supplied iconic programming that has collectively given us so many moments that are part of our media history. How they started, how they both almost failed and who made them what they are today--amazing stories told first hand by those that lived them. </div>
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<br /></div>
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And finally:</div>
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ABC New's Nightline beats Leno and Letterman in its time slot after local news. So, this January, ABC is going to take away its time slot and move it <span style="text-decoration: underline;">behind</span> Jimmy Fallon. Because two variety shows after local news is clearly not enough. I believe if ABC supervised Jamaican sports, it would have Usain Bolt competing in equestrian events.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-6612243733889078162016-01-25T09:02:00.001-08:002024-01-04T21:51:51.320-08:00it is what it is while you only live once<div class="MsoNormal">
We have all made bad decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently I chose to watch some of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>30 minutes of my life are now gone forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another day I watched “Big Brother.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Same outcome though at least I got a
good nap out of it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Real Housewives of Someplace (I
believe they are all interchangeable).<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We all make bad decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there is a new phenomenon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A public declaration that our bad ideas are actually good
ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are not making ‘bad’
decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our bad decisions are
merely striving for life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or so we
claim.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The new terms of rationalization:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YOLO and “It is what it is.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, the former seems to have passed its peak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, for quite some time,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would always hear that phrase
accompanied by a bad decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Yeah, I poured lighter fluid on my thumb and put it near the barbeque
grill…YOLO!” or…”Yeah, I had a dozen shots and went for a drive…YOLO.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just deal with it…you intercoursed
up—you made a bad decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
YOLO is true, so is YODO=You only die once.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5fQWBxZ7pj7fJb9nPBja7sliDERcR7xfbrRGuUCt2KEsI3j4xuTICd-lPMu2T1fN5qiYRajnMA1Tfh8CiMpAmtT269Ua8_fIdBYgOilOdjDsdaM1xX_f8W3-xct3q8dEKh8v1NjUwg_X/s1600/yolo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5fQWBxZ7pj7fJb9nPBja7sliDERcR7xfbrRGuUCt2KEsI3j4xuTICd-lPMu2T1fN5qiYRajnMA1Tfh8CiMpAmtT269Ua8_fIdBYgOilOdjDsdaM1xX_f8W3-xct3q8dEKh8v1NjUwg_X/s320/yolo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, my other peeve is “It is what it is.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what I hear when defecation has
occurred in one’s life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“My
(boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, significant other, pet lemur) left me…Oh
well, it it what it is.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or…
“Yeah, I shaved for the eighth day in a row with an old razor and my face now
resembles a topographical map of the Moon…It is what it is…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It is what it is”—a phrase we use to publicly admit we will
not give anything critical thought, we will not take responsibility for our
actions, we will not accept fault for consequences to ourselves and
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t have to. Because
it is what it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t argue the point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something certainly is what it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zero will indeed equal zero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now God supposedly said something similar:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I am that I am.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(at least that’s what director Cecil B
De Mille said in the Ten Commandments.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It sounds cooler to say it if you’re God, or Cecil B.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>De Mille.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, you are what you are and it is what it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And with this knowledge, we can….?</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
So, in conclusion, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>what important lessons do we learn from YOLO and “It is what
it is..”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That occasionally all of
us need something to say when we actually have nothing to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we don’t want to think about
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-37806832657101295192016-01-15T22:48:00.000-08:002023-12-29T13:31:52.544-08:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> "Kill
the Brain and You Kill the Ghoul”—this is either the worst motto for any
teacher to live by or the key to killing zombies according to <a href="http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/84925/Night-of-the-Living-Dead/quotes.html" target="_blank">Night of theLiving Dead</a>, the movie that led us to the <a href="http://www.thewalkingdead.com/" target="_blank">Walking Dead</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So,
this post could be about George Romero setting the arbitrary rules that
zombies, when re-animated, must eat people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a zombie-reality, zombies may not crave human flesh but
merely crave <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutabaga" target="_blank">rutabagas</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our world
would not be lessened if our rutabaga supply was depleted by the Meandering Dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But
that is not the topic of this post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Watching
TV it does seem that the idea “Kill the Brain and..Kill the Ghoul” is the
choice of a new generation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
attention span is getting shorter and TV is helping this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Binge watching 30-Rock is so easy
because each episode is only 21:30 long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you watch the show in syndication, almost 30 percent of the time is spent
in commercials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkingDeadAMC" target="_blank">enjoyed TheWalking Dead,</a> as all humans should have, we had to spend about 33% of each
hour watching commercials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why
does this matter? Well, everything around is conspiring to make our attention
span shorter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>God
forbid we get emotionally engaged in any TV show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A commercial break of four minutes will often take our
attention away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God forbid we
relax and allow ourselves to be lost in mediated literature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A commercial break will sweep us to a
reality in which we learn that apparently every drug that saves our lives can
kill us in twelve other ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or
that without hair, we can not find love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A
very smart student recently pointed out to me that our shorter attention span affects
us in other ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t read
the whole article anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We read
some of an article, get the gist and use that gist as a basis for our
facts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we read the whole
article, we would get all the details and all the context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t have time to read the
whole article.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not when we are
receiving a Facebook message informing us of that a friend has found an actual
