More Information, Less Informed

In this age of the internet and numerous cable news networks, we have an abundance of information at our fingertips. We should all be far better informed. Yet, unless we are diligent, we only get that information in short segments. Very few deep dives where we get all the facts and context rather than just the headline. 

The cable news equivalent of the newspaper headline or extra addition is the breaking news graphic, announcement, chime, or the large blinking TV crawl (chyron). 

We also have many news outlets that are highly curated to give a specific slant and bias to the news they disseminate. Some have no regard for facts and spread conspiracy theories. There is also a blurring between news content and opinion or editorial content. We should all realize that Fox News is slanted toward the Trump/GOP agenda. MSNBC is slanted toward a more Democratic view. Neither of these networks has actual news programs during primetime. They are opinion/commentary shows. The same is also true for most of the daytime programs. 

As slanted as those two networks may be, they are "fair and balanced" compared to many media outlets. There are websites, podcasts, YouTube and Facebook Live shows, email newsletters, etc. that are at the extremes. You can find some outlet that will feed you what you believe is the truth and what want to hear. Of course, that is dangerous. We all tend to agree with the news that most mirrors our beliefs and views. We also tend to dismiss news we don't agree with regardless of the facts. 

I would encourage you to flip the channel, go to another website, subscribe to a different newspaper or newsletter. I would also encourage you to regularly skip the opinion shows. Watch the network and local newscasts around 6:00 each evening. Read your local paper and a couple of national publications. Give a peak to an international TV news program like the BBC or even Al Jazeera. See what the rest of the world thinks about what is happening and what they think about the US.  As time goes by, if you have an open mind, you will learn which publications, programs, reporters, anchors, websites can be trusted. None are infallible, but some are mostly factual. The good ones quickly admit their errors and correct the reporting. The bad ones simply forget the story or dig in and repeat the erroneous stories. Two different sources are better than one. Three are better than two. 

Find out who you can trust then curate your own opinions based on those facts. Even then, everyone will not agree. Facts are facts but they can be interpreted differently. Religious, ethnic, racial, gender, geographical, political, professional, etc. differences play into our interpretations of those facts. 

It's our country. It is our duty to vote and if we plan to vote, it is our duty to be informed. 

wjh

We All Like Some Socialism

The GOP and Trump are hellbent on branding all Democrats as socialists at the minimum and probably communists. We can add this latest scare tactic to all the other fear-mongering spouted by our president. First of all, they don't know the meaning of either socialism or communism. Here is how Merriam-Webster defines the terms.

Definition of socialism -

1. : any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2. : a system of society or group living in which there is no private property
3. : a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state

Definition of communism -

1. : a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed
2. : a theory advocating elimination of private property

None of the Democrats are advocating the elimination of private property, no one is advocating the elimination of private enterprises. No one is advocating the elimination of capitalism. 

That being said, almost every government jurisdiction, be it a country, state, county, city, or town has elements of socialism. More properly termed government control. These are goods and services that are paid for by taxpayers and distributed to the users of these goods and services for the common good. Let's enumerate some of those. 

• Social Security 
• Medicare and Medicaid
• Police and fire departments including EMTs
• Courts
• County hospitals
• Public schools from pre-K through college
• Roads
• The military
• Water and sewers
• Some public electric companies and co-ops
• FEMA
• VA
• Food stamps
• CHIP

There are many others. The point is, we are not a completely capitalistic or private enterprise society. We all depend on government to supply many of the goods and services we use in our daily lives. We definitely depend on government during and after catastrophic events. 

You may say, "but I pay taxes or I paid into Social Security". That is true, but you are just as likely to get more benefits than you paid for. If you have or had several kids, your family probably got more educational benefits than those who had one or no kids. If your house catches on fire, you get a fire department response regardless of your tax payments. Maybe you drive a long way to work and drive on several town maintained roads where you pay no taxes. Do you think those people who live in FEMA trailers or housing for months actually paid enough taxes to cover those expenses? If you live to be 90, you will collect way more in Social Security than you ever paid in. Thank your children and their generation for funding those payments. 

