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All the News that's Fit to Fabricate
Author: BobR
Date: 08/22/2013 12:59:46
The HBO network has become increasingly recognized for their top-notch series. Everybody who watches has a favorite. Personally, I loved "The Wire", "Treme", and "True Blood" (before it devolved into silliness). Others are addicted to "Game of Thrones" or watched "The Sopranos" religiously. One of my current faves is "The Newsroom", which revolves around a Keith Olbermann-esque character who calls it like he sees it. The story arc for this season seems to be how a false story was reported as true, and the character(s) that cut journalistic corners because they wanted to believe the story was true.
The series reflects a lot of the reality of working in a newsroom (or so I've read), and unfortunately this story arc reflects reality as well. We know on some level that various news channels or individual reporters or analysts have their own biases, and so need to keep that in mind when we watch. Still - We all want to believe the news is at least delivering us the pertinent facts. We have seen, however, that this is not always the case.
Writer Chez Panzienza makes the point in his latest column that the story arc reflects how pseudo-"journalists" like Glenn Greenwald start with their assumption, then cherry pick the facts to reinforce it (we sadly expect that from politicians, but not from supposedly neutral sources). Abusing one's position as a reporter to present a subset of facts that don't represent reality cheapens that role in our society, and makes every subsequent declaration by that person suspect.
Both Glenn Greenwald and the Guardian UK failed to mention that when Greenwald's partner (a Brazilian citizen) was detained at Heathrow, he was being paid by the Guardian, and he was acting as a courier of stolen U.S. government documents between Greenwald and an associate in Germany. That puts an important perspective on a story that was first reported as an innocent being harassed by jack-booted thugs because of his association with a "whistle-blowing journalist".
Sometimes delivering false information is a result of laziness, or an eagerness to get the story out first. CNN cheapened their brand by reporting the exact opposite of a recent Supreme Court ruling for 45 minutes, until they had to correct themselves. Dan Rather ended up resigning in disgrace in 2004 after creating a 60 Minutes special crafted around a set of documents that turned out to be forgeries. There was talk at the time that he was set up by the right-wing to discredit the story that George Bush went AWOL during his National Guard service, and after it was revealed that the documents were not authentic, that story was immediately replaced by Dan Rather's role in fact-checking the documents. The eagerness of the 60 Minutes staff to run the story overruled the common sense that the documents needed to be authenticated vigorously, especially for a story of this magnitude. They may have gotten played, but that was their own mistake.
What's more infuriating is when reporters take quotes out of context, or chop them up and reassemble them. Most recently, Maureen Dowd is under fire for misquoting the wife of NYC mayoral candidate Bill De Blasio:
This smacks of "clip & snip" journalism. Sites like Media Matters, Snopes, and Politifact do try to verify the veracity of various news bits. It's hard, though, to keep up with a leviathan of inaccuracy like FOX "News". Their offenses are legion, and event Media Matters has a hard time documenting all of their offenses. Consider this though: How is it possible that 29% of Louisiana Republicans believe that President Obama was responsible for the poor response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005? He had only been in the U.S. Senate for 9 months at that time. As it turns out, in Oct 2012 FOX "News" blowhard Eric Bolling put the blame on then-Senator Obama, making up his "facts" as he went along. Fellow FOX-er Bret Baier repeated the accusation an hour later. I can't quote just part of it and do it justice, so go read it in its entirety (it's not very long). This is the absolute nadir of journalism: deliberately misleading the viewers, getting them to believe falsehoods to promote a specific ideology. At that point it ceases to be journalism, and becomes propaganda.
The 1st Amendment to the Constitution was created so that the government could not stifle a free press from reporting facts as well as delivering opinions that criticize the government. With that freedom comes responsibility, the most important of which is to keep those two roles separate and distinct. Accuracy and verification have been replaced by expediency and advocacy. This does not honor the spirit of the intentions of our founding fathers and discredits what used to be a noble profession.
The series reflects a lot of the reality of working in a newsroom (or so I've read), and unfortunately this story arc reflects reality as well. We know on some level that various news channels or individual reporters or analysts have their own biases, and so need to keep that in mind when we watch. Still - We all want to believe the news is at least delivering us the pertinent facts. We have seen, however, that this is not always the case.