use for <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/roasted-rutabaga-recipe.html" target="_blank">rutabagas</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>According
to the first 30 seconds of a news story I saw on Fox News and the first four
paragraphs of an article I read in some online newspaper, ISIS is trying to
destroy us. (I may have read it somewhere else, like a blog, a facebook post or
random ramble or something on my computer)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Seems
like ISIS does not need to go to this effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are destroying ourselves just fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uncritical acceptance of all media
content as being accurate, equating bloggers with actual journalists, the
<a href="http://www.niemanlab.org/2015/07/newsonomics-the-halving-of-americas-daily-newsrooms/" target="_blank">diminishing population of actual journalists </a>combined with our ever-shorter
attention span is destroying our minds, our brains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when we destroy our brains, we destroy the ISIS version
of ghouls--us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-5143051224690902412016-01-15T22:38:00.003-08:002023-12-29T13:38:06.342-08:00What I See When I See “Saw”<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> So,
this holiday season in my annual attempt to avoid the movies of the holiday
season I sat with my daughter to watch “Saw”, followed by “Saw2.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consistent with federal law regarding
horror films, no such film offers closure—just a means of setting up infinite
sequels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (2023 gave us the tenth Saw movie--the one where the evil Jigsaw hits menopause.)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Saw”
is different than the standard horror offerings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The killer in “Saw” is not just a teen who was not invited
to a dance ten years ago--who has grown into an adult that needs to kill all
who attend the federally mandated reunion of all those that did attend the
dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jigsaw has a motive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He only kills those not living lives of
perceived value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jigsaw passes
judgment on the quality of the life that was lived, without understanding the
back story of the person and without fact checking—just assuming the assortment
of offered facts are accurate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So,
in other words, Jigsaw does the same thing that many social media users do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Saw
is a perfect film for our social media driven society—without understanding the
context of the life we are judging, we get to post things without critical
thought, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>without consideration of the
effects or whether our basis for judgments are justified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like Jigsaw.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A
generic Facebook post is a <a href="http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/dont-believe-everything-you-see-on-the-internet.jpg" target="_blank">meme and a quote as the author of the meme hopes</a>—that someone will look at a quote and a meme
and assume whatever is there must be valid--hopes that are often rewarded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because if there is a picture AND a quote—well, that level
of sincerity and credibility can not be doubted, (according to sarcastic
bloggers such as I).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jigsaw
is self assured that his assumptions and interpretations are accurate or at
least hopes they are to help him justify his barbarism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are meme artists similarly self assured
or do they know they are dealing in defecation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
is easy for many to applaud Jigsaw for his righteousness against a selected set
of characters that have lived perceived lives of limited value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps Jigsaw is also popular because
he represents both the meme artists and those that repost the works of meme
artists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No critical thought is
needed to produce such memes or to believe such memes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite often, taking literally 15
seconds can show us whether a social media post is valid or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does Jigsaw take that much time to
reflect on the lives he tortures?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Do we take that much time to assure that we are not sending bovine
defecation to our social media friends?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or are some social media authors rightfully depending on the fact that
no one will challenge a meme?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now
I do grant you that sending and accepting a <a href="http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/dont-believe-everything-you-see-on-the-internet.jpg" target="_blank">meme based on no fact</a> at all is a
lesser offense than grinding someone’s nose under a semi’s wheels as Jigsaw might.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But is either a good idea?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-34016343707137328802014-03-28T14:11:00.001-07:002014-03-28T14:11:36.032-07:00
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No links in this blog. Just some thoughts.</div>
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Reflecting on a moment can ruin the moment. Not always.
But it might. I learned that
today.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I just got back from walking in the snow, the quiet broken
only by my shoes scaring away snow from my path, a gentle breeze that should be
cold but feels good on a January-like day. Surrounded by the woods and the
hills of Tennessee that we graciously call mountains, while the real mountains
reside in other parts of the state, I realized what a lovely moment it
was. How peaceful. How right.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I got back to my apartment, I saw three young people
sledding down the new three inch offering of snow. Two were sledding. One was taping on a cell
phone. Two were enjoying the moment. One was taping the moment. All three were apparently in fear that the
moment was so transient that if it was not saved on video, it never happened.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It made me realize something about the phrase “in the
moment.” There are two versions of
this. One version of “in the moment” is
actually three moments. The current moment
is surrounded by the moments of the past. Some may experience these as moments of lacking. Perhaps they remember lacking what are
thought to have been essential elements needed for contentment. Those missing elements of past moments may cause a focus on any present current needs—elements of
life still perceived to be missing, along with the realization of the moment’s
transient nature. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Directly in front of our current moment is the future, which
becomes our hopes and fears of the benefits and consequences of the moment. Those that surround themselves with the
past and the future as they live each moment are missing so much. So many moments are just perfect without
having to overlay the context of a realized past and an uncertain future. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There are those that are probably in the moment in its
truest sense. Each moment is
individual. There is certainly time for
reflection upon the meaning of the past and the benefits and consequences perhaps
derived from the moment. But the moment
is singular. It is now. It is unencumbered by context. Truly living
“in the moment.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unfortunately, I fall in to the 3-moment category of
experiencing life. I know I am missing
something. I know I am not alone. I am joined by all those that fear they have
to have video of the moment. To prove it
existed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-1687460588490618672013-12-26T12:25:00.006-08:002013-12-26T12:45:12.743-08:002013:The Year Trust Died<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
A year end summary. It's required from all media. A list is always preferred. Polls about how people feel about a list is especially nice. So here is my summary. It starts off as a bummer but ends on a bright note.</div>
