Sunday, July 28, 2013
The Plain Truth: The Awful Truth About Television: Fake News and ot...
The Plain Truth: The Awful Truth About Television: Fake News and ot...: Think your TV news show is packed with informative, unbiased news? It may actually be contaminiated with propaganda produced by government ...
The Awful Truth About Television: Fake News and other reasons not to watch TV news!
Think your TV news show is packed with informative, unbiased news? It may actually be contaminiated with propaganda produced by government agencies, large corporations, and others and disguised as news. Unfortunately, that's not the only problem with TV news. Part 11 of "The Awful Truth About Television" series.
DO touch that dial to avoid fake news
Government agencies, corporations, industry groups, and other large organizations contaminate the airwaves with fake news. These organizations produce pre-packaged news segments called VNRs, or Video News Releases. These segments look like real news. In fact, VNRs are little more that propaganda pieces for their producers. Stations have routinely used these fake news segments since at least the 1980s, usually without disclosing their source.
There is nothing inherently wrong with the government and other social actors creating interesting audio or video pieces to communicate with the public. The problem is that these propaganda pieces do not properly identify the source. They are made to look and feel like independent news casts with government/corporate actors pretending to be reporters.
Government attempts to regulate fake news
There have been a few efforts to control this phenomenon. The Government Accountability Office ruled in February 2005 that government-sponsored TV "news" reports are covert propaganda, unless their source is apparent to viewers. The Senate introduced the Truth in Broadcasting Act (S. 967) in 2005 into committee. This act would require all pre-packaged, government-produced audio and video news releases to include a clear disclaimer that the government was the original source. This act would not apply to VNRs produced by corporations, industry groups, or charitable foundations. As of this writing, the full Senate has yet to vote on the bill and the no one has introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives.
Media is controlled by only FIVE corporations
Looking at the amount of programming available, you might think that there is a wide variety of choice. There are literally hundreds of TV stations with options to choose from sports, news, cartoons, history, painting, and more. On the surface, the amount of options appears staggering. However, only five major corporations control the majority of the media. These five huge corporations—Disney, Time Warner, Bertelsmann of Germany, Murdoch's News Corporation, and Viacom (formerly CBS)—own not only most of the television stations, but now own most of the newspapers, magazines, books, and radio stations in the United States as well.
Television puts your logical brain to sleep
There is a reason people's eyes glaze over and they assume a zombie-like stare, when they are watching TV. Their brains are in a hynotic, alpha brainwave state.
In the Mulholland experiment, 10 children watched their favorite television program, while the researchers monitored their brainwave patterns. The researchers expected that the children would show a preponderance of beta waves. This would indicate that they were involved and responding to their favorite programs. Instead, they stayed in alpha. “They just sat back. They stayed almost the whole time in alpha. That meant that while they were watching they were not reacting, not orienting, not focusing, just spaced out,” said Dr. Eric Peper.
Similarly, in the early 1980’s, researchers in Australia found that the left-brain "sort of went to sleep" once TV was switched on, but the right brain was busy "storing information in its memory bank."
What these studies show is that the right side of the brain may be dutifully absorbing all the images from your television screen, but the left side is lulled into a stupor by the television’s flicker. This makes analysis of the images difficult. It also makes it difficult to remember exactly what you have been watching. Furthermore, the research suggests that the left side of the brain may remain in a stupor even after you turn the TV off.
What is a concerned citizen to do? How to dig for real news
1) The first step is to start reading, instead of watching, your news. Television generally takes a lot of time to get across a little bit of information. With reading you can absorb information much faster. A five minute story on the news can be read online or in the newspaper generally in less than a minute. The spare time can be used to analyze the story.
2) The next step in developing a good picture of the world is to get several good news sources. Begin with a mainstream newspaper or website to simply get an idea of the basic issues that are at stake.
Then, select a couple of alternative news sources outside the mainstream. I am not going to recommend a particular source, because I do not wish to become engaged in liberal/conservative partisan discussions. These distinctions start to fall away once you start to analyze the news for yourself anyway.
3) The next step is simply to start critically viewing the material that you read. Does it make logical sense? Are there inconsistencies? Does the story change from one day to the next? Are there any patterns to events? This step is essential. Put that left brain into hyper-drive. Question the news you read, whatever the source.
4) Finally, if there are inconsistencies or notable patterns, it is time to start researching. Whenever possible it is best to go to the source of an issue. For example, if the government passes a new law about security, don’t waste time watching or reading the petty analyses of pundits. Find a copy of the law! Do not rely on someone else to give an interpretation. The internet makes it much easier to find source documents.