Yes, the Democrats tend to support more of these government services than Republicans. This a matter of degree, not an abandonment of capitalism or private enterprise. The latest big dustup has to do with healthcare. If you believe that healthcare is a right and not a privilege, then government involvement is required. Some people will not be able to afford their healthcare costs, be it private insurance premiums or the actual doctor, hospital, and drug fees. One proposal is Medicare for all. Progressive taxes on all would pay for the system. Some, the poor, old, and unhealthy, would get more benefits than they paid for. Other, the young, healthy, and rich may not get their full monies worth. 

Medicare for all or some other single-payer plan does not eliminate private hospitals, independent physicians, or other entities that provide health services. It is designed to provide the payments for those services, not to provide the services. As with all the current and proposed healthcare plans, the devil is in the details. Medicare for all may not be the best solution but it certainly is a better option than anything the GOP has ever proposed. 

Regardless of what healthcare legislation is passed in the future, it will not turn the US into a socialist country any more than public roads have. 

Extremism in either direction won't work. 100% capitalism is just as bad and dangerous as 100% socialism. Fortunately, if you get past the hyperbole and lies, no one is really advocating either. The debate is about the degree of each. How much laissez-faire capitalism vs how many social programs? That is the battleground we find ourselves in now just as we have been for the entire history of our country. The needle will always fluctuate. 

It would be helpful if both sides stopped portraying the other as the devil and actually worked out some compromises that can work for most if not for all. 

wjh

School Safety Business

It is that time of the year again, back to school. I see one big change this year. Usually, the local TV stations are doing feel-good reports about little ones heading off to kindergarten or the first grade. The anticipation, excitement, and sometimes trauma for the kids and the parents. Maybe a story about a brand new school. Some high school football stories are usually sprinkled in. They encourage folks to send their first-day photos to the TV website or social media accounts. 

Well, apparently those happy celebrations are so 2017. This year almost all I'm seeing and reading about is school safety. What new safety equipment and procedures has your school district put in place? How much safety stuff has been purchased and at what cost? What training have the teachers and staff received? 

There have been stories about school safety seminars and conventions. The school safety business has become a $2.5 billion industry almost overnight. Metal detectors, locks, alarms, bulletproof desks, whiteboards, glass, and a hundred other items. There are also notification apps and equipment. Of course, there is no shortage of "experts" who will be happy to come to your school to provide a safety assessment and/or conduct training sessions. 

The "experts" that I've seen interviewed are deadly serious and make it sound as if every school will be invaded by a crazed gunman within the next few days. But, if the school district follows their advice and purchases their prevention equipment, all will be safe.

I know the local news outlets love a sensational story that they can hype. I wonder what effect all this dire and sensational reporting about school safety will have on the kids and parents. 

Wednesday, 8/15/18, was the first day of the school year at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. It is the site of last year's horrific school shooting where 17 students and staff were killed. That dominated the news. There were stories about the trauma the survivors have endured, the new security measures, the increase in armed security personnel, and ongoing counseling. More stuff to scare the kids.

Still, not one photo of little kids on the first day of classes. 

I know, news is news and it is mostly about bad stuff. I understand that the return of Stoneman Douglas students is newsworthy. A few stories about new safety procedures and measures are warranted. Students and parents need to know what backpacks are acceptable, what any new dropoff and pickup procedures have been implemented, that student IDs are required to be displayed at all times, etc. What we don't need are the furrowed brows and dire tones of the reporters, anchors, school officials, and security personnel. It is up to adults to protect our children, not scare the hell out of them. 

I wonder, with all the emphasis on school safety, the active shooter drills, the classes and seminars on the dangers, and the graphic news stories, what will be the results? Will kids be afraid to go to school, will they be nervous and scared all day every day, will grades suffer, will we have a generation of kids with PTSD? 

As usual, we go overboard after a tragedy. We did it after 9-11 and now we are doing it because of school shootings. As usual, the con artists come out of the woodwork to take advantage. The government officials cave to public pressure and pass laws and spend money on perceived solutions. Many of these so-called solutions have no history of actually working. There are no federal guidelines for what constitutes school safety. None of the new products like locks, cameras, bulletproof items, fencing or building design have any kind of certification. Whoever has the best salesmen and marketing gets the contract. 

Let's tap the breaks, quit scaring the students, staff, and parents. Do some real studies about how schools work and how to stop invaders or malicious students. 

Summer is over. Let's have a fun, productive and safe 2018-2019 school year. 

wjh

What's Really Dangerous?