Writer Chez Panzienza makes the point in his latest column that the story arc reflects how pseudo-"journalists" like Glenn Greenwald start with their assumption, then cherry pick the facts to reinforce it (we sadly expect that from politicians, but not from supposedly neutral sources). Abusing one's position as a reporter to present a subset of facts that don't represent reality cheapens that role in our society, and makes every subsequent declaration by that person suspect.
Both Glenn Greenwald and the Guardian UK failed to mention that when Greenwald's partner (a Brazilian citizen) was detained at Heathrow, he was being paid by the Guardian, and he was acting as a courier of stolen U.S. government documents between Greenwald and an associate in Germany. That puts an important perspective on a story that was first reported as an innocent being harassed by jack-booted thugs because of his association with a "whistle-blowing journalist".
Sometimes delivering false information is a result of laziness, or an eagerness to get the story out first. CNN cheapened their brand by reporting the exact opposite of a recent Supreme Court ruling for 45 minutes, until they had to correct themselves. Dan Rather ended up resigning in disgrace in 2004 after creating a 60 Minutes special crafted around a set of documents that turned out to be forgeries. There was talk at the time that he was set up by the right-wing to discredit the story that George Bush went AWOL during his National Guard service, and after it was revealed that the documents were not authentic, that story was immediately replaced by Dan Rather's role in fact-checking the documents. The eagerness of the 60 Minutes staff to run the story overruled the common sense that the documents needed to be authenticated vigorously, especially for a story of this magnitude. They may have gotten played, but that was their own mistake.
What's more infuriating is when reporters take quotes out of context, or chop them up and reassemble them. Most recently, Maureen Dowd is under fire for misquoting the wife of NYC mayoral candidate Bill De Blasio:
New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd was forced to publish a retraction on Wednesday after falsely attributing anti-gay remarks to the wife of New York City mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio. According to New York magazine, Dowd decontextualized a quote by de Blasio’s wife Chirlane McCray to read like an indictment of mayoral candidate Christine Quinn’s lesbianism. Dowd, for her part, blamed the misunderstanding on the fact that she interviewed McCray in a noisy coffee shop, but a recording of the interview tape now being circulated makes it clear that what McCray was saying was actually quite intelligible.
This smacks of "clip & snip" journalism. Sites like Media Matters, Snopes, and Politifact do try to verify the veracity of various news bits. It's hard, though, to keep up with a leviathan of inaccuracy like FOX "News". Their offenses are legion, and event Media Matters has a hard time documenting all of their offenses. Consider this though: How is it possible that 29% of Louisiana Republicans believe that President Obama was responsible for the poor response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005? He had only been in the U.S. Senate for 9 months at that time. As it turns out, in Oct 2012 FOX "News" blowhard Eric Bolling put the blame on then-Senator Obama, making up his "facts" as he went along. Fellow FOX-er Bret Baier repeated the accusation an hour later. I can't quote just part of it and do it justice, so go read it in its entirety (it's not very long). This is the absolute nadir of journalism: deliberately misleading the viewers, getting them to believe falsehoods to promote a specific ideology. At that point it ceases to be journalism, and becomes propaganda.
The 1st Amendment to the Constitution was created so that the government could not stifle a free press from reporting facts as well as delivering opinions that criticize the government. With that freedom comes responsibility, the most important of which is to keep those two roles separate and distinct. Accuracy and verification have been replaced by expediency and advocacy. This does not honor the spirit of the intentions of our founding fathers and discredits what used to be a noble profession.
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 13:13:48
Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 13:13:48
Umm Bobber, I think you mean 1st Amendment.
This is the 4th:
This is the 4th:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Comment by 
Scoopster on 08/22/2013 13:26:04
Scoopster on 08/22/2013 13:26:04
Mornin' all.. 
For the record, this season of True Blood was REALLY FREAKIN' good.
For the record, this season of True Blood was REALLY FREAKIN' good.
Comment by 
wickedpam on 08/22/2013 13:30:13
wickedpam on 08/22/2013 13:30:13
Morning 
Still waiting for my crown and pony
Still waiting for my crown and pony
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 13:31:16
Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 13:31:16
Quote by wickedpam:
Morning
Still waiting for my crown and pony
Comment by Scoopster on 08/22/2013 13:33:43
Scoopster on 08/22/2013 13:33:43
Heh that reminds me.. Gencon 2013 just finished and one of the new games previewed was the MLP card game.