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2013: The Year Trust Died</div>
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There is even a poll that somewhat proves <a href="http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestnational/1713511-8/study-shows-americans-less-trusting-than-theyve-ever" target="_blank">trust is dead</a>. Well, not dead, but dying. The percentage of people who trust their fellow man is at an all time low. Two out of three people don't trust the person sitting next to them. 2/3 are not trusting. That is up from one half some 40 years ago. </div>
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And why do we doubt each other? Well, Congress has a 9% approval rating. Certain legislators would certainly filibuster their own stays of execution, especially if Obama supported the bill. <a href="http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/11/27/no-daily-caller-a-meteorologist-survey-does-not/197080" target="_blank">Global warming</a> is <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2013/11/26/poll-nearly-half-of-meteorologists-dont-believe-in-man-made-global-warming/" target="_blank">being debated</a>. Because we can't trust anybody on this issue, obviously. </div>
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Some mistrust science. Not sure why science has become so politicized. Oh wait, I do know why and so do you. </div>
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Media have not helped the trust issue.. We can't even trust our most venerated institutions. </div>
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<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/27/business/media/leave-of-absence-for-lara-logan-after-flawed-benghazi-report.html?_r=0" target="_blank">60 Minutes screwed up</a> this year. Apparently, a very adventuresome reporter with great personal demographics didn't check her source's credibility. One of the most central tenets of journalism is to check your sources. Lara Logan and her producers failed. And now we can't even trust the program CBS built into one of the few last vestiges of traditional journalism.</div>
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So we don't trust the media that much anymore. FOX and MSNBC help with the mistrust telling us who not to trust but who to offer our full time hate to. </div>
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That we don't trust the media that much anymore probably comes from the media not trusting us. The media collectively think we're shallow, attention-deficit people with the collective IQ of a pop up toaster. Proof? When one of our greatest humans died, Nelson Mendela, his funeral was covered. We didn't hear the impassioned pleas of world leaders and South Africans to use the great man as a role model. We did hear that during this meeting of world leaders celebrating one of the unifying forces of all time that our President shook the hand of Cuba's leader. We heard in great detail that the sign language interpreter was a fraud. CNN offered about ten seconds of Obama's speech. </div>
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The media didn't trust us to maybe hear words of wisdom. Instead, we heard words of trivia. Words of sarcasm, derision and political implications regarding a handshake. (<a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/12/19/3828408/what-raul-castro-said-to-barack.html" target="_blank">The conversation</a>, as it was, between Castro and Obama included 5 words. Not even a verb was included.) </div>
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Oh, and a six year old was <a href="http://www.dailypaul.com/307477/more-public-school-insaniety-colorado-6-year-old-accused-of-sexual-harassment-and-suspended-for-kissing-a-girl" target="_blank">suspended for kissing</a> a girl. Apparently six year olds can not get partway to first base without prior written permission.</div>
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Teaching six year olds to mistrust each other is a good start to the process.</div>
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I can discuss the NSA and its contributions to a lack of trust but so many others already have. </div>
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So, losing trust, we retreat into our cocoons. Our comfort zone where we are assured of truths that we have always had. Where we have always known what was right and real and true. And the other side is, of course, wrong to the point of delusion with a side order of stupidity. </div>
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There is, however, much room for hope that all trust is not dead. </div>
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The new Pope has been such a welcome change. Instead of focusing on who to hate and what to condemn, he asked for and showed by example, that compassion is a gift to be shared. Even Jewish folks like me can appreciate his messages.</div>
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And an act of random kindness did remarkable things for my own trust. Two days before Christmas, my wife was using the snow blower on our driveway when she fell, breaking her ankle. She started crawling toward our house where I was sleeping. Her pain was extraordinary as her shattered ankle swelled. Crawling a few feet at a time until she had to stop because the pain was overwhelming. A stranger in a pickup truck noticed someone making snow angels. Then he and his wife noticed it wasn't a child doing snow angels but a grown person crawling.</div>
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He and his wife pulled up our driveway, assessed my wife and rang our doorbell. I quickly dressed and he and I put my wife in the front seat of his truck. His wonderful wife sat in the back with me offering support and encouragement as he drove over 8 inches of new snow covering a bed of ice to get us to the hospital. Upon arriving, he ran in to the emergency ward, grabbed a wheelchair and got it outside to help me get my wife onto the wheelchair and into the hospital. </div>
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He gave me his card as he drove away. He gave us his card in case we needed a ride home or anywhere else on this snowy, icy day. On his way home, he finished shoveling off our driveway so we could return home. </div>
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I called to thank him and get his address so we could send him something. He did not want anything in return. He said he did it because it was the right thing to do and his faith calls him toward such actions. </div>
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He is one of many who would have done the same thing. There are also many who would have chosen not to get involved. </div>
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So, my trust levels have taken a turn for the positive. There is still a long road to recover the trust levels of my youth. There is a long road to recovery just from the damage done to trust by 2013. Nelson Mendela was a source of trust. The Pope is a source of trust. And a stranger named Mike is a source of trust that I will share via this story and hopefully, I will pay it forward.</div>
Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-90879889756601813172013-09-15T22:49:00.001-07:002013-09-15T22:49:14.119-07:00Hope and Journalism Are Not Dead. Just ask Sorkin.<br />
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"<a href="http://www.hbo.com/the-newsroom/index.html" target="_blank">The Newsroom</a>" concluded its second season. If this is like the last break after season one, it will be just 43 weeks before we see season three. </div>
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Show creator Aaron Sorkin did for news what he did for government in "The West Wing." He painted a picture of an ideal world of virtuous people doing what they would be doing in an ideal world where pride, service to the public and professionalism still reign. And he makes it fun to watch. I lost my youthful idealism. Aaron Sorkin never lost his and I appreciate that.</div>
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Some have pointed out <a href="http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/season-finale-review-the-newsroom-election-night-part-2-let-my-love-open-the-door" target="_blank">flaws in the writing and storyline</a> of "The Newsroom." This is still a rare show that assumes the audience is not dopey. The show hopes that the audience has not become so overwhelmed by the cynicism that cable news offers that its viewers can accept the idea of hope. </div>
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While its realism has been severely doubted by those that actually do this for a living, a relief from cynicism and a reassertion of journalism as a profession that needs to reattain its position as a respected and truthful industry is very welcome. </div>
