Tag Archives: television

17

Sep. ’23

Old School News

After speaking with one of my family members, I have decided to write about acquiring up to date and factual news one last time. It appears AI is involved in everything and so much of it is manipulated into false content. Most of this is due to people wanting things to be as easy as possible and not wanting to take the time to further fact check the story line or person presenting the story and at the same time shady characters and/or organizations trying to shape you into whatever they want for whatever reason.

               I’ll give a recent example. The news that was issued was Beyonce sang the national anthem, the Negro National Anthem, at a recent NFL football game, she was booed, and the NFL have banned her from all other games. There were thousands of likes attached to the article and plenty of talk about it. If the article had been fact-checked it would have revealed that the article was false. She did not sing at an NFL football game therefore the entire article was false. Yet, many people still believe the article to be true.

               Many people, especially the younger people, do not read printed news like newspapers, etc. Nor do they watch local/national news on television. Too many will watch and believe every word of the scandalous television channels (you know which ones I am referring to), knowing that what they are listening to is a lie and most of it has been proven to be lies. As my grandmother used to say, ‘this world is going to hell in a handbasket’.

               I cannot say without a little doubt that I have not read/heard a story that was later proved to be false. But I have not spread the story and I have listened/read the other side. I have tried to stand clear of writers that I know usually bend the truth or are in the hip pocket of those that are liars. I love to be informed but hate being lied to. I am told that I am too ‘old school’ and to get with the modern times. If it means I must go along with being lied to, I’ll pass.

               All I am saying is do your diligent research before you believe, in your heart, what you read or hear. Use mainstream newspapers and television, which can be easily double checked, instead of only the internet. The internet is good but can be too easily manipulated. There are too many people out there that are looking to make a fool out of you and make a name for themselves while doing it.

               One last thing. When you check out a news story, ask yourself ‘why’. There is usually a backstory that will fill in the blanks and give a fuller picture of what is happening. For example, why are the Republicans looking into impeaching President Biden? What is the backstory? There are articles out there that say he is being impeached, NOT looking into being impeached. There is a difference. Many articles will leave a word or two out of a sentence to change the entire sentence, there are fake videos out there. Be old school and use your mind. Don’t let someone manipulate it for you.

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05

Feb. ’23

As Seen On

As I look at television and other media, I seriously thought about what can be done, and the cause, about gun violence and police brutality in our nation today. It seems that these things are much too far out of hand. There seem to be no end to the daily headlines of all sorts of incidents. And when I look closer, I find most of the incidents come from younger people. Then I had a thought that I had some years ago and, to me, it makes sense.

               Most young people have long ago disconnected from the real world and is, instead, connected to artificial entertainment. They watch too much of what is on their phones and video games are supreme. Sci-fi and scary movies rule and regular television and the news are out.

               The other day, while talking to two of my granddaughters, I asked them about the police brutality/murder in Memphis. They looked at me like I was crazy and said they have not heard anything about it. I was amazed because it had happened almost two weeks prior and that was on all the news networks, talk shows, and printed matter. I then wanted to slap myself because it dawned on me that it was not on their outlets like tic-toc, etc.

               This is what my mind see that have caused the police brutality and other shootings everywhere. Most young people and some adults are into video games and many play them daily. I am not against these games as entertainment, but some cannot separate real from fantasy. Some minds are either weak or still developing and that leads to a problem. Believe it or not, some think they can do what they see in a video or avatar.

               These people that think they can do whatever without consequence also do not fully understand death. When it comes to children, ask yourself if they really understand that in death they cannot come back tomorrow and play that scene again. Do they understand that the man acting macho is only an actor and it is not real. Do they understand that pointing a gun at someone, pulling the trigger will ruin their life forever.

               When it comes to some police officers (done that, been there), there are some that is full tilt macho, and you cannot tell them otherwise. They act as the supreme lord of all people and can do whatever. When I first heard about the beating the police gave, I thought about the television series “Chicago PD’. There are other television series, as well as movies, that some officers attempt to imitate.

               I do not know how to squelch this problem, but I believe that the major cause of the problem are the movies and videos that immature humanoids watch. Once they get started down the wrong road it is hard for them to get on the right road. And let us not forget the gangs and gang members that can be included in the causes that make up the police brutality cause.