In short, the good news is that you do not need TV news to become informed about the world.
About 'The Awful Truth About Television' Series:
What happens when the average American spends 4 hours 32 minutes every day watching television? Trash Your TV's 'The Awful Truth About Television' Series explores the multifaceted problems with TV in eleven hard-hitting articles. Read the full series and you will never look at your television set the same way again.
And That's The Plain Truth!
DO touch that dial to avoid fake news
Government agencies, corporations, industry groups, and other large organizations contaminate the airwaves with fake news. These organizations produce pre-packaged news segments called VNRs, or Video News Releases. These segments look like real news. In fact, VNRs are little more that propaganda pieces for their producers. Stations have routinely used these fake news segments since at least the 1980s, usually without disclosing their source.
There is nothing inherently wrong with the government and other social actors creating interesting audio or video pieces to communicate with the public. The problem is that these propaganda pieces do not properly identify the source. They are made to look and feel like independent news casts with government/corporate actors pretending to be reporters.
Government attempts to regulate fake news
There have been a few efforts to control this phenomenon. The Government Accountability Office ruled in February 2005 that government-sponsored TV "news" reports are covert propaganda, unless their source is apparent to viewers. The Senate introduced the Truth in Broadcasting Act (S. 967) in 2005 into committee. This act would require all pre-packaged, government-produced audio and video news releases to include a clear disclaimer that the government was the original source. This act would not apply to VNRs produced by corporations, industry groups, or charitable foundations. As of this writing, the full Senate has yet to vote on the bill and the no one has introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives.
Media is controlled by only FIVE corporations
Looking at the amount of programming available, you might think that there is a wide variety of choice. There are literally hundreds of TV stations with options to choose from sports, news, cartoons, history, painting, and more. On the surface, the amount of options appears staggering. However, only five major corporations control the majority of the media. These five huge corporations—Disney, Time Warner, Bertelsmann of Germany, Murdoch's News Corporation, and Viacom (formerly CBS)—own not only most of the television stations, but now own most of the newspapers, magazines, books, and radio stations in the United States as well.
Television puts your logical brain to sleep
There is a reason people's eyes glaze over and they assume a zombie-like stare, when they are watching TV. Their brains are in a hynotic, alpha brainwave state.
In the Mulholland experiment, 10 children watched their favorite television program, while the researchers monitored their brainwave patterns. The researchers expected that the children would show a preponderance of beta waves. This would indicate that they were involved and responding to their favorite programs. Instead, they stayed in alpha. “They just sat back. They stayed almost the whole time in alpha. That meant that while they were watching they were not reacting, not orienting, not focusing, just spaced out,” said Dr. Eric Peper.
Similarly, in the early 1980’s, researchers in Australia found that the left-brain "sort of went to sleep" once TV was switched on, but the right brain was busy "storing information in its memory bank."
What these studies show is that the right side of the brain may be dutifully absorbing all the images from your television screen, but the left side is lulled into a stupor by the television’s flicker. This makes analysis of the images difficult. It also makes it difficult to remember exactly what you have been watching. Furthermore, the research suggests that the left side of the brain may remain in a stupor even after you turn the TV off.
What is a concerned citizen to do? How to dig for real news
1) The first step is to start reading, instead of watching, your news. Television generally takes a lot of time to get across a little bit of information. With reading you can absorb information much faster. A five minute story on the news can be read online or in the newspaper generally in less than a minute. The spare time can be used to analyze the story.
2) The next step in developing a good picture of the world is to get several good news sources. Begin with a mainstream newspaper or website to simply get an idea of the basic issues that are at stake.
Then, select a couple of alternative news sources outside the mainstream. I am not going to recommend a particular source, because I do not wish to become engaged in liberal/conservative partisan discussions. These distinctions start to fall away once you start to analyze the news for yourself anyway.
3) The next step is simply to start critically viewing the material that you read. Does it make logical sense? Are there inconsistencies? Does the story change from one day to the next? Are there any patterns to events? This step is essential. Put that left brain into hyper-drive. Question the news you read, whatever the source.
4) Finally, if there are inconsistencies or notable patterns, it is time to start researching. Whenever possible it is best to go to the source of an issue. For example, if the government passes a new law about security, don’t waste time watching or reading the petty analyses of pundits. Find a copy of the law! Do not rely on someone else to give an interpretation. The internet makes it much easier to find source documents.
In short, the good news is that you do not need TV news to become informed about the world.