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While star Jeff Daniels tweeted that the show will be back for season three and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/12/the-newsroom-thomas-sadoski_n_3913451.html" target="_blank">HBO hinted the same</a>, Sorkin has not committed. Come on Aaron. 43 weeks from now, I will need the recharge in my faith.</div>
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Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-49448664124773662072013-09-12T20:44:00.000-07:002023-12-29T13:43:31.573-08:00So, has Facebook made us less human?<br />
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In the movie "Network", Howard Beall asked the rhetorical question, "What's so bad about dehumanization?" Like so many issues raised by that movie 47 years ago, this question is relevant today. We have our lives defined by social media, imitated by AI and vilified by any that thing in ways contrary to what we think. No matter what we think. </div>
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We are commodities. Corporations break us down into demographic and psychographic categories being judged by our marketing attractiveness. Our government breaks us down into categories based on the degree of national threat we pose, based on our digital communication. We are categorized. We always were but now what we buy, where we shop, what we say, what we view online, what we say online---is all being scrutinized by someone who doesn't know or care about us.</div>
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So, what's so bad about dehumanization? We will go to work today or look for work today, care about our families and complain about the deficiencies in our government and take for granted those things in our government that do work. We are going to have the same day we had 47 years ago. Except our privacy is being compromised and we are aware of it. Have we truly lost our freedom and have our lives materially changed due to all this information being tracked, categorized and shared? The philosophical arguments with these practices are compelling. The practical effects of this seem a bit less obtrusive or life changing. </div>
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Are we any less human today then 47 years ago?</div>
Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-43276615951437903312013-09-08T20:22:00.002-07:002013-09-12T20:45:14.544-07:00So how many are watching the Walking Dead elsewhere...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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They say that the marketplace will decide. And so it shall. And when it comes to television
viewing, or should we say media usage, what the marketplace decides will effect
all of us for the next 50 years.</div>
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Some in the marketplace are deciding to dump cable and
satellite. And what was once
considered a statistical glitch has become a statistic to reckon with. Combining the second quarter of 2012
and 2013, <a href="http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/cord-cutting-isnt-just-for-pirates-any-more/" target="_blank">645,000 cable subs dropped cable</a>, or as insiders call it, “cut the
cord.” <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jQ1rQN9aYEKMid8UXAtLEWGD4nCWKnkyfvIyVBXHKc-4NiqVfPZmv707bJKzkmHceZ3Q4XrIA1wXIpo47bnbK7GF-qvoGW9mx-zoSC68lBWeRxWyBlhE5KuRVDojXSKhIomfiTtOatQs/s1600/cut+the+cord.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jQ1rQN9aYEKMid8UXAtLEWGD4nCWKnkyfvIyVBXHKc-4NiqVfPZmv707bJKzkmHceZ3Q4XrIA1wXIpo47bnbK7GF-qvoGW9mx-zoSC68lBWeRxWyBlhE5KuRVDojXSKhIomfiTtOatQs/s1600/cut+the+cord.jpeg" /></a></div>
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Now <a href="http://www.digitaltrends.com/" target="_blank">Digital Trends</a> also reports that a significant number
attached their cables.</div>
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However and overall, 2012 marked the first time when cable lost more subs than they gained.</div>
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And Magna Global predicts that nine million households will
cut the cord before we elect the next president. Some say that estimate should be more like four to five
million. And with 100 million
households, shouldn’t cable be doing more of an Alfred E Neuman’s “What me
worry?”</div>
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Well, did you find yourself cheering on the cord
cutters? And was my wife, your
spouse and many young people also among the cheering? Anybody who made out a cable bill this month is thinking right now, "hmmmm." And all who already disowned cable and satellite are thinking, "Only 645,000 canned cable? What's taking the rest of you so long?" Has your neighbor who only pays about $30 a month to watch all the TV he wants using Hulu and Netflix made fun of you yet?</div>
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Money magazine reports that <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2013/08/06/technology/cable-price-hikes/index.html" target="_blank">triple play prices</a>—cable,
internet and phone—have jumped 20% over the last three years. Keep in mind that overall inflation was
about 2%. 76% said that if they
had to cut budgets, pay-tv would go first. And why not, with the average triple play costing an average
of $273 per month.</div>
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So are there options? A la carte cable gets brought up in
barroom discussions when all interesting topics have been exhausted. A la carte would allow consumers to
pick and choose which cable nets they get in their homes. This, in theory, would cut our costs
since we would not pay for all the cable nets we never watch. </div>
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Is cable listening?
Yes. <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2013/aug/08/business/la-fi-ct-ala-carte-tv-20130809" target="_blank">And giggling</a>. Chief Operating Officer of 21st Century
Fox, Chase Carey summed it up: “A
la carte is a fantasy.” Carey
claims that the current trend of bundling a bunch of cable networks together
for our consumption is actually what the public wants. </div>
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Speaking to 21<sup>st</sup> Century Fox execs, boss
Rupert Murdoch pushed away fears of cord cutting and dismissed any move toward
a la carte saying simply, <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">"</span>Let me be absolutely clear: Content is
still king." <o:p></o:p></div>
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But where will we get our content is the question. Netflix’ new
offering <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-holden/is-orange-the-new-black_b_3781525.html" target="_blank">“Orange is the New Black” </a>has an estimated 3 million plus viewers
early in its run. That is only 10
percent of the 29.17 million Netflix subscribers. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/23/netflix-original-content_n_3325615.html" target="_blank">Netflix has announced plans</a> to double its original
offerings. Many of those are already
choosing to watch “House of Cards.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
And last January, <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2013/01/08/hulu-debuts-previews-of-its-2013-original-programming-and-exclusive-series/" target="_blank">Hulu recently announced</a> its own foray into original
programming. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So, we can’t do a la carte when it comes to cable. But we can do a la carte with a lot of
other programming. We can pick and
choose individual programs through Netflix and Hulu. We can choose to watch sports online. Cable denies us a la carte programming,
but our media menu is shifting more to a la carte all the time. <br />
<br />
Without cable and satellite subs, who will be paying for the production of "Walking Dead?" Or "Duck Dynasty?" Can broadcast and cable continue to produce programming when there are fewer watching and if they're watching, perhaps not paying? Broadcast and cable are ducking such questions, at least publicly.<br />
<br />
<i style="background-color: cyan;">And by the way, when will Honey Boo-Boo cameo on "Duck Dynasty?" (an unrelated rhetorical question.)</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
As for cord cutting, Fox COO Carey acknowledges that the newly
graduated college students who never had cable before may choose to not get
cable. Ever. But Carey believes those statistical
changes will happen next decade, not in the next three years. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
The result of cord cutting may mean fewer cable networks survive,
fewer new ones get a chance or it could be that cable realizes that we can live
without them at its current cost.