For anyone who knows me or has read my posts you already know this issue is one of my pet peeves. I don't know if it is because I have always watched the news, read a lot or if it is because of my training, career, and tendency to look at things logically. 

I find it funny or maybe I should say ironic how we view certain dangers in our society. A friend just posted a heartfelt story on Facebook about a child who fell off a riding lawn mower and had severe damage to his feet when the mower ran over them. I don't want to make light of that danger, although the story seemed manufactured to me, but exactly how many kids are injured each year when they fall off a lawn mower driven by an adult or older teen? People are horrified by this story, quick to blame the adults in the situation and agree that children should never be allowed anywhere near a riding mower let alone on it. Now, these same horrified people have no problem putting those same defenseless kids into their cars and driving 80 mph on the freeway, running a stop sign, failing to have proper child seats or using the ones we have. Let's think for just a minute, how many kids have their feet damaged in lawnmower accidents versus how many are injured or killed in automobile accidents? 

There are thousands of other examples of this kind of thinking. We are scared of our kids catching Ebola from someone miles away in a different state yet we don't see the danger in failing to immunize those same kids against all the diseases that are now preventable. We skip annual flu shots for them too. 

We are irate at GM for producing a faulty ignition switch that may have contributed to the deaths of a handful of people yet we will drive while impaired by alcohol, drugs or other conditions. Maybe we'll put off getting those new tires or new brakes. 

Many parents will blame a school or the authorities when an armed lunatic enters a school but have no problem letting their young kids go home after school to an empty house or apartment. There they are not only susceptible to a stranger walking in but all the other household dangers.

A bicycle rider recently killed a pedestrian in New York's Central Park. There was all kind of indignation in the media including recommending a ban on bike riding in the park. Fact is, this will probably be the only pedestrian killed by a cyclist in NYC in the next few years. Are these same people recommending the banning of cars in the park or the city? Nope, but many will be killed or injured by automobiles. In fact, cyclists in will also be killed in Central Park by automobiles.

People will get all in a huff about GMO foods, because the media told them to, but will eat at McDonald's five times a week. Remember the pink slime uproar? That's a travesty against the population but those McNuggets manufactured from chicken beaks, bones, claws, feathers and probably some rodent waste are delicious. 

I could go on and on. You probably have your own favorite false scare issues and stories. At one time in our history, these panics came about because of lack of information and lack of education for much of the population. Today we have too much information that is being interpreted and analyzed by too many talking head idiots that have an agenda and a forum. We supposedly have a better-educated populace but stupidity still abounds. I am always amazed that the TV reporter on the scene can find the most stupid, most uninformed person to interview. The media also tend to give as much coverage to the crackpots as to the real experts. 

I guess human nature will always be touched by the little guy vs the Goliath, the poor against the rich, the underdog vs favorite and the unusual vs the norm. I feel it is our responsibility to be truly informed about the issues that affect us, our families and society. That usually means taking everything you see, hear or read about an issue with a grain, pinch, pound or ton of salt. Find another source or two to verify the facts then form your own opinions. Don't take the interpretation of the so-called experts as gospel. Don't confuse opinion with fact. Try to learn the biases and agenda of the "expert". 

One of the advantages of being informed is that you can turn on Fox News Channel or MSNBC at almost any time of the day or night and enjoy some very funny unintentional comedy. Fact checking is not those network's strong point. 

We've become a society of hype and PR rather than substance. Opinions and prejudices are more important than facts.

We get used to certain behavior and events as normal and acceptable. Motor vehicle deaths are OK, plane accidents are not. It makes no difference what the real numbers are. The most annual aviation deaths ever, outside of war years, was 1972 with 2,429 worldwide. In 2010, there were 2,998 traffic deaths in Texas alone, 42% involved alcohol. Even our language evolves to mask the real dangers. We have "plane crashes" but "automobile accidents". A drunk driver speeding in the wrong direction on a freeway is not an accident, but I bet it will be reported as a "traffic accident". 

I have little hope that any of this will change. The unusual is news, normal stuff is just life. Humans are more apt to react on emotions rather than logic. They aren't willing to make the necessary changes to correct things if it may cause some inconvenience. We could probably drastically reduce traffic deaths by imposing harsh punishments for breaking traffic laws. Things like heavy fines, suspension of licenses, jail time, public service, removing unsafe vehicles, etc. But that would cause inconvenience, so we accept about 30,000 traffic deaths per year.    