About 'The Awful Truth About Television' Series:
What happens when the average American spends 4 hours 32 minutes every day watching television? Trash Your TV's 'The Awful Truth About Television' Series explores the multifaceted problems with TV in eleven hard-hitting articles. Read the full series and you will never look at your television set the same way again.
And That's The Plain Truth!
The Plain Truth: Americans Unite Return Government to the People!
The Plain Truth: Americans Unite Return Government to the People!: Tired of paying too much in taxes while your government continues to waste your hard-earned money and not listen to what you want? Do someth...
Americans Unite Return Government to the People!
Tired of paying too much in taxes while your government continues to waste your hard-earned money and not listen to what you want? Do something about it, says a provocative new website working to give the power back to the people. Voter powerusa.com says there are four simple things you can do to take back your government from corporate lobbyists, special interest groups and dishonest politicians.
1. Unite and vote. In a two- party system only one side can win, but no matter who wins, nothing changes. By voting together on major issues at voter powerusa.com, both parties can win no matter who's elected. You win by getting both candidates to commit to what you want.
There are many issues to vote on. An affordable national health care and prescription drug plan that cuts costs for all Americans, illegal immigration, government waste, unfair taxes, identity theft and many others.
2. Spread the word. Forward the website to everyone you know and tell them to do the same.
3. Support voterpowerusa.com with a donation to keep you informed on what experts say about the issues, and help produce a TV show based on helping you get what you need. You can also purchase Get Out The Vote apparel, CDs, books, souvenirs and many other items.
4. Vote out politicians who vote against what you want. This sends a clear message that you will hold them accountable for their actions. Don't you think it's time?
1. Unite and vote. In a two- party system only one side can win, but no matter who wins, nothing changes. By voting together on major issues at voter powerusa.com, both parties can win no matter who's elected. You win by getting both candidates to commit to what you want.
There are many issues to vote on. An affordable national health care and prescription drug plan that cuts costs for all Americans, illegal immigration, government waste, unfair taxes, identity theft and many others.
2. Spread the word. Forward the website to everyone you know and tell them to do the same.
3. Support voterpowerusa.com with a donation to keep you informed on what experts say about the issues, and help produce a TV show based on helping you get what you need. You can also purchase Get Out The Vote apparel, CDs, books, souvenirs and many other items.
4. Vote out politicians who vote against what you want. This sends a clear message that you will hold them accountable for their actions. Don't you think it's time?
Saturday, July 27, 2013
The Plain Truth: The Government Takes Advantage of Americans’ Ignor...
The Plain Truth: The Government Takes Advantage of Americans’ Ignor...: Whoever first said “ignorance is bliss” must not have imagined what 21 st century life in the United States would look like. Sure, being u...
The Government Takes Advantage of Americans’ Ignorance of Laws, All The Time!
Whoever first said “ignorance is bliss” must not have imagined what 21st
century life in the United States would look like. Sure, being unaware
of all the problems in American government, and having a sweeping
ignorance of laws can wave the veil of ease over the lives of those who
are blissfully ignorant to its reality, but as many Americans are
unaware of the state of American politics, both federal and state
governments are cashing in on their ignorance.
Take, for example, the Affordable Care Act. Just weeks ago the Kaiser Family Foundation released a report that stated that “four in ten Americans (42%) are unaware that the ACA is still the law of the land, including 12% who believe the law has been repealed by Congress, 7% who believe it has been overturned by the Supreme Court and 23% who say they don’t know enough to say what the status of the law is.” And the longer Americans remain out of the loop, the more time the government has to implement the mandate with little push back from many Americans.
Free Rides
And what about riders? You know, those little provisions added to unrelated bills in an effort to see them passed. Most Americans know little about them because the media and politicians focus on the main topic of the legislation, neglecting to discuss what would typically be the controversial matters. Last summer, an agriculture appropriations bill dealt with federal appropriations. But hidden deep within the legislation was the biotech rider. If passed, the rider would’ve allowed genetically modified crop varieties to be planted regardless of whether a federal judge thinks the USDA improperly approved the crop. Although the biotech rider wasn’t passed, it was resurrected in March 2013 when it showed up in the Senate’s Continuing Resolution, another piece of legislation that had nothing to do with agriculture biotech. And most riders are written in an effort to keep you ignorant while you’re distracted by the larger piece of legislation.
At some point (perhaps immediately), Americans have to ask: Are we allowing the government to take advantage of us by refusing to know the facts?
The answer is: You betcha. And shame on the government for banking on our ignorance! But also, shame on those who don’t even attempt to be informed.