               We cannot turn off all televisions, videos, and other forms of media but I am hoping we can find a way to limit it and closely monitor the individuals that does nothing but involve themselves into this form of communication.    

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28

Nov. ’21

Program Interruptions

As I sat watching the Thanksgiving parade, waiting for The Hampton University Band, I was becoming frustrated by the frequent interruptions for the numerous long commercials. To top it all was when the commercials were over the hosts would talk and talk, mostly about nothing. I just want to see the parade, not listen to hosts and commercials. I guess the number of minutes allotted to the parade versus the amount of time allotted to the hosts and commercials, the commercials will be first in minutes allotted, hosts will come in second and the parade a very poor last. But that is just my thinking.

               I remember that back in the day it was much different than it is today. My wife would say ‘things change…stop thinking about yesterday’. I cannot because I then thought about my military assignment to Germany. I watched a lot of German television and one of the German’s favorite programs was the western program named Bonanza. This was the 1970s and even then, commercials were long although I didn’t know it. German television had their commercials either before or after a program. A program was never interrupted for a commercial or two or three. Watching German television made me realize that Bonanza was twenty-five or thirty-five minutes long with the rest of the hour left for commercials. While watching German television you could tell where a commercial was to be placed in the program.

               Anyone that is old enough to remember the good old days remember the college and pro football games halftime shows. Most of the time the halftime shows were better that the games. The entire halftime show was aired without commercials and not many commercials were shown during the game. Watching a football game was great without a lot of talking experts and commercials.

               I guess I am selfish, want my cake and eat it too. I know the television companies must, as they say, pay the rent but I think it is too much. I also know the hosts get very good pay checks and they must talk, tout, and set themselves up for better positions. All of it, in my opinion is at the expense of me watching what I pay the cable company to see. It is great when I record a program and, as I watch the program, I fast forward past the commercials.

               Yes, I miss the good old days when I can watch the marching bands doing their intricate formations, seeing a very short commercial, and rarely see the announcer/host. I enjoyed watching the parades (like the Rose Parade for one) and see each part, every float and marching band. I didn’t know it then but those were good days. Now it’s all about the money and I must suffer through the things they think make their money. I just hate the program interruptions especially when my mind gets into a program, and it’s jerked out for a commercial or I miss parts of a parade because of the same thing. Give me the good old days.

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03

Jan. ’21

Caste System

Most of us mean well but we are only human and at times dislike this or that causing hurt upon our fellow human whether at the time we realize it or not. Our feelings are fragile, and we tend to look down our nose at those not in our group, our status. Most of the time we do not realize we are doing this and when we do realize it, we attempt to correct the situation, the wrong that we have inflicted.

               Everyone know of the Hindu caste system, well, a lot of us know of the system but, in a minor way, caste is everywhere. Here in the United States, it is said that everyone is equal but, like a lot of people, I disagree. Like the Hindus we have a caste system also. Maybe not as strict but we do have the system and the last four years have recently put the spotlight on it.

               Caste is nothing but social and/or hereditary groups. Like the television program it is the ‘Have and Have Nots’. There is the CEO and then the others. There is the office worker and the others. There is the homeowner and the maid. I could go on and on, but I believe you understand what I mean. Their rankings on the ladder of success or the higher you are on the ladder the less you would speak to or rub shoulders with the people on the lower rung of the ladder.

               The caste system is definitely imbedded in skin color, race and nationality. The darker the skin the fewer chances there is for a person to advance except in sports or something that entertains the people on the upper rungs of the ladder or to make them more money. Nationality will put you into certain jobs that the people on the upper rungs need. If, by chance, a lower rung person get money, the distain for the person is hidden when outwardly there are smiles. Listen to the words of the song ‘Smiling Faces Sometimes’ recorded by The Undisputed Truth (1971). Lower rung, caste people, are not to have much money unless it benefits the higher rung people.

               But the more money a person has the more they turn their back on the people on the lower rungs of the ladder. The upper crust people will throw a little money to the lower people if it is a tax right off. They will interact with lower rung people for the photo op and then go home thinking that they did their civic duty for a while.