Comment by 
Raine on 08/22/2013 13:33:58
I warned you Mondo...
Raine on 08/22/2013 13:33:58
Quote by wickedpam:
Morning
Still waiting for my crown and pony
I warned you Mondo...
Comment by wickedpam on 08/22/2013 13:34:20
wickedpam on 08/22/2013 13:34:20
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:
Morning
Still waiting for my crown and pony
Comment by 
BobR on 08/22/2013 13:36:17
I had the 4th on the brain from the Guardian/Greenwald story, and not enough coffee. The blog has been corrected.
Apologies all around, blah-blah, and all that stuff.
BobR on 08/22/2013 13:36:17
Quote by Mondobubba:
Umm Bobber, I think you mean 1st Amendment.
This is the 4th:The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
I had the 4th on the brain from the Guardian/Greenwald story, and not enough coffee. The blog has been corrected.
Apologies all around, blah-blah, and all that stuff.
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 13:36:39
I'm on it. Pony wearing a crown.
Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 13:36:39
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Morning
Still waiting for my crown and pony
I warned you Mondo...
I'm on it. Pony wearing a crown.
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 13:37:42
I kinda figured that was your thought process. Plus I am world-class nit picker, but you knew that.
Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 13:37:42
Quote by BobR:Quote by Mondobubba:
Umm Bobber, I think you mean 1st Amendment.
This is the 4th:The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
I had the 4th on the brain from the Guardian/Greenwald story, and not enough coffee. The blog has been corrected.
Apologies all around, blah-blah, and all that stuff.
I kinda figured that was your thought process. Plus I am world-class nit picker, but you knew that.
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 13:38:23
Happy now?
Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 13:38:23
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:
Morning
Still waiting for my crown and pony
Happy now?
Comment by Raine on 08/22/2013 13:39:42
Raine on 08/22/2013 13:39:42
Regarding Manning and announcing that he is transgenderred: This is now entering unchartered territory for LGBT rights in the military.
Manning will likely serve his sentence at Fort Leavenworth, the only military prison for service members sentenced to 10 or more years, a Military District of Washington spokesperson told The Associated Press. The facility does not provide hormone therapy or sex-reassignment surgery for gender identity issues but does provide psychiatric care, a Fort Leavenworth spokeswoman told Courthouse News.
Comment by Scoopster on 08/22/2013 13:49:00
Uhhh.. what agenda? the government's evil quest to completely destroy freedom?
Yeahhhhh.. and that's why you're still able to spread wild garbage accusations of government malfeasance on Twitter (and anywhere else) with impunity. And stream porn for free.
At least in this country. Try that in the countries Snowden fled to - China or Russia - and see what happens, dipshit. I assure you, you'll be able to notice the difference IMMEDIATELY.
Scoopster on 08/22/2013 13:49:00
Quote by Some idiot on Hacker News:
"Miranda, PRISM, porn blocking, Twitter control: it's all the same agenda"
Uhhh.. what agenda? the government's evil quest to completely destroy freedom?
Yeahhhhh.. and that's why you're still able to spread wild garbage accusations of government malfeasance on Twitter (and anywhere else) with impunity. And stream porn for free.
At least in this country. Try that in the countries Snowden fled to - China or Russia - and see what happens, dipshit. I assure you, you'll be able to notice the difference IMMEDIATELY.
Comment by wickedpam on 08/22/2013 13:49:25
I was thinking something more like this -
But I accept your compromise
wickedpam on 08/22/2013 13:49:25
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:
Morning
Still waiting for my crown and pony
Happy now?
I was thinking something more like this -
But I accept your compromise
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 13:54:59
I glad we settled this. )
Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 13:54:59
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:
Morning
Still waiting for my crown and pony
Happy now?
I was thinking something more like this -
But I accept your compromise
I glad we settled this. )
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 13:59:30
Streaming porn for free is a birthright!
Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 13:59:30
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Some idiot on Hacker News:
"Miranda, PRISM, porn blocking, Twitter control: it's all the same agenda"
Uhhh.. what agenda? the government's evil quest to completely destroy freedom?