I'm not advocating draconian traffic laws. As a mobile society, we are willing to pay the price for that mobility. Apparently the same is true of gun ownership. We accept approximately 30,000 gun related deaths per year. OK, but don't go crazy when a junior high football player drops dead on the practice field just because the news chooses to show the grieving parents on TV. Don't rally to ban bicycles from Central Park after one pedestrian death unless you also are willing to ban cars, which are far more deadly.  

TV news is now more show business than news business. They are going to hype stories then analyze them and basically tell us how we should feel and react. I promise you that bicyclists killing pedestrians is not an epidemic.

wjh

Beyond 100 Days

The second half of the old Charlie Rose PBS timeslot is now filled by Beyond 100 Days which is produced by the BBC. The program has been on BBC World News since the Trump inauguration. It is co-hosted by Katty Kay in Washington DC and Christian Fraser in London. Along with Amanpour on PBS, Beyond 100 Days should mean a little more international flavor to the PBS late-night lineup. 

This program is more of a traditional newscast. The anchors open with the top stories of the day. They have BBC reporting and video from around the world. There are usually a few stories they cover more in-depth. For these, they will often interview experts or the BBC reporters covering the story, some in studio and some via satellite. So far, their guests have not been the actual newsmakers for the most part. Katie was in Davos for the World Economic Conference and did a couple of interviews there.

The anchors also weigh in on the stories, adding their own knowledge or insight. There is also a small amount of chitchat between the anchors.  

Other than the international flavor and additional perspectives, this is not a must-see news program. Both anchors are competent, articulate and pleasant enough. 

I'll continue to watch when I have time. For now I'll give it an average grade of C. 

wjh

Armanpour on PBS

In mid-December 2017, PBS began airing Amanpour on PBS in the first half of the old Charlie Rose Show timeslot. My local PBS station didn't begin carrying the program until the first of 2018. Christiane Amanpour is an anchor and the Chief International Correspondent for CNN. She has been with CNN since 1983 except for a brief stint with ABC. She was raised in Iran and England and brings a unique perspective to the news. She is based in London but does many shows from New York also.

This is primarily an interview show. Occasionally she recaps a top story or two at the top of the show. The format is one or two guest interviews during the half hour. These guests are a combination of the newsmakers, experts, and other journalists. So far, she very rarely has more than one guest on at a time. On those occasions, the guests have been mostly civil and didn't talk over each other. It was a bit heated one night when a representative of Palestine and one from Israel were on together. Thankfully, both on satellite from different locations. 

I enjoy the news value and especially the more international perspective than we usually see on US news programs. 

I am not a big fan of Christiane's interview style. She often comes across as agreeing with her guests rather than being objective. That can lead to some softball questions. She can be tougher but also may apologize before asking the tough question. 

Overall, I like getting the information and the international flavor. It is not yet a real substitute for Charlie Rose.

The program has only been on the air for a little over two months, so there is plenty of time for improvement. I'll continue to watch, at least for now. My grade after two months is a C+.

wjh

SPNN - Sexual Predators News Network

SPNN

With all the fallout from the recent sexual harassment and assault cases in the news business, it occurred to me that those predators need a new employer. So, I propose the creation of the Sexual Predators News Network. We could refer to it as SPiNN. 

After all, most of those guys only made a few million dollars a year for several years. They also made vast quantities of money outside their day jobs. There were book deals, speaking engagement fees, and other moneymaking opportunities. Now, most of that has dried up. 

Let's look at the potential lineup for SPNN. First up, we have, ironically, Mr. No-Spin, Bill O'Reilly. He was finally fired by Fox News Network. O'Reilly was accused by several women over several years of very inappropriate sexual behavior. While he still denies the allegations, he and Fox paid out millions of dollars to settle out of court. On his new internet No Spin News show, he even told God or was it just Jesus that he was angry at Him for putting him through this. Afterall, Bill is a good Catholic, why would God punish him for inappropriate behavior? Besides his daily program on Fox, O'Reilly has co-written several bestsellers and sold O'Reilly Factor junk on his website. Surely his little internet show does not pay as much as his Fox News gig which was estimated to be around $20 million per year. His estimated net worth is around $85 million. It would be much higher if he didn't have to pay millions to women to not sue him. So, you can clearly see that Bill needs a new job although he may get (has gotten?) a $25 million severance package from Fox. How many more women will get some of that money to settle?