William, the Conqueror… of Nothing, in Kansas
Let’s talk about William Marotta, a fine example of this issue in action. In 2009, he responded to an ad on Craigslist and donated sperm to a lesbian couple. But unaware of a Kansas state law that requires men to donate through a licensed physician, Marotta dealt directly with the couple, not a doctor. Long story short, the couple’s family plans did not go as planned between them, and now, Marotta is being sued by the Kansas Department of Children and Families for back child support. Marotta and the couple signed an agreement relinquishing him of any parental rights and responsibilities, but the state argues that the contract is worthless because they defied the state law. Sure, we could argue that the state is taking advantage of Marotta considering that the couple doesn’t want his money, but we have to ask: Did Marotta even research the laws surrounding sperm donation? Is he an innocent victim being played by the government, or is he facing reasonable consequences for his disregard for the law? Whether this disregard was due to his ignorance or for convenience, or something else is up for speculation, granted, but the story suggests he was grossly uninformed.
Certainly, the government has a reputation for cashing in on people’s ignorance. With all of the scandals this year, it’s undeniable that the government likes to keep American citizens in the dark in order to have their way with us. But at what point do we fight it by becoming informed. It’s not an easy task to wade through the deluge of skewed facts and twisted information, but isn’t it time to seek the truth instead of waiting for it to land on our doorstep?
Remember what Benjamin Franklin said: “It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins.” As Always The Plain Truth!
Take, for example, the Affordable Care Act. Just weeks ago the Kaiser Family Foundation released a report that stated that “four in ten Americans (42%) are unaware that the ACA is still the law of the land, including 12% who believe the law has been repealed by Congress, 7% who believe it has been overturned by the Supreme Court and 23% who say they don’t know enough to say what the status of the law is.” And the longer Americans remain out of the loop, the more time the government has to implement the mandate with little push back from many Americans.
Free Rides
And what about riders? You know, those little provisions added to unrelated bills in an effort to see them passed. Most Americans know little about them because the media and politicians focus on the main topic of the legislation, neglecting to discuss what would typically be the controversial matters. Last summer, an agriculture appropriations bill dealt with federal appropriations. But hidden deep within the legislation was the biotech rider. If passed, the rider would’ve allowed genetically modified crop varieties to be planted regardless of whether a federal judge thinks the USDA improperly approved the crop. Although the biotech rider wasn’t passed, it was resurrected in March 2013 when it showed up in the Senate’s Continuing Resolution, another piece of legislation that had nothing to do with agriculture biotech. And most riders are written in an effort to keep you ignorant while you’re distracted by the larger piece of legislation.
At some point (perhaps immediately), Americans have to ask: Are we allowing the government to take advantage of us by refusing to know the facts?
The answer is: You betcha. And shame on the government for banking on our ignorance! But also, shame on those who don’t even attempt to be informed.
William, the Conqueror… of Nothing, in Kansas
Let’s talk about William Marotta, a fine example of this issue in action. In 2009, he responded to an ad on Craigslist and donated sperm to a lesbian couple. But unaware of a Kansas state law that requires men to donate through a licensed physician, Marotta dealt directly with the couple, not a doctor. Long story short, the couple’s family plans did not go as planned between them, and now, Marotta is being sued by the Kansas Department of Children and Families for back child support. Marotta and the couple signed an agreement relinquishing him of any parental rights and responsibilities, but the state argues that the contract is worthless because they defied the state law. Sure, we could argue that the state is taking advantage of Marotta considering that the couple doesn’t want his money, but we have to ask: Did Marotta even research the laws surrounding sperm donation? Is he an innocent victim being played by the government, or is he facing reasonable consequences for his disregard for the law? Whether this disregard was due to his ignorance or for convenience, or something else is up for speculation, granted, but the story suggests he was grossly uninformed.
Certainly, the government has a reputation for cashing in on people’s ignorance. With all of the scandals this year, it’s undeniable that the government likes to keep American citizens in the dark in order to have their way with us. But at what point do we fight it by becoming informed. It’s not an easy task to wade through the deluge of skewed facts and twisted information, but isn’t it time to seek the truth instead of waiting for it to land on our doorstep?
Remember what Benjamin Franklin said: “It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins.” As Always The Plain Truth!
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
The Plain Truth: Countries Are Collapsing, Just Look Around the Wor...
The Plain Truth: Countries Are Collapsing, Just Look Around the Wor...: Let’s have a look at Egypt. It’s toast. Egypt is breaking down because Hosni Mubarak didn’t create a modern and free economy to propel the...
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