Maybe, just maybe, the following chain of events will take place:<o:p></o:p></div>
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1. major sports, both
college and pro, will realize the fees they charge to broadcast and cable are
too high and will lower their costs, given so many subscribers are threatening to leave
cable and satellite so...<o:p></o:p></div>
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2. ESPN will be able to
lower its expenses so…<o:p></o:p></div>
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3. ESPN and others will
cut costs to cable and satellite companies…<o:p></o:p></div>
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4. and this trend will allow cable to lower its
expenses and its cost per subscriber leading to...<o:p></o:p><br />
5. much joy and more profits for cable and satellite.</div>
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Because we know that large companies always make wise decisions based
on statistical projections given current trends. </div>
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And we also know that Republicans will seek a centrist presidential
candidate to accommodate recent polling trends and Democrats will make gutsy decisions. <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-25290521379374006072013-07-21T09:58:00.001-07:002013-07-21T09:58:53.569-07:00Of swastikas and public relations<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Sometimes a great public relations firm will count on the laziness of the journalist. The hope of organizations is that the lazy editor of a newspaper will print the press release verbatim without fact checking. The country of Thailand thanks the lazy journalists of America for letting them get away with one...or more.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So when </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chulalongkorn University, a prestigious Thai university, <a href="http://www.timesofisrael.com/wiesenthal-center-slams-thai-university-for-hitler-mural/" target="_blank">allowed students to include Hitler among superheroes painted on a wall,</a> many around the world responded with shock. When the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2364035/Thailands-Chulalongkorn-University-apologises-giant-Adolf-Hitler-banner.html?ito=feeds-newsxml" target="_blank">university responded with an apology</a> explaining that the students didn't really know who Hitler was, the matter was settled. American and international journalists ran the apology.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What journalists did not follow up on is that the issue goes back to 2011, when an article noted that the swastika had become <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2011/09/28/world/asia/thailand-nazi-parade" target="_blank">chic attire</a> for Thailand's young. What journalists did not mention was a <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2356705/Fried-chicken-takeaway-called-Hitler-opens-Thailand-comes-complete-logo-Nazi-leader-bow-tie.html" target="_blank">fried chicken stand</a> in Bangkok that uses a picture of Hitler with a bow tie on its window. What journalists missed is pieces of a story were there among the t-shirts of swastikas and fried chicken parts.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I can tell you that not one Thai student I spoke with here in Bangkok knows what the swastika means or who Hitler is. A separate comment on the state of education may well be needed here. And perhaps might make a good story. What you read here is not an indictment of Thailand or the excellent people I have met here. It's an indictment and one more bit of evidence that some of our journalists are getting lazier. And public relations firms thank them for their support.</span></span></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-86448456562325655362013-07-14T23:42:00.000-07:002013-07-15T08:42:37.458-07:00Aaron Sorkin, source of a perfect world<br />
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While here in Thailand I missed the season premiere of <a href="http://www.hbo.com/the-newsroom/index.html" target="_blank">HBO's Newsroom</a>. I am bummed. Like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_West_Wing" target="_blank">West Wing</a>, creator <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0815070/" target="_blank">Aaron Sorkin</a> has created a perfect world where idealism mixed with professional pride and extraordinary talent accomplishes great things. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I asked a friend with 20+ years of network news experience and 20+ Emmy awards to show for it whether Newsroom is at all realistic. Sadly, I learned it is not. A real newsroom lacks the time for pontification and the great speeches that Sorkin offers. Perhaps, what Sorkin really wants to offer us is a journalistic ideal. No, not perhaps. That is what he is doing. Not to mention a lot of very good looking people. And Jeff Daniels. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I see things close to that ideal while In Thailand. Getting <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/" target="_blank">CNN International </a>and <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/" target="_blank">BBC</a> I learn about actual news. Not the news through the eyes of politicians like CNN in America, FOX and MSNBC offer, but through the eyes of experts who actually tell me why the news is important, who is effected and what are the possibilities for actions and reactions. Actual news. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The world does not care about Republicans and Democrats. They care about important things. Not watching American cable news networks, I get to learn about important things. The worst thing about CNN International is that they still have Piers Morgan. Why? Piers Morgan is to journalism what Ke$ha is to fine art. But I digress.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Keep giving us ideals, Mr. Sorkin. We need things to aspire to. We need to think there is hope and a world where journalistic skill, intellect and ethics override greed, the thirst for ratings and the belief that if you put enough attractive women on a news set, that some sort of news might be delivered. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ever shrinking budgets make gathering news so much harder. Newsrooms of TV stations and now a <a href="http://petapixel.com/2013/07/12/georgia-newspaper-chain-shutters-its-photo-department/" target="_blank">Georgia newspaper chain</a> have fired photographers and told the reporters they are now photographers AND videographers AND reporters AND editors AND bloggers AND tweeters..... They are called "<a href="http://onemansband.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">One Man Bands</a>." (Pardon the sexism. I just report this stuff, I don't give it names.)</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Burnout among journalists is high, pay remains pretty low and the <a href="http://stateofthemedia.org/" target="_blank">quality is diminishing</a>. Journalists are now sadly among the <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/1654/honesty-ethics-professions.aspx" target="_blank">least trusted professions</a>. Perhaps because so many believe a blogger is a journalist, but that's another story. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We need journalistic ideals. We need Aaron Sorkin to reassure us that there are still those that want to inform us and do so without a political agenda. I know my friend in the actual newsroom takes great pride in the content he offers and has the awards and respect to show for it. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In America, we have CNN, Fox, MSNBC and thousands of bloggers. What do we viewers have to show for it?</div>
Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-63610721374967004832013-04-23T23:33:00.000-07:002013-04-23T23:41:39.520-07:00Catching Up With Change--Part 2<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">Part 2 of playing catch up with all going on in the media. It's all about the media which means it's all about us. We're the end users. Are we getting any use?</span><br />