               Look at the United States structural system and most people think the head person is the President. However, he has a boss, and it is the citizens of the United States. It is a large circle, a never-ending circle where everyone has a boss. It would take a book to explain the workings and all that is involved. The people in the government were sent there to labor for us but today they are among those on the upper rungs of the caste system and they are for themselves. Our government is a large part of the caste system and they are flaunting it.

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25

Apr. ’20

Think Of Others

All my life I have tried to be compassionate toward others and think how I would feel if someone would do this or that toward me. There are people that feel the same way, however, there are those that think only of themselves and not of others until it concerns them or a member of their family. Normally, these people are affiliated with a sect or movement that have the same mind set.

I understand the demonstrations for reopening the cities and states that are closed because of the COVID-19 virus. I understand that businesses are hurting because they cannot operate. I understand that people want to work because they live from paycheck to paycheck and they have bills to pay and need food on the table. I also understand the local and state governments that have closed most facilities in order to attempt to stop the virus and deaths.

I am not going to try to explain what the federal government is doing because, as they have said, they do not believe the data or science and the states are on their own. I do not want to be too quick to take the chance of living or dying by getting back to normal too soon. I have fought in Viet Nam and a few other small conflicts and have survived. I have also been through isolation while performing my military duties and have survived. Some of the military duties were much worse than the stay-at-home rule that is in force today.

While researching the forces behind these demonstrations I have found they are funded and condoned by the GOP and their big money donors. Extreme illness or death is not a good tradeoff for financial gain. The push behind reopening everything is political. Good financial business gives the GOP a good standing for the upcoming elections, or so they think.

While watching the news on television I heard more than one interviewed demonstrator say they did not care about other people, they only wanted to go where they wanted to go and have fun. They even said that the other people had to take care of themselves because they will do whatever they wanted to do. They are not responsible for whatever will happen to others.

So, in a nutshell, we are all in this together. Not only the USA but the world. With the virus spreading, travel is out of the question. With the spreading virus, state-to-state travel is dangerous. With the spread of the virus everyone is still in danger of falling ill and dying. I was a city police officer and have seen people disregard a restriction because they wanted to have their way. They were the first one to call for help when things went wrong and wanted people to risk their life to save them.

I wonder what these demonstrators would say if they were denied care, when they fall ill from the virus, when they disregard the safe distance rule and the stay-at-home rule. They should not have their cake and eat it too. If they disregard all rules and do whatever they want to do, should a life be at risk to save them?

DO NOT INGEST ANY TYPE OF DISINFECTANT FOR ANY REASON. The life you save maybe your own!

 

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12

Oct. ’19

Good Old Days

Have you seen something new on the television, the internet or in a store and said to yourself ‘I’m getting old’? Have you ever daydreamed about the things that went on during your childhood, looked around yourself and thought how old you are? Well, I also look at it another way. I look at the name of something or what it is called and say to myself ‘in my day it was called…it’s exactly the same thing’.

Many things are not different from the olden days. It is only named differently or packaged differently or made to look different. I imagine you are asking, why? Simple. To peak interest in something being new therefore you will purchase it. The thinking is that newer is better therefore, make the consumer think the product is new. To pass the test that the product is new, they add a little additional ingredient, that really does nothing to change the product (or does it?), then call it new, passing the test of calling it ‘new’.

In my day natural items were used to combat ailments or for cleaning or just about everything. Actually, natural is cheaper and sometimes better. A across the counter laxative will cost much more than some prunes or prune juice. There was oatmeal, Oxtagon soap that was used for, not only washing clothes but treating poison ivy and other rashes. The list can go on and on and I doubt I can think of all the items that fall into this category.

I feel old in so many other ways. I used to want to always be partying or be around the gang. There was always something alcoholic to drink. There was loud music everywhere I went. Now, I am content to sit on the porch and watch people and traffic go by. I go one or two weeks without a drink. I really love quietness. I remember my military K-9 days, which was very solitary, and I still love that. Now I know I am old.

Have you ever heard the first bars of music and immediately knew the song? I bet you remembered when the first time was you heard the song, where you were, who you were with and what you were doing (probably the conversations that took place). I’m not talking about this new stuff. I am talking about the oldie-but-goodie of years gone by. Yeah, we are all getting old. But there is nothing wrong with that because we are still alive, mobile and can remember it all. We can smile and recall it all. We sit around with our friends and talk about the old days.