Yeahhhhh.. and that's why you're still able to spread wild garbage accusations of government malfeasance on Twitter (and anywhere else) with impunity. And stream porn for free.
At least in this country. Try that in the countries Snowden fled to - China or Russia - and see what happens, dipshit. I assure you, you'll be able to notice the difference IMMEDIATELY.
Streaming porn for free is a birthright!
Comment by BobR on 08/22/2013 14:02:52
PORN FREEEEE.... (sung to to the tune of "Born Free")
BobR on 08/22/2013 14:02:52
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Some idiot on Hacker News:
"Miranda, PRISM, porn blocking, Twitter control: it's all the same agenda"
Uhhh.. what agenda? the government's evil quest to completely destroy freedom?
Yeahhhhh.. and that's why you're still able to spread wild garbage accusations of government malfeasance on Twitter (and anywhere else) with impunity. And stream porn for free.
At least in this country. Try that in the countries Snowden fled to - China or Russia - and see what happens, dipshit. I assure you, you'll be able to notice the difference IMMEDIATELY.
Streaming porn for free is a birthright!
PORN FREEEEE.... (sung to to the tune of "Born Free")
Comment by Raine on 08/22/2013 14:03:25
are you paraphrasing someone?
:confused:
Raine on 08/22/2013 14:03:25
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Some idiot on Hacker News:
"Miranda, PRISM, porn blocking, Twitter control: it's all the same agenda"
Uhhh.. what agenda? the government's evil quest to completely destroy freedom?
Yeahhhhh.. and that's why you're still able to spread wild garbage accusations of government malfeasance on Twitter (and anywhere else) with impunity. And stream porn for free.
At least in this country. Try that in the countries Snowden fled to - China or Russia - and see what happens, dipshit. I assure you, you'll be able to notice the difference IMMEDIATELY.
are you paraphrasing someone? :confused:
Comment by Raine on 08/22/2013 14:05:19
(You know I'm right here, right?)
Raine on 08/22/2013 14:05:19
Quote by BobR:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Some idiot on Hacker News:
"Miranda, PRISM, porn blocking, Twitter control: it's all the same agenda"
Uhhh.. what agenda? the government's evil quest to completely destroy freedom?
Yeahhhhh.. and that's why you're still able to spread wild garbage accusations of government malfeasance on Twitter (and anywhere else) with impunity. And stream porn for free.
At least in this country. Try that in the countries Snowden fled to - China or Russia - and see what happens, dipshit. I assure you, you'll be able to notice the difference IMMEDIATELY.
Streaming porn for free is a birthright!
PORN FREEEEE.... (sung to to the tune of "Born Free")
(You know I'm right here, right?)
Comment by Scoopster on 08/22/2013 14:08:48
My buddy zosi on IRC copypasta'd that from HN.. I't's a partial quote.
Scoopster on 08/22/2013 14:08:48
Quote by Raine:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Some idiot on Hacker News:
"Miranda, PRISM, porn blocking, Twitter control: it's all the same agenda"
Uhhh.. what agenda? the government's evil quest to completely destroy freedom?
Yeahhhhh.. and that's why you're still able to spread wild garbage accusations of government malfeasance on Twitter (and anywhere else) with impunity. And stream porn for free.
At least in this country. Try that in the countries Snowden fled to - China or Russia - and see what happens, dipshit. I assure you, you'll be able to notice the difference IMMEDIATELY.
:confused:
My buddy zosi on IRC copypasta'd that from HN.. I't's a partial quote.
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 14:16:45
Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 14:16:45
Quote by BobR:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Some idiot on Hacker News:
"Miranda, PRISM, porn blocking, Twitter control: it's all the same agenda"
Uhhh.. what agenda? the government's evil quest to completely destroy freedom?
Yeahhhhh.. and that's why you're still able to spread wild garbage accusations of government malfeasance on Twitter (and anywhere else) with impunity. And stream porn for free.
At least in this country. Try that in the countries Snowden fled to - China or Russia - and see what happens, dipshit. I assure you, you'll be able to notice the difference IMMEDIATELY.
Streaming porn for free is a birthright!
PORN FREEEEE.... (sung to to the tune of "Born Free")
Comment by Raine on 08/22/2013 14:16:49
Oy!