Next up we have Charlie Rose. He was co-host of CBS This Morning and host of The Charlie Rose Show on PBS. He also contributed to 60 Minutes and sometimes sat in as anchor for The CBS Evening News. Charlie was on TV all the time. First one, then others, came forward to say he was a creep. Someone who made sexual advances and put them in uncomfortable situations. Rose is a relative pauper with a net worth of only $25 million. He has now lost his estimated $8 million CBS salary plus whatever he made from his PBS show which his company also produced. 

The latest and maybe biggest TV star to fall is longtime NBC Today Show host Matt Lauer. He also did several Olympics and specials for NBC. It is estimated that he was the highest paid TV newsperson at $25 million a year. His net worth is estimated at $60 million although some believe it is much more. Of course, Lauer and NBC are working on a severance package that may be worth as much as $30 million.

The new SPNN could also hire political journalist Mark Halperin to add commentary and analysis. Mark lost his jobs at MSNBC, Showtime, and Bloomberg. He also lost a book and HBO mini-series deals. Marks net worth is estimated at $30 million with an annual income of $4 million. 

I expect there will be more high profile casualties in the news industry to fill out the new network roster. In order to cut down on the big money settlements, no women will be allowed to work for the network. Since all the underlings will be men, no gay male predator stars will be hired. Sorry, Kevin Spacey. 

It's hard to predict how large an audience SPNN will draw. There are plenty of sexual predators out there so the ratings could be good. We know Roy Moore, John Conyers, Donald Trump, and Harvey Weinstein will be watching. It's a birds of a feather thing. It should also get pretty good ratings in Alabama. 

It may be that there will be enough movie and entertainment TV industry people, stars, directors, and producers, to start an entertainment branch of SPNN. Bill Cosby and Louie CK could do comedy specials or sitcoms. Kevin Spacey's new drama show will be House of Gropes or a TV movie version of The Usual Suspects. They could then go with just Sexual Predators Network, SPN, as the name. Even better for the SPiN pronunciation.

Watch closely for the launch of SPNN &/or SPN on your cable, satellite or streaming provider. All those poor predators need a place to land. 

wjh 

Charlie Rose

Charlie Rose has been accused by several women of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior. He has admitted indiscretions and apologized although he has said some of the allegations are inaccurate or false. Rose has been fired by CBS and his PBS show has been taken off the air. Bloomberg has also canceled the reruns on its network.

This post is not primarily about the current sexual harassment and assault issues we are now going through. I will say that it is a real problem and the culture needs to change. I feel bad for the women he took advantage of. I feel bad for all the people who worked on his PBS program and production company. I feel bad for his CBS This Morning colleagues, especially  Norah O'Donnell and Gayle King. They were truly surprised and upset by the revelations. 

I am personally pissed at Charlie Rose. He has been a regular part of my day for many years. Back in the 80's, he was the host/anchor of CBS News Nightwatch. Having often worked night shifts or irregular hours, I would be up during that show. In the 90's, Charlie started his interview show on PBS. I would often watch that show over the years. During the last five years, I have tuned into the CBS This Morning show when I have watched morning TV. I have also been recording The Charlie Rose Show on PBS. I would either watch it live at midnight or the next day. That means I have invited Charlie into my home for anywhere from one to three hours a day. Then there were also the segments he did for 60 Minutes or substituting on the CBS Evening News. I guess I've regained some time in my day now that he is gone.

Here is why I am pissed. It's not because I feel sorry for Rose, it is because his PBS show was a rare oasis in the bombastic, loud, ill-informed desert of what passes for news, commentary, analysis, and discussion on TV. He was prepared and informed for the interviews. When there were discussion panels, there was no shouting or talking over others. He had the best and the brightest guests. The show or segment topics were very diverse. It was not just a news or political show. Charlie's guests included, besides the usual news reporters and talking heads, authors, scientists, medical professionals, actors, directors, foreign journalists, diplomats, heads of state and on and on. The show was interesting, informative, and educational. That's a rare combination on today's TV landscape. It was an adult show.

Will someone or some show come along to fill that void? Maybe, but it is not a given considering the current state of TV news. Maybe there is already another host/show doing the same thing. At the least, I have to scour the channels and look for another adult show. At the worst, there is no other show like Charlie's. That's why I'm pissed at Charlie Rose. Because he couldn't keep his hands to himself and his dick in his pants, we lose an accomplished journalist. His TV career is over.