There is nothing wrong with getting old because it is something we all must do, like one day we all must die. All I am saying here is that old is good and new may not be better because it may be a new brand of old, including the music. Thinking about new music, I have listened to new music and it will have the sound of an oldie-but-goodie with different lyrics. One day the young people today will do the same thing we are doing. They will look back and say ‘those were some good old days’.

 

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08

Dec. ’18

The English Language

The other day I talked to a young man and I barely understood what he was saying. I know I am an older individual and my hearing is not getting any better. In fact, it is getting worst at each check-up. I was given hearing aides to help my tinnitus and hearing loss. However, I heard him perfectly, it was the way he spoke. I speak English and two other languages but I have a very hard time understanding badly spoken English (broken).

Here is the problem, it seems that today’s young people believe it is okay and very hip to speak that way. I, of course, do not. Sorry. I guess I am old school but think about this. A few other countries speak English as their language. There are a few other countries that speak English as a second language. There are many countries that have a law that require English to be taught in school, from beginning to end. Broken English is not taught or spoken in any country that I am aware of. Then I must ask the question, why does so many people speak broken English?

English is taught in American schools and a degree can be obtained in college, university. I was in radio and television and I know very correct English must be spoken while on the air. I also know that correct English must be written for all professional media forums. Broken English is forbidden and frowned upon in any form. I attempt to write correctly although at times I fail. I want to be understood because I am aware my blog is in ethernet and can be seen by anyone anywhere in the world.

These people that use broken English, in media form as well as face to face, really believe they are fashionable, understood and there isn’t anything wrong. These same people may one day try for a higher job position and wonder why they were passed over. CEOs do not hire people that may present a poor image and language is one of the deciding factors about which the CEO base on whether to hire or not. The resume is another and if it is filled with writing errors, forget being hired for the job.

The educational system has jumped onto the bandwagon and have acquiesced to the point of students using block letters instead of cursive letters. Will banks accept checks that have a signature using block letters? In writing other things, are block letters a signature? I remember being with the grandkids at a mystery house, looking for clues that will lead the way out, there were many clues that I could read and they could not. The clues were in plain sight but in cursive writings. I showed them, but they still could not read it.

I also remember asking about the content of a speech and not a single child could explain what was said because large words were used. However, a rap song was on the radio, I could barely understand the words, but the kids could understand each word. Language is everything and we, as a nation, is losing our language as well as other very important things. Once this older generation is gone, the younger generation will, among other things, lose this nation’s language and capability to write. Only a few will be able to do the things that make our nation unique from other nations. Something that have been existence from its beginning.

 

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15

Oct. ’16

Watson

Looking back, I can see many things that were, years ago, thought to be either science-fiction or someone’s imagination or just plain entertainment because it was considered an impossibility. To give an example (young people don’t know about this) just look at Dick Tracy from the comic strips. He had a wrist watch that he could not only talk into and hear but he could see the person he contacted and the person could see him. I was always fascinated then and can see all of it now. For those of you that can’t remember when Dick Tracy was printed, try the 1950’s and ’60’s.

Quite a few things have come from the original Star Trek Series (Capt. James Kirk, Mr. Spock, etc) that, at the time, had my head spinning. There is so much that have come from the imagination of others that wanted to entertain us but, instead, were ahead of the world they were in. They jumped to another sphere. A sphere that no one, not even them, could have seen without a crystal ball into the future. And the then future is still coming, little by little.

We seniors, if you think a little, can see things that came about when we were young that boggled the mind, but, were thought about years before that. The people that were proposing those things were said to be crazy or were completely ignored. And, just think, the not so imaginary things are still coming about. Remember Lost In Space? Remember the robot in Lost In Space?

There is a lot of work being done on AI (Artificial Intelligence). That is the project being done on robots and making them super intelligent. They are making robots that can think, never forget and get smarter on it’s own. Also, they are making robots that are making robots. I can still remember watching Lost In Space on a black and white television and saying to myself that it was impossible for a robot to do the things that it did.