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Sometimes television does good. It doesn't mean all will be happy. A recent <a href="http://www.fox.com/glee/full-episodes/25368131909/">Glee</a> episode included an extended scene dramatizing a shooter in the high school while students and faculty took responsible actions to stay safe. It turns out in the program that there was no shooter though a gun was discharged on campus.</div>
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Those perhaps most qualified to comment on the appropriateness of the show,<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2307961/Glee-school-shooting-episode-Its-soon-say-Sandy-Hook-parents.html?ito=feeds-newsxml"> the people of Sandy Hook</a>, contended that the episode was too soon after the massacre. Others suggest that the episode keeps the issue front and center. The show was written before Sandy Hook happened. The terror was recreated well. Was it too soon after the massacre or was Fox serving to dramatize the effects of such violence? I am unqualified to have a conclusion. Fox did include a vague warning at the beginning of the show that the episode involved school violence. Glee dealt with a fear we all now share. Since Columbine there have been <a href="http://www.newsmax.com/US/mass-shootings-us-colorado/2012/07/20/id/445971">31+ massacres</a>. Was Glee too soon or too real? Or both?</div>
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<br /></div>
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The <a href="http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/04/12/glee-shooting-ratings/">ratings for Glee jumped 20% </a>for the episode. However, on April 18, Glee lost in the ratings to a rerun of The Big Bang Theory. Perhaps the most shocking news is that the five combined networks (apparently there is a <a href="http://www.cwtv.com/">CW network </a>that airs various programming) got a combined rating of 9.1. This means that fewer than one out of ten viewers watched a broadcast network at that time. This compares to a combined rating of 90 for three broadcast networks a few decades ago.</div>
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<br /></div>
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A recent study found that five million homes have become "<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/broadcasters-worry-zero-tv-homes-154357101--finance.html">zero TV homes.</a>" These homes have no antenna, no cable, satellite or other television program provider. That is up from two million such homes in 2007. They watch everything they want to on their computers. Some folks I spoke to have a large HDTV. It is hooked up to their computers to watch whatever they want online.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Cable bills are too high. There is so much available on the internet. There are many reasons to go to zero-TV. Perhaps if viewers didn't have to sit through 20 minutes of commercials per hour, they would be more patient? Perhaps broadcasters (and cable) could air fewer commercials, charge more for each and make just as much money? </div>
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<br /></div>
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If there were fewer commercials and shorter breaks, I would not be as prone to going to Weather Channel. I will keep TV in my home for various reasons I have rationalized. I love watching sports. I love watching Walking Dead. HBO does amazing documentaries and PBS has some great shows. It just ain't worth $100+, as my wife reminds me once a month when the bill comes.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">
Broadcast TV may be just a memory anyway if Fox goes through with its threat. And the FCC is aware of this threat and responded publicly. More about this in part 3 of "What's Changing in the Media?"</div>
Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-55669187063130723982013-04-23T12:50:00.002-07:002013-04-23T23:35:27.454-07:00Media Are/Is Changing--for good and bad...<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">
It's changing. Constantly. Quickly. Some change is good. Some change is bad. Some change is just, well….change.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">
Since I checked in last the media has run amok. Joan Rivers' mouth ran amok. AMC ratings ran amok. The Bible ran amok. Jon Stewart is running away. And broadcast networks may be going away.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This may take more than one column to catch us all up. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">
First let's take out the trash. Which means a comment about Joan Rivers. <a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/4817738/Joan-Rivers-jokes-Adele-is-Rolling-In-The-Deep-Fried-Chicken.html">Her comments</a> on Adele's weight may have been funny 30 years ago when Ms. Rivers was relevant. Yes, there was a time she was relevant. She did an excellent job subbing for Johnny Carson. Somehow, subbing for Johnny has made her <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/comedian-adam-hills-responds-joan-1742232">an expert on clothing and weight</a>. (The link here contains strong language, all directed at Joan Rivers.)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">
Joan is far from the only contributor to the problem of eating disorders. Just as culpable are the stories of miraculous weight loss. Snooki, whose sole contribution to society has yet to be determined, <a href="http://ph.news.yahoo.com/snooki-psycho-133000531.html">lost 42 pounds </a>not too long ago. We know this because of a story about her miraculous weight loss. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">
And by publicizing this story and all stories about actresses that gave birth, had a nanny raise their kid and lost a bunch of weight, the message is reinforced: Lose weight or women who had criminally negligent plastic surgery will criticize you. Or far worse and more seriously, some women and men may see themselves as less worthy and develop an eating disorder. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">
Another bad change: <a href="http://www.npr.org/programs/talk-of-the-nation/">Talk of the Nation </a>(TOTN) on NPR is going away. TOTN offered daily in depth discussions on a range of issues from the immediately relevant to the humorously trivial. NPR is canceling the show this summer. Is <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/30/business/media/npr-to-end-talk-of-the-nation.html">canceling TOTN </a>another episode of broadcasters giving in to our increasingly short attention span? The network announced it was replacing the show with more magazine style news programming. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">
The result of this cancellation and presumably the cancellation of Science Friday, is I will be less informed about a range of topics. I may know about stuff, but the depth of that knowledge will be truncated. Yes, I can research on my own. But I loved the way NPR did the research for me and presented it fairly, professionally and with a hint of perspective. I am sorry for our shorter attention spans. I am sure I am guilty also. Must we all suffer for it and have the trait reinforced by broadcasters? </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">
We will miss Neil Conan, host of TOTN and Ira Flatow, host of Science Friday. I thank them for making me smarter and allowing me to enjoy the process.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">
So much to talk about. A column ain't enough room. Give me a few minutes and I will continue. Not all the news is bad. Just wait. Some of it is good and some of the news is truly neutral but still interesting...</div>
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<br /></div>
Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-79184601578341189712013-03-04T23:24:00.000-08:002013-03-04T23:25:51.969-08:00Media Fixed: Proclaimed "Neutered"<br />
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<br />
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"Intellectually neutered." A great phrase. No way to interpret
that as a compliment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That is how <a href="http://www.theblaze.com/blog/author/WillCain/">Will Cain of the Blaze</a> recently described journalists on <a href="http://reliablesources.blogs.cnn.com/">CNN’s 'Reliable Sources.' </a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Will also dismissed our news gatherers as "shallow