Raine on 08/22/2013 14:16:49
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Raine:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Some idiot on Hacker News:
"Miranda, PRISM, porn blocking, Twitter control: it's all the same agenda"
Uhhh.. what agenda? the government's evil quest to completely destroy freedom?
Yeahhhhh.. and that's why you're still able to spread wild garbage accusations of government malfeasance on Twitter (and anywhere else) with impunity. And stream porn for free.
At least in this country. Try that in the countries Snowden fled to - China or Russia - and see what happens, dipshit. I assure you, you'll be able to notice the difference IMMEDIATELY.
:confused:
My buddy zosi on IRC copypasta'd that from HN.. I't's a partial quote.
Oy!
Comment by BobR on 08/22/2013 14:17:49
BobR on 08/22/2013 14:17:49
btw - I haven't said anything about it, but I will be starting a new job on Sept 9th. I may have mentioned previously that my current company laid off about 90% of the people working on the product that I was working on, and discontinued the majority of it. I finally decided to actively start looking when this opportunity literally fell into my lap.
It's an extra 10 grand a year, and the benefits are phenomenal. One minor downside is that I have to go into the office every day, but the office is on N. Capitol St. between Union Station and the Capitol building, so that's pretty exciting. They also have a gym in the basement, so maybe I can get myself back into some semblance of shape (and yes - I know "round" is a shape).
I know I haven't been very active on the blog lately, but I suspect it will be even less so once I start the new job... at least until I get the lay of the land.
So good news from the DC front...
It's an extra 10 grand a year, and the benefits are phenomenal. One minor downside is that I have to go into the office every day, but the office is on N. Capitol St. between Union Station and the Capitol building, so that's pretty exciting. They also have a gym in the basement, so maybe I can get myself back into some semblance of shape (and yes - I know "round" is a shape).
I know I haven't been very active on the blog lately, but I suspect it will be even less so once I start the new job... at least until I get the lay of the land.
So good news from the DC front...
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 14:22:03
An easy Metro ride.
Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 14:22:03
Quote by BobR:
btw - I haven't said anything about it, but I will be starting a new job on Sept 9th. I may have mentioned previously that my current company laid off about 90% of the people working on the product that I was working on, and discontinued the majority of it. I finally decided to actively start looking when this opportunity literally fell into my lap.
It's an extra 10 grand a year, and the benefits are phenomenal. One minor downside is that I have to go into the office every day, but the office is on N. Capitol St. between Union Station and the Capitol building, so that's pretty exciting. They also have a gym in the basement, so maybe I can get myself back into some semblance of shape (and yes - I know "round" is a shape).
I know I haven't been very active on the blog lately, but I suspect it will be even less so once I start the new job... at least until I get the lay of the land.
So good news from the DC front...
An easy Metro ride.
Comment by wickedpam on 08/22/2013 14:22:28
What??!!!! Awesome
wickedpam on 08/22/2013 14:22:28
Quote by BobR:
btw - I haven't said anything about it, but I will be starting a new job on Sept 9th. I may have mentioned previously that my current company laid off about 90% of the people working on the product that I was working on, and discontinued the majority of it. I finally decided to actively start looking when this opportunity literally fell into my lap.
It's an extra 10 grand a year, and the benefits are phenomenal. One minor downside is that I have to go into the office every day, but the office is on N. Capitol St. between Union Station and the Capitol building, so that's pretty exciting. They also have a gym in the basement, so maybe I can get myself back into some semblance of shape (and yes - I know "round" is a shape).
I know I haven't been very active on the blog lately, but I suspect it will be even less so once I start the new job... at least until I get the lay of the land.
So good news from the DC front...
What??!!!! Awesome
Comment by Raine on 08/22/2013 14:41:45
Raine on 08/22/2013 14:41:45
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 14:51:06
Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 14:51:06
Comment by wickedpam on 08/22/2013 14:53:55
reminds me of a certain drawing
wickedpam on 08/22/2013 14:53:55
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Go home plane your drunk
It does look drunk...
reminds me of a certain drawing
Comment by Raine on 08/22/2013 15:01:35
Raine on 08/22/2013 15:01:35
Comment by Raine on 08/22/2013 15:02:03
Yes!