The computer that was on Jeopardy and won the game (named Watson) was a hit for quite some time. Watson is still around. Wrap your head around this; Watson is being used in a hospital diagnosing ailments and proposing a course of action. Watson has read everything there is to read about medicine and every medical journal that comes out. A doctor can not do that nor remember the entire written material. Watson can and did. Watson not only reads written material, it can also look at x-rays, MRI’s and all the other things. I remember reading comic books about that back in the early sixties.

I also remember reading, and seeing movies, about computers going amok, taking over the world and treating humans as slaves. There are scientists who are now thinking the same thing and is getting a lot of resistance to that idea. As a senior citizen, I don’t have to worry about that. I don’t have that much longer in this world and robots aren’t developing that fast. Or are they?

Some people are saying robots are not around them (I guess they are thinking about machines running around doing things) but I beg to differ. I’ll name a few things and, believe me, there are so, so many more things I could name. There are self driving vehicles, cell phones, television (broadcasting units and viewing apparatus’), all sorts of computers, and to put things into a nut shell, everything that is anything has some type of electronics in it. These things can or almost can operate on it’s own or remotely, by another human or by another computer.

All of us at Imperial Plaza utilize some sort of computer (robot) each and every day, from the time we awaken (does a robot (alarm clock) awaken you) to the moment we go to sleep (does the computerized TV or radio put you to sleep), whether we realize it or not. It is a beautiful thing. Or is it? Will the robots take over Imperial Plaza? Will they take over the world? Time will tell. More time than I have left.

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22

Nov. ’15

Deep Thought

I really try to avoid discussing politics and/or religion because of the potential arguments and animosities it causes. However, as I watched television when it reported on the Paris incidents, I began to say to myself, as I have said to myself in the past, these perpetrators are not the true Muslims as they want to be seen as. I will attempt to have you see some of my reasoning.

I ask this question which would require a definitive answer. How can a person be a true Muslim if they partake, sell or make drugs? How can a person be a true Muslim if they drink alcohol? It is my humble understanding that none of this is ever done and be able to go to Heaven. My mind is going in circles trying to come to an understanding. This is what jolted my mind into numbness.

The Paris murders were carried out by so called Muslims, at least that is the report that is given. However, upon the French Police entering their lair, drugs and booze were found. Allah would be furious about this revelation of a devout Muslim being like the Infidels. I may be wrong or I may have missed something but this is what I see on the television. Something is wrong here.

Then I thought about their cash crops in their homelands. Opium, or should I say Poppies. There are only three things that can be done with these flowers. First, have beautiful flowers for sale. Second, take the gum and make morphine. Third, take the gum and make opium. There is more money in opium. The people in the lands that produce opium, Muslims, were upset that other crops we tried to get them to grow did not provide as much money and they wanted the go ahead to grow poppies again.

There is another drug that they are using and pushing heavily. They are even fighting over the profits coming from that drug. It’s called captigon. It’s like crystal meth in pill form and very additive. It lasts for a long time and suppose to make their fighters think they are all powerful and nothing can stop them. However, they are the pure and righteous Muslims (so they say). This also have a smell of Capitalism, something they and the Communist are strongly against.

From what I see, these people want the world to be Muslim, to live like they did in the days before Jesus. They want all women to be servant or at least to have an air of servility. They want to shed the blood of anyone that is not of a particular clan or sect or whatever. They want the monies but they did not make it or do anything that would make the money. They don’t want anything that is modern although they will use it to attempt to gain whatever ends they are aiming to get. Should I mention the internet, vehicles, telephone, radio, television, etc. Don’t get me started on the oil production.

All in all, it all adds up to be one big smoke screen, if you will, for world domination, maybe. Or, it could be just an excuse to kill and kill some more and wield power over those that are not in the inner circle. This sound like a 007 movie or anything else out of Hollywood. But, this is not make believe, this is real. The bullets and carnage is real. We all have to be careful and see beyond the lies and politics.

I am through ranting and will not approach this subject again, I had to clear my mind. I imagine, if I probe deeper into the subject, I could come up with other reasoning things and none would be good or make an ounce of reasoning. I will just go about my business as usual but keep my eyes and ears open. More than before. In this area there are too many places worthy of striking and it could happen at any time. I don’t want to be among the ones in the way. I can’t move like I used to and I just want to live in peace.

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