theater critics." </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Evidence of this:
according to polls, most do not know what the 'sequester' is or its
effects, but we know that each party blames the other for it. More
evidence: Some may actually have believed
it was inevitable. Still more: We
don't know what <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/13/full-text-and-video-of-marco-rubio-s-state-of-the-union-response.html">Marco Rubio said after the SOTU,</a> but we know he was
thirsty. A bit more: much attention paid to Obama confusing
Star Wars and Star Trek. Mind
melds were Vulcan. All school
children should have learned that in first grade. (Maybe just my kids learned that in first grade.) Not much attention paid to actual effects of, well, the sequester.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is so easy to analyze what doesn't matter. How else could Joan Rivers justify
making a living critiquing clothing at the Oscars when her sole expertise comes
from 50+ years as a comedienne?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another question:
why call the budget cut a 'sequester?" Was our government depending on the "kardashianism"
of our media in the hope that the public would hear a three syllable, nine
letter word and tune out? Thanks
to Will Cain, among others, for giving us the term <a href="http://artificiallyawake-america.blogspot.com/2012/01/kardashianism-of-society-has-to-end.html">"Kardashianism."</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe we get what we want. Actually trending recently: <a href="http://perezhilton.com/2013-02-21-britney-spears-grocery-list-sighting-items-revealed#.UTU2h6VQAWA"> Britney Spear's shopping list.</a> Trending as I write this: Paul
McCartney arrived at his daughter’s show late. Trying to sleep now will be hopeless.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By the way, is there a need to know the difference between a
Kardashian and a Snooki? Is there a difference? I am sure there is a newly neutered news correspondent covering this important issue.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-3265333732591857802013-02-15T16:53:00.002-08:002013-02-15T16:57:25.762-08:00While We Were Watching The Poop Hit The Deck<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
A great story. Trapped in a flood
of sewage on a luxury liner. Even
without actual video, word pictures did wonders to make the story work. I mean
having Sanjay Gupta call it a 'floating petri dish.' Dang. Now
that's visuals. I watched CNN's
exclusive video of a non-moving ship at sea. I watched Fox News lacking the
budget to actually send a reporter to the scene, depending on studio hosts
talking via cell phone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I bought the story and watched the
reunions. I got sucked in hearing
how bad things sucked. I wonder if
many politicians and the media were glad to have us distracted. From what I gather, our leaders would
much rather have us pay attention to stories of poop in the hallways then know
what is going on in Des Moines and the world.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Wait, another passenger is talking
to CNN: “We walked through…well,
stuff that had overflowed…but the crew never stopped smiling…”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Oskaloosa (Iowa) republican Guy Vander
Linden reading from his party’s talking points, did admit this week that his
party is pushing through a voter id law.
He wants to make sure that our fair legal elections are altered to
assure that some are excluded. Well, that’s not what he said but considering there were few (or
no) reports of voting irregularity in Iowa, or America, what other motivation
could there be? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
"Oh, the crew went above and
beyond..."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9tBFOXiTwppkkdma3wS2ZiWMp98NEsTiy1LW4VhHErqgzXMIx6jzmUlkF94sID-7f6d6Z7jAusrqPcKy3KeQn43ZpOlZukAVCjwwAz6TNVqLW_ZTM6Z1XrcCeecnv2vCL4rO8wtU9czI/s1600/gross+ship.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9tBFOXiTwppkkdma3wS2ZiWMp98NEsTiy1LW4VhHErqgzXMIx6jzmUlkF94sID-7f6d6Z7jAusrqPcKy3KeQn43ZpOlZukAVCjwwAz6TNVqLW_ZTM6Z1XrcCeecnv2vCL4rO8wtU9czI/s1600/gross+ship.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Campaign finance reform is on the
table. Thanks to DM Register for a <a href="http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2013/02/10/iowa-senate-campaign-finance-bill-offers-new-approach/article">fair and balanced story</a>. (seriously) Few have more to lose if
such reform is passed than the media.
One billion dollars were spent on the last election. Republicans vow to kill it. We could join 20+ states that have introduced some form of common sense campaign finance reform. It is no wonder that 4 of 5 Supreme Court
justices that voted for Citizens United didn’t show up for the state of the union
address. They know how much they
injured the state of the union. Do
the media really want campaign finance reform? The people that own the media have so much to lose if such
regulations spread.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
"We give thanks to God and
the crew."<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since I got back from Thailand on
February 1, the price of a gallon of gas has gone up 24 cents. No reason except an improving economy
makes oil speculators more optimistic that we will travel more, hence price
gouging. Oh, you want an update on
returning luxury cruise passengers?
OK.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Conditions were deplorable,
food was scarce a couple of days but the crew was fantastic."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, I was among the
distracted. Passengers are
safe. What I learned from that
story is that the crew did great work.
Time to get back to our world.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-62410955345242610112013-01-26T22:32:00.001-08:002013-01-26T22:33:08.103-08:00reflections of a well respected guava<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnZzwk02Zv2-8lXLuBNypCBzq8GWumOMqoKoAXBCr_5CLHXITAg8LmA8uaFwIXw-Zf-_cVXzis3LbfTyw_okoGozOyc9JbSikAGG0drc2FHH_b8ugFsgdBPHqskd-hSHM3qEkd0SB8TEP/s1600/guavas.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnZzwk02Zv2-8lXLuBNypCBzq8GWumOMqoKoAXBCr_5CLHXITAg8LmA8uaFwIXw-Zf-_cVXzis3LbfTyw_okoGozOyc9JbSikAGG0drc2FHH_b8ugFsgdBPHqskd-hSHM3qEkd0SB8TEP/s1600/guavas.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
I am a guava in Thailand. Foreigners, especially Americans, are referred to as "farangs", a Thai word for <a href="http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/guava.html">guava</a>. It is said with respect. As much respect as a traveling guava might get. I am treated very well here. I have learned a lot. And have many questions. And I answered many questions from the students from the dozen or so countries that I have met.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Why doesn't America release <a href="http://www.myanmar-tourism.com/">Burma</a> from all of the economic sanctions. The Burmese students answer the question in a way that Hillary Clinton was too politic to answer. It is because they are not free. Yet. They are optimistic that the process that has begun will be successful. In about 15 years, they say. A long process they admit, but freedom takes time. I have not met citizens of any country with more pride and hope for its future than those of Burma.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
My <a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/category/columns/nigeria-today/">Nigerian</a> students ask why do the American media portray Nigeria as a country wholly consumed with civil war and the bombings that serve as evidence of such a war? Nigerian students speak with pride about their country. There are divisions and troubles and prejudice, they admit. There is also peace in much of the country, a strong culture and an articulate people.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Why does America portray <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/somalia">Somalia</a> as the land of pirates and starvation? The pirates and terrorists are a small percentage of the population. Somalia has a strong culture and a strong people. Simple respect would be appreciated.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