Raine on 08/22/2013 15:02:03
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Go home plane your drunk
It does look drunk...
reminds me of a certain drawing
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 15:02:50
OMG! IT DOES!
Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 15:02:50
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Go home plane your drunk
It does look drunk...
reminds me of a certain drawing
OMG! IT DOES!
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 15:07:38
She is pretty amazing. Wow.
Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 15:07:38
Quote by Raine:
Antoinette Tuff saved lives. What an amazing woman. Amazing -- just amazing.
She is pretty amazing. Wow.
Comment by wickedpam on 08/22/2013 15:09:45
If we could all stay that pulled together in emergencies the world could be a better place
wickedpam on 08/22/2013 15:09:45
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Antoinette Tuff saved lives. What an amazing woman. Amazing -- just amazing.
She is pretty amazing. Wow.
If we could all stay that pulled together in emergencies the world could be a better place
Comment by Raine on 08/22/2013 15:14:02
Agreed. and the 911 operator was pretty amazing as well. This restores my faith just a little bit more.
Raine on 08/22/2013 15:14:02
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Antoinette Tuff saved lives. What an amazing woman. Amazing -- just amazing.
She is pretty amazing. Wow.
If we could all stay that pulled together in emergencies the world could be a better place
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 15:16:18
Ya know I have friend who is a 911 dispatcher for the JSO. She loves doing it. She hasn't done anything really heroic- yet.
Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 15:16:18
Quote by Raine:Agreed. and the 911 operator was pretty amazing as well. This restores my faith just a little bit more.Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Antoinette Tuff saved lives. What an amazing woman. Amazing -- just amazing.
She is pretty amazing. Wow.
If we could all stay that pulled together in emergencies the world could be a better place
Ya know I have friend who is a 911 dispatcher for the JSO. She loves doing it. She hasn't done anything really heroic- yet.
Comment by wickedpam on 08/22/2013 15:16:30
wickedpam on 08/22/2013 15:16:30
Speaking of restoring faith in humanity stuff - I still want to do down to DC and hand out flowers will little positive messages attached for randomacts.org
Comment by wickedpam on 08/22/2013 15:17:10
just by being a 911 dispatcher is heroic
wickedpam on 08/22/2013 15:17:10
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Agreed. and the 911 operator was pretty amazing as well. This restores my faith just a little bit more.Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Antoinette Tuff saved lives. What an amazing woman. Amazing -- just amazing.
She is pretty amazing. Wow.
If we could all stay that pulled together in emergencies the world could be a better place
Ya know I have friend who is a 911 dispatcher for the JSO. She loves doing it. She hasn't done anything really heroic- yet.
just by being a 911 dispatcher is heroic
Comment by Will in Chicago on 08/22/2013 15:18:03
Congratulations, BobR! I wish I had some good news, but I am still looking. No interviews, but I have learned patience.
Will in Chicago on 08/22/2013 15:18:03
Quote by BobR:
btw - I haven't said anything about it, but I will be starting a new job on Sept 9th. I may have mentioned previously that my current company laid off about 90% of the people working on the product that I was working on, and discontinued the majority of it. I finally decided to actively start looking when this opportunity literally fell into my lap.
It's an extra 10 grand a year, and the benefits are phenomenal. One minor downside is that I have to go into the office every day, but the office is on N. Capitol St. between Union Station and the Capitol building, so that's pretty exciting. They also have a gym in the basement, so maybe I can get myself back into some semblance of shape (and yes - I know "round" is a shape).
I know I haven't been very active on the blog lately, but I suspect it will be even less so once I start the new job... at least until I get the lay of the land.
So good news from the DC front...
Congratulations, BobR! I wish I had some good news, but I am still looking. No interviews, but I have learned patience.
Comment by Raine on 08/22/2013 15:19:01
If you skip to the 14 minute mark of the audio below it's just, WOW.
Raine on 08/22/2013 15:19:01
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Agreed. and the 911 operator was pretty amazing as well. This restores my faith just a little bit more.Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Antoinette Tuff saved lives. What an amazing woman. Amazing -- just amazing.
She is pretty amazing. Wow.