There will be more fallout from this shift in how we deal with sexual harassment. The shift is long overdue but it will be painful. 

In conclusion, thank you, Charlie Rose, for all the good work on TV over the years. Fuck you for being a derelict behind the scenes. 

wjh

Bedford July 4th Festivities

Because of the construction at Boys Ranch the Bedford July 4thFest was moved to the Old Bedford School and the library grounds. I wasn't sure how it would work, but it was fine. Everything but the classic car show was at the Old School. The food vendors were on the east side, the music stage was right next to the school's west wall and the kids' area was behind the school building.  

Apparently it didn't make any difference where the festivities were because the place was packed. The whole field in front of the school was full as were the open areas around the library. I noticed people also setting up at the areas of Boys Ranch that aren't closed by the construction and places in between. One big change this year was that the parking at Boys Ranch was open to the public and it was pretty near full by 7:00. Another change is that the temporary No Parking signs moved south and east from the usual streets and neighborhoods. 

Bedford again provided free parking and $5 per person shuttle buses from Pennington Field to the 4thFest site. I guess the thing to do is have a designated driver drop off a car full near the site then only pay for one shuttle ride. My better method is to walk the two or two and a half miles from my place to the venue. No parking hassle, no waiting on shuttles. Plus of course you get exercise and burn calories. Have another beer without the worry of gaining weight or getting a DWI ticket.

The food vendors were mostly about the same mediocre group that has been at past 4thFests. The usual carnival stuff. One addition was a large trailer that served funnel cakes. It was doing a booming business with lines all the way across the roadway. Never underestimate people's ability to consume junk food. Even saw a firefighter and a cop (of course) with one. The best choice I saw was a small tent serving pulled pork sandwiches and beef tacos. I had the pork and it was OK. There is always better quality and selection at the Labor Day BluesFest, probably because it is a 2½ day event that includes a barbeque cookoff. 

Besides the temporary change in venue, the big news was the addition of beer and wine at this year's 4thFest. Selection was limited to about four Bud brands and only one red wine. Still, they had Ziegenbock which is acceptable. It seemed to be successful since I saw a whole bunch of people drinking beer and absolutely nobody displaying drunken behavior. My only problem was that I went to get a final beer at 9:40 to watch the 10:00 fireworks only to be told that alcohol sales ended at 9:30. Oh well, better scheduling next time.

The band was OK. They played a varied mixture of rock songs from the 60's through the 80's plus a couple of contemporary songs. They are called Deja Groove and are a local D/FW group. My only complaint is that their breaks were longer than their sets. Since the 4thFest band is usually on (off & on) from about 5:00 to 9:30 maybe Bedford needs to have two or more bands doing shorter sets. 

The classic car show was not as large or well staged as other years. I think that was mostly poor planning since there should have been plenty of room, even more than there is at Boys Ranch. As usual there were some pretty nice rides and a few clunkers. Of course the best car was the same model that is always tops. It is a 1957 Chevy Bel Air. It is a car I always wanted. The closest I ever came was when my dad bought a '64 Chevy Bel Air but that is not even close to the same thing. Even after all these years it is a beautiful car. So much more interesting than the generic cars we have today. Back in the 50's and 60's, every car model had a distinct design and often a distinct sound. Not now, with few exceptions all cars in the same price range look pretty much alike. 

My few suggestions would be:

1. More trash cans and maybe some recycle bins for aluminum and plastic containers.
2. More continuous music. 15 minutes of music followed by 30 minutes of silence is not ideal.
3. Better lighting. This may be a problem only at Old Bedford School, but the hill between the Old School and Library was not well lit. A couple of concession stands were in the dark too but that may have been the vendor's fault.
4. A better layout for the classic car display. A more defined and better area.

So, the Bedford 4thFest seemed to be a success. I had a good time and that's the most important thing. There were a few things that need improvement but nothing major. Based on the major delays in the construction at Boys Ranch, I would not bet that the 4thFest for 2016 will be back there. That's OK because Old Bedford School has proved to be a very acceptable venue. 