My Muslim student from Thailand answers my dopey questions about her religion. I get to admit to her the very much that I don't know about her religion. She is glad to share since it is her belief that once I understand her religion that the next natural step is that I will want to join her religion. We compared and contrasted our religions, Judaism and Islam. We share much and also differ significantly. She asked why Americans think that she and all her Islamic friends are all terrorists. I truthfully tell her that not all Americans think all Muslims are alike. I tell her it is just the ignorant ones. </div>
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She says that watching American media, how could Americans come to any other conclusion except that they are all terrorists? A fair question and I have no answer.</div>
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The person from <a href="http://www.kingdomofbhutan.com/">Bhutan</a> is proud of her country that consistently rates among the ten happiest countries in the world. She is proud to share literature from her national airline. The overly complex English sentences included in the magazine tells me that her country does not look down on those that read about it. They lift them up with articulate, though overly complex sentences. It is also a country that wants tourists but will not sacrifice the safety of its treasured natural resources just to accommodate a few more tourists. Very wise people. It is a beautiful country.</div>
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My <a href="http://www.zambiatourism.com/">Zambian</a> student does not talk about her country that much. I do know that she is 19 years old and has written a novel and keeps a blog with tips for young women on how to stay safe. Based on all the people I now know from Zambia, it is a remarkable place. Victoria Falls, according to those that have visited the Zambian treasure, is worth the trip all by itself.</div>
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I ask, to no one in particular, why can't all Americans learn about these and other countries? Why do American media have to define countries and religions by the acts of a few? The first answer is that I have been given the gift of meeting these people through my travels to Thailand. The second answer is also easy. </div>
Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-61964488028307493602013-01-25T22:04:00.000-08:002013-01-25T22:05:34.018-08:00Watching America From Afar--part 2<br />
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Here in Bangkok, my students from Asia, Europe, Canada and Africa asked me about things they see trending on Yahoo. I can only do an eye roll and explain...that I can't explain. I can only apologize. And then I explain the eye roll video.</div>
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Thanks to Yahoo, I relearned that people can read nonverbal behavior, particularly that of Michelle Obama. I learned that a blogger can draw conclusions about what certain nonverbal behavior is reacting to, though the blogger is utterly ignorant of the context of the reaction.</div>
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Video from the inaugural luncheon shows Michelle Obama doing an eye roll after Speaker of the House Boehner says something. We can not hear what the Speaker said. Maybe he was talking basketball and Michelle may be tired of talking basketball. Maybe the Speaker was saying that gays should only be allowed to marry aardvarks. We don't know. But her eye roll video went viral and trended number one on Yahoo. How sad.</div>
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I learned a new word today. Photobomb. Bill Clinton can be seen supposedly gawking at Kelly Clarkson during the inauguration. Nice to know Bill Clinton can still recognize a pretty girl when he sees one. And knowing he still knows one when he sees one makes me.....quite shallow, actually.</div>
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With all the important things that President Obama said during the inauguration speech, so many are focusing on the trivial. It is easy to understand the trivial. Journalists do not have to analyze and provide context to the trivial. And nobody ever accused Yahoo of challenging its readers to new ideas.</div>
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There is so much to talk about as the President laid out his hopes for a second term. And intelligent people can debate those priorities. If such debate is going on, it will not be via Yahoo. </div>
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It makes me sad to see what the priorities are of people searching the internet. It is hard for me to explain to my students. Picture me doing an eye roll. Because I am. </div>
Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000392427852579623.post-10929155425065700412013-01-14T07:33:00.000-08:002013-01-14T07:33:03.572-08:00Watching America From Afar...<br />
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Watching America from afar is fun. Watching CNN international in Bangkok and staying updated via internet while spending days with students from a bunch of different countries is fascinating. A great perspective change. CNN in America covers politics. CNN International covers...news. It's a very nice change. Here is some of what else I have learned so far:</div>
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For one thing, America, let's not get too cocky about how cool we are. According to <a href="http://en.rsf.org/press-freedom-index-2011-2012,1043.html">Reporters Without Borders </a> rankings of countries by degree of press freedom, the USA ranks 47th out of 179 countries. (Why can't we be actually cool like Canada in tenth place?) </div>
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Some other notes I gathered in my travels in Bangkok:</div>
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--A young lady from Iran wants to know why American media focus on the Iranian president when the actual power in Iran resides in its religious leaders.</div>
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<span style="color: black; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">--Young people from Burma tell me that through the extraordinary work of </span><a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/Aung-San-Suu-Kyi-Burmas-Revolutionary-Leader-165590706.html">Aung San Suu Kyi</a>, the country is on the rise but still very much a work in progress. The Burmese media are sources of amusement, though not sources of facts.</div>
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--Some Canadian and British nationals say that socialized medicine is not perfect--but it works very well and they don't understand the American issues regarding health care reform.</div>
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--A charming young woman from <a href="http://www.kingdomofbhutan.com/">Bhutan</a> taught me two things: the country of Bhutan exists and it is has been ranked the <a href="http://www.wingia.com/web/files/news/38/file/38.pdf">6th happiest country in the world</a>. (United States is merely average among the happy countries of the world.) </div>
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Finally, why is Piers Morgan doing whatever he does? Intelligent debate about gun control is necessary. He is not capable of carrying such on such a debate or interview or apparently any other journalistic endeavor. His "questions"--and "questions" needs to be in quotes--seems to be rattling off statistics that he wants opponents of gun control to acknowledge. Piers, getting people to acknowledge a statistic is as useful as getting people to agree the flu makes you sick. Develop points of view, debate perspectives... oh, c'mon Piers, you have actually made me miss Larry King.</div>
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This is some of what I have observed in Thailand while watching America from afar. America is great. With some hard work by our journalists helping us understand our world a bit better, we can definitely be greater.</div>
Richard Vogelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03953151986684385858noreply@blogger.com0