If we could all stay that pulled together in emergencies the world could be a better place
Ya know I have friend who is a 911 dispatcher for the JSO. She loves doing it. She hasn't done anything really heroic- yet.
just by being a 911 dispatcher is heroic
Comment by Will in Chicago on 08/22/2013 15:20:41
Will in Chicago on 08/22/2013 15:20:41
BobR, concerning the blog, I think that we have to ask why we have so many people who have conclusions and then try to fit the facts to them. This has happened before, as in the "yellow journalism" of the 1800s. Perhaps as we have more media and more content to fill, people step up and not all rely on the facts.
As for Fox News, let us remember that Roger Ailes initially proposed it to Richard Nixon as GOP News. This is truth in advertising except that Frank Luntz has argued that Fox now runs the party.
As for Fox News, let us remember that Roger Ailes initially proposed it to Richard Nixon as GOP News. This is truth in advertising except that Frank Luntz has argued that Fox now runs the party.
Comment by 
TriSec on 08/22/2013 15:40:53
Aviation nitpick; the plane didn't "crash". That is actually a specific term that indicates a termination of the aerial phase of travel by calamity.
The plane was taxiing and suffered a mechanical failure; while we recognize such a thing as a "crash" elsewhere, that term does not apply to a plane on the ground.
TriSec on 08/22/2013 15:40:53
Quote by wickedpam:
Go home plane your drunk
Aviation nitpick; the plane didn't "crash". That is actually a specific term that indicates a termination of the aerial phase of travel by calamity.
The plane was taxiing and suffered a mechanical failure; while we recognize such a thing as a "crash" elsewhere, that term does not apply to a plane on the ground.
Comment by Raine on 08/22/2013 15:45:20
Plane is still drunk.
Raine on 08/22/2013 15:45:20
Quote by TriSec:Quote by wickedpam:
Go home plane your drunk
Aviation nitpick; the plane didn't "crash". That is actually a specific term that indicates a termination of the aerial phase of travel by calamity.
The plane was taxiing and suffered a mechanical failure; while we recognize such a thing as a "crash" elsewhere, that term does not apply to a plane on the ground.
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 15:45:49
Another country heard from. Hello, Tri. I was waiting for your clarification.
Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 15:45:49
Quote by TriSec:Quote by wickedpam:
Go home plane your drunk
Aviation nitpick; the plane didn't "crash". That is actually a specific term that indicates a termination of the aerial phase of travel by calamity.
The plane was taxiing and suffered a mechanical failure; while we recognize such a thing as a "crash" elsewhere, that term does not apply to a plane on the ground.
Another country heard from. Hello, Tri. I was waiting for your clarification.
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 15:47:20
We could say that the plane was....
Wait for it...
plain drunk!
Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 15:47:20
Quote by Raine:Plane is still drunk.Quote by TriSec:Quote by wickedpam:
Go home plane your drunk
Aviation nitpick; the plane didn't "crash". That is actually a specific term that indicates a termination of the aerial phase of travel by calamity.
The plane was taxiing and suffered a mechanical failure; while we recognize such a thing as a "crash" elsewhere, that term does not apply to a plane on the ground.
We could say that the plane was....
Wait for it...
plain drunk!
Comment by wickedpam on 08/22/2013 15:48:31
<- my coffee
wickedpam on 08/22/2013 15:48:31
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Plane is still drunk.Quote by TriSec:Quote by wickedpam:
Go home plane your drunk
Aviation nitpick; the plane didn't "crash". That is actually a specific term that indicates a termination of the aerial phase of travel by calamity.
The plane was taxiing and suffered a mechanical failure; while we recognize such a thing as a "crash" elsewhere, that term does not apply to a plane on the ground.
We could say that the plane was....
Wait for it...
plain drunk!
<- my coffee
Comment by TriSec on 08/22/2013 16:07:07
That was never in dispute.
TriSec on 08/22/2013 16:07:07
Quote by Raine:
Plane is still drunk.
That was never in dispute.
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 16:21:48
Mondobubba on 08/22/2013 16:21:48
We are now under a tornado warning. 
Comment by wickedpam on 08/22/2013 16:27:50
wickedpam on 08/22/2013 16:27:50
Hey guys, I have a friend who is very near the Rim Fire (near Smith Peak) can ya'll send positive thoughts her way?