Happy 4th, now 5th, of July to all. What's next, Labor Day?

wjh 

D/FW Local News Ebola Coverage

Anyone who follows this blog or me on Facebook, Google+, Twitter or Tumblr knows I hate the way news is now covered on TV. This applies to almost all TV news outlets. It doesn't matter if it is network or cable, international, national or local. They all suck. Most of what we get is superficial and sensationalized. There is no distinction between facts, conjecture, opinion and agenda. Hopefully you all know that Fox News and MSNBC are the worst offenders but they are not alone. 

The spark for this post was the local D/FW news coverage this evening of our ongoing Ebola situation. That situation is both a crisis and epidemic according to the news reports. Apparently an epidemic now consists of three patients. While I know there has been substantial national news coverage of this you can imagine the frenzy the local stations have been in since the first case was confirmed in Dallas. It leads every newscast with reporters stationed all over town. They are in front of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, the homes of the victims, the Dallas County Health Department and several other places. I never understood this technique, especially when the reporter is standing in front of an obviously closed and darkened building during the 10:00 news. Maybe they are hoping for a meaningful interview with the janitorial staff. 

On tonight's 6:00 PM newscast on all four local network affiliates we got the exact same coverage for the entire half hour or more. Nina Pham, the first of two nurses to contract Ebola while working at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, was being transported from that hospital to one in Maryland. We saw the entire first leg of that trip via helicopter coverage of the exciting ambulance trip from Texas Health Presbyterian in north Dallas to Love Field. No lights or sirens, just a regular ambulance and a couple of police cars. They went the speed limit or slower and stopped at traffic lights. While this exciting road trip was underway, every station had a smaller box in the lower left of the screen (no variation of screen format among stations) showing the plane she would be getting on. It is a nondescript dark gray Gulfstream jet with no markings. It was just sitting on the tarmac. Every once in a while someone, usually in hazmat gear, would go into or come out of the plane or just loiter at the bottom of the stairs.  My heart was racing at all the excitement.

The pictures were bad enough but that's not the worst of it. Whenever one of these ongoing live coverage things is broadcast the news anchors go off the script and the teleprompters. That is hardly ever a good thing. Today's well coiffed news anchors are usually very good at reading the news, especially in a large market like D/FW. They are also very attractive. What they aren't good at is ad libbing for an entire half hour newscast. They usually wind up fumbling through trying to sound knowledgeable but often showing their ignorance. I wasn't listening that closely but I heard several conjectures and interpretations that don't jive with the known facts. Opinions were mixed in too. 

Most of these local anchors never leave the studio. Maybe years ago they were actually reporters but not recently. The only things they know about the stories is what they read from the teleprompter each night. It is sad but that's what we are stuck with. My guess is that Walter Cronkite or David Brinkley would never get a top news anchor job today. Not attractive enough. Yet, they could go on for hours off script during a crisis and actually impart knowledge and insight about the situation. 

I don't expect this to improve during my lifetime. People are more interested in what a Kardashian is wearing, or divorcing, than any real news. Ebola is kind of important right now because it sounds scary and people can panic over it. Reporting on superficial celebrity crap doesn't require knowledgeable news readers. The intricacies and implications of the Middle East problems, ISIS, immigration, Ukraine and other issues are too complicated. 

It is almost impossible to get good news coverage on TV. The best you can hope for is to find topics that require further research. Read newspapers and search the web. Watch or listen to more PBS news, it is less sensational and more informative, find Al Jazeera or BBC on TV or the web, it will give you a different perspective. If you are a Fox News conservative, watch some MSNBC and vice versa for those on the left. Everybody should watch the Daily Show at least occasionally. If you do a little of this, you will be better informed than that very attractive and well dressed news anchor on the local news and several national news folks too. 

Ebola is a serious illness and we should be concerned but not panic. My biggest concern is that once again our government and institutions have proved incompetent and incapable of doing their jobs. Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital lied about their preparedness to handle Ebola cases. The CDC proved again that they rarely know what they are doing or talking about. Congress proved that there is no issue that they can agree on or make political or any mistake that they won't pontificate about and condescendingly crucify those involved with a committee hearing. Never any constructive solutions offered, just posturing and fake outrage. 

So, watch the local news but don't expect any meaningful information other than maybe the weather and traffic. Just pay attention to the fancy set, new hairdo or happy talk between anchors. That's what the news directors and media consultants are focused on.

Gotta go, live coverage of the exciting plane landing in Maryland is coming up on the local 10:00 newscasts.

wjh

Doomed

The End of the World 

A recap of some of the disasters, calamities, debacles, catastrophes, incompetence, Armageddons and general BS we have recently survived. 

• The CDC can't handle deadly viruses and bacteria safely or even keep track of where it is.

• The Veterans Administration has been falsifying dates on benefits applications to make it look like they provided those benefits in a timely manner. This on the heals of the Veterans Hospitals appointment times scandal. 

• Israel and Hamas are trading rockets. How unusual. It has now escalated into an Israeli invasion of Gaza. Cease fires are measured in hours, not days, weeks, months or years.

• Somebody in Ukraine is shooting down commercial airliners. Unfortunately for bad luck Malaysian Airlines it was one of theirs. 

• Once mighty Microsoft will lay off 18,000 employees although many of those are former Nokia employees in Finland.

• In Texas we go from extreme drought conditions to flash floods and back again within an afternoon. 

• The dreaded Chikungunya virus. Is there an official department for naming new scary medical stuff?

• Just as Chikungunya fades from the headlines we have Ebola wiping out the human race. 

• In related news the CDC, the agency that lost samples of smallpox for decades, is handling the Ebola testing.

• The United States is being invaded by an army of undernourished and scared juveniles.  

• Ferguson, Missouri is the most dangerous and violent place on earth. The Kurds, Syrians, Lebanese, Iraqis, Ukrainians and several others may disagree. 

• There was an earthquake in Napa Valley. It appears that some wine was spilled.

• Here in Texas, our good hair bad brain Republican governor has been indicted for playing political hardball with a DUI Democratic district attorney. Not a Perry fan, but this smells of BS.

• Finally for this edition, every GM vehicle ever built has been recalled as have most children's car seats, many cribs and numerous other consumer items. 

I expect that there will be future posts on this subject. Of course that assumes that I survive all the dangers in our everyday life. Wish me luck.

wjh

Lazy Bike Ride Observations

I had a nice bike ride this morning. It will be the last day for our unseasonably cool snap. I went out at daybreak, around 6:30, and got back home about two hours later. It never got above 69° during the ride with light winds, perfect.

Here are a few observations from the ride.

• Went by the new Whole Foods but they don't open until 8:00. You will all be happy to know that they have several bicycle parking spots. 
• The Old Mayor's House has been torn down and the property is up for sale. Guess the folks at Next Wood Fired Bistro have given up on opening a new restaurant there although it looks like their garden is still going. 
• Speaking of Next, they have finished their remodel and are open.
• The new housing development next to the Colleyville police station has a street with entrances on Bluebonnet and right by the police station back gate. Looks like some utilities have been put in put still mostly a muddy mess.
• Bluebonnet road is already showing damage from the heavy trucks going in and out of the new development.
• The big house behind the Colleyville Center that usually has sheep mowing their large front yard has switched to cows.
• Apparently the new Studio Movie Grill in Colleyville provides the neighborhood with music 24/7. The outdoor speakers were blasting at 7:00 even though the theater was closed. 
• Stopped at Market Street for a cup of coffee, they open at 6:00. They have Peet's coffee & tea but my cup tasted bitter to me. Not a coffee connoisseur and I had a regular cup of joe, not the fancy stuff. 
• Lotsa folks already at Lifetime Fitness Center by 7:15. Saw a couple of the Colleyville soccer moms in their cute little shorts, tank top, tennis shoes with pink shoelaces and pony tails going in. Nobody in the pool but a couple of guys on the tennis courts. By the way, they too have plenty of bicycle parking although there were no bicycles there. Lexus SUV's seem to be the vehicle of choice. 
• Went by the donkeys' and llamas' house but they weren't out yet. The big pond at the house a couple of doors to the west had about 50 geese and a few ducks on the banks. Farther west I think I woke up a horse that was sleeping close to the road.
• In spite of the fact that we had decent rain Wednesday night and Thursday, many sprinklers were going full blast. Several roads should be showing new growth since they too were being watered.
• Seems every time I ride through the Colleyville neighborhoods there are more older homes for sale. These mostly medium size one story ranch style houses are disappearing fast. Once sold they are being replaced or significantly remodeled into McMansions. Often the property is divided and multiple McMansions with small lots are built. Is this progress? 

That's it for the morning ride. I probably need to head south or east or west for my next report.